Step 1: Install Slide Stencil

Slide Stencil is the Google Slides Add-on I built that helps you generate Google Slides from a template. To install it, open Slide Stencil in the Google Add-on Marketplace and click "Install".

Step 2: Open Slide Stencil in Google Slides

Next, you'll need to open the Slide Stencil add-on in Google Slides.

1. Open your slideshow
2. At the top, click Extensions > Slide Stencil by Mr. Pullen > Open
3. If requested, grant permission for the add-on to access your current slideshow

Step 3: Design your template slide

Your template slide is the one that Slide Stencil will generate new versions of. A template slide is a regular slide, but it contains variables. A variable is a slot where different content will be inserted for each generated slide.

See the example templates ↗

To create a variable, just type double curly braces inside any text box or shape. For example, you can type {{ date }} or {{ title }} anywhere on your slide and those will become the variables "date" or "title".

There's nothing special about those names, either! You can name your variable anything you want. Whatever words you type inside the curly braces will become your column name in the next step.

If you want to insert unique images in each generated slide (not just text), see this tutorial.

When you're done designing your template slide, click "Select Template Slide" in the Slide Stencil sidebar on the right.

Step 4: Prepare your template data

Now that you have your template slide prepared, we can start to think about generating new versions of the template.

In Slide Stencil, you'll put your data in a table. Each row of the table will become one slide.

After completing step 3 and clicking the "Select Template Slide" button, Slide Stencil will give you an editable table where you can type your data. Each template variable will become one column. Each row of the table will turn into a slide.

Enter your data into the table.

• If you have any image variables, you'll need to put the image URL in the cell. Learn more here.
• If you want to save your data to reuse in the future, you might want to connect a Google Sheet.
• If you want to use formulas, keyboard shortcuts, or other power-user features, you might want to connect a Google Sheet.

Step 5: Generate Slides

This is the fun part! Once you've completed steps 1-4, all you need to do is click the "Generate Slides" button. Slide Stencil will create all your slides for you automatically.

Generation might take a few seconds, so please be patient.

If you want to make changes to your template after-the-fact, you'll have to delete the generated slides, edit the template, and then re-generate.

I make more apps to help teachers!

If you like Shuffle Buddy, you might like the other apps I've made. I am always building things to help teachers.

• Shuffle Buddy for classroom seating charts
• Rocket Spelling for elementary spelling practice
• ...And many more!

Best, Josh