Google Slides

Create, edit, and manage Google Slides presentations -- add slides, text, images, tables, shapes, apply styles, fill templates, and generate thumbnails.

Overview

This tool provides full access to the Google Slides API v1. You can create new presentations, add and arrange slides, insert text boxes, images, tables, and shapes, style text and shapes, perform template merges using placeholder tags, generate slide thumbnails, and execute raw batchUpdate requests for advanced operations. All position and size values use inches for convenience (internally converted to EMU at 914,400 EMU per inch).

Actions

create_presentation

Create a new empty Google Slides presentation.

Required parameters:

• title (string) -- title for the new presentation

Example:

{"action":"create_presentation","title":"Q4 Revenue Report"}

Returns: presentation_id, title, locale, slide_count, slides[], page_size

get_presentation

Retrieve full details of an existing presentation including all slides and elements.

Required parameters:

• presentation_id (string) -- the presentation ID

Example:

{"action":"get_presentation","presentation_id":"1BxiMVs0XRA5nFMdKvBdBZjgmUii9Op3a7eh"}

Returns: presentation_id, title, locale, slide_count, slides[] (with object_id, layout, element_count), page_size, raw (full API response)

search_presentations

Search for Google Slides presentations by name. Results are sorted by most recently modified.

Optional parameters:

• query (string) -- name contains match. If omitted, lists recent presentations
• max_results (integer, 1-100, default 20) -- maximum number of results

Example -- search by name:

{"action":"search_presentations","query":"quarterly review"}

Example -- list recent with limit:

{"action":"search_presentations","query":"Q4 report","max_results":5}

Returns: query, result_count, presentations[] (with presentation_id, name, created_time, modified_time, owners[], web_view_link)

get_slide_thumbnail

Generate a PNG thumbnail image of a specific slide.

Required parameters:

• presentation_id (string) -- the presentation ID
• page_object_id (string) -- the slide/page object ID

Optional parameters:

• thumbnail_size (string) -- LARGE (1600px, default), MEDIUM (800px), or SMALL (200px)

Example:

{"action":"get_slide_thumbnail","presentation_id":"1BxiMVs0XRA5","page_object_id":"g1234abcd"}

Returns: content_url (PNG URL, valid for approximately 30 minutes), width, height

add_slide

Add a new slide to a presentation.

Required parameters:

• presentation_id (string) -- the presentation ID

Optional parameters:

• insertion_index (integer) -- 0-based position (default: appended at end)
• layout (string) -- predefined layout: BLANK, TITLE, TITLE_AND_BODY, TITLE_AND_TWO_COLUMNS, TITLE_ONLY, SECTION_HEADER, SECTION_TITLE_AND_DESCRIPTION, ONE_COLUMN_TEXT, MAIN_POINT, BIG_NUMBER, CAPTION_ONLY
• object_id_value (string) -- custom slide ID (auto-generated if omitted)

Example:

{"action":"add_slide","presentation_id":"1BxiMVs0XRA5","layout":"TITLE_AND_BODY","insertion_index":1}

Returns: presentation_id, created_slide_id, replies[]

delete_object

Delete a slide or element from a presentation.

Required parameters:

• presentation_id (string) -- the presentation ID
• object_id_value (string) -- the slide or element ID to delete

Example:

{"action":"delete_object","presentation_id":"1BxiMVs0XRA5","object_id_value":"g1234abcd"}

Returns: presentation_id, deleted_object_id, replies[]

add_text_box

Add a text box to a slide.

Required parameters:

• presentation_id (string) -- the presentation ID
• page_object_id (string) -- the target slide ID

Optional parameters:

• text (string) -- initial text content
• element_properties (object) -- position and size: {x_inches, y_inches, width_inches, height_inches} (defaults: 0, 0, 3, 1)
• object_id_value (string) -- custom element ID (auto-generated if omitted)

Example:

{"action":"add_text_box","presentation_id":"1BxiMVs0XRA5","page_object_id":"g1234abcd","text":"Hello World","element_properties":{"x_inches":1,"y_inches":2,"width_inches":5,"height_inches":1}}

Returns: presentation_id, created_text_box_id, replies[]

add_image

Add an image to a slide.

Required parameters:

• presentation_id (string) -- the presentation ID
• page_object_id (string) -- the target slide ID
• image_url (string) -- publicly accessible image URL

Optional parameters:

• element_properties (object) -- position and size (defaults: 0, 0, 4, 3)
• object_id_value (string) -- custom element ID

Example:

{"action":"add_image","presentation_id":"1BxiMVs0XRA5","page_object_id":"g1234abcd","image_url":"https://example.com/logo.png","element_properties":{"x_inches":2,"y_inches":1,"width_inches":4,"height_inches":3}}

Returns: presentation_id, created_image_id, replies[]

add_table

Add a table to a slide, optionally pre-populated with data.

Required parameters:

• presentation_id (string) -- the presentation ID
• page_object_id (string) -- the target slide ID
• rows (integer, 1-100) -- number of rows
• columns (integer, 1-20) -- number of columns

Optional parameters:

• table_data (array of arrays of strings) -- 2D array of cell text to populate after creation
• object_id_value (string) -- custom table ID

Example:

{"action":"add_table","presentation_id":"1BxiMVs0XRA5","page_object_id":"g1234abcd","rows":3,"columns":4,"table_data":[["Name","Q1","Q2","Q3"],["Alice","100","200","300"],["Bob","150","250","350"]]}

Returns: presentation_id, created_table_id, replies[]

add_shape

Add a shape to a slide with optional text inside.

Required parameters:

• presentation_id (string) -- the presentation ID
• page_object_id (string) -- the target slide ID

Optional parameters:

• shape_type (string) -- TEXT_BOX, RECTANGLE, ELLIPSE, ROUND_RECTANGLE, STAR_4, ARROW_EAST, etc. (default: RECTANGLE)
• text (string) -- text content inside the shape
• element_properties (object) -- position and size (defaults: 0, 0, 2, 2)
• object_id_value (string) -- custom element ID

Example:

{"action":"add_shape","presentation_id":"1BxiMVs0XRA5","page_object_id":"g1234abcd","shape_type":"ELLIPSE","element_properties":{"x_inches":3,"y_inches":2,"width_inches":2,"height_inches":2}}

Returns: presentation_id, created_shape_id, replies[]

insert_text

Insert text into an existing shape or table cell.

Required parameters:

• presentation_id (string) -- the presentation ID
• object_id_value (string) -- the shape or table object ID
• text (string) -- text to insert

Optional parameters:

• text_insertion_index (integer, default 0) -- character index for insertion
• cell_location (object) -- for table cells: {"rowIndex": 0, "columnIndex": 0}

Example -- insert into shape:

{"action":"insert_text","presentation_id":"1BxiMVs0XRA5","object_id_value":"myShape1","text":"New text"}

Example -- insert into table cell:

{"action":"insert_text","presentation_id":"1BxiMVs0XRA5","object_id_value":"myTable1","text":"Cell value","cell_location":{"rowIndex":1,"columnIndex":2}}

Returns: presentation_id, replies[]

replace_all_text

Find and replace text across the entire presentation. Ideal for template merging with {{tag}} placeholders.

Required parameters:

• presentation_id (string) -- the presentation ID
• search_text (string) -- text to find (e.g. a template tag)
• replace_text (string) -- replacement text

Optional parameters:

• match_case (boolean, default true) -- case-sensitive matching

Example:

{"action":"replace_all_text","presentation_id":"1BxiMVs0XRA5","search_text":"{{customer_name}}","replace_text":"Acme Corp"}

Returns: presentation_id, replies[] (includes count of replacements)

replace_all_shapes_with_image

Replace all shapes containing specific text with an image. Useful for template image placeholders.

Required parameters:

• presentation_id (string) -- the presentation ID
• search_text (string) -- text in shapes to find (e.g. {{logo}})
• image_url (string) -- publicly accessible image URL

Optional parameters:

• image_replace_method (string) -- CENTER_INSIDE (default) or CENTER_CROP
• match_case (boolean, default true) -- case-sensitive matching

Example:

{"action":"replace_all_shapes_with_image","presentation_id":"1BxiMVs0XRA5","search_text":"{{logo}}","image_url":"https://example.com/logo.png"}

Returns: presentation_id, replies[]

update_text_style

Apply styling to text within a shape.

Required parameters:

• presentation_id (string) -- the presentation ID
• object_id_value (string) -- the shape containing the text
• text_style (object) -- style properties to apply. Available fields:
  • bold (boolean)
  • italic (boolean)
  • underline (boolean)
  • font_family (string)
  • font_size_pt (number) -- font size in points
  • foreground_color_hex (string) -- hex color, e.g. #FF0000
  • link_url (string) -- makes text a hyperlink

Optional parameters:

• text_range_type (string) -- ALL (default), FIXED_RANGE, or FROM_START_INDEX
• start_index (integer) -- start character index (for FIXED_RANGE or FROM_START_INDEX)
• end_index (integer) -- end character index (for FIXED_RANGE)

Example:

{"action":"update_text_style","presentation_id":"1BxiMVs0XRA5","object_id_value":"myShape1","text_style":{"bold":true,"font_size_pt":24,"foreground_color_hex":"#0000FF"}}

Example -- style a range of characters:

{"action":"update_text_style","presentation_id":"1BxiMVs0XRA5","object_id_value":"myShape1","text_style":{"italic":true,"link_url":"https://example.com"},"text_range_type":"FIXED_RANGE","start_index":0,"end_index":10}

Returns: presentation_id, replies[]

update_shape_properties

Update visual properties of a shape (fill color, outline).

Required parameters:

• presentation_id (string) -- the presentation ID
• object_id_value (string) -- the shape element ID

Optional parameters:

• shape_background_color_hex (string) -- fill color hex
• outline_color_hex (string) -- outline color hex
• outline_weight_pt (number) -- outline weight in points

Example:

{"action":"update_shape_properties","presentation_id":"1BxiMVs0XRA5","object_id_value":"myShape1","shape_background_color_hex":"#FFCC00","outline_color_hex":"#000000","outline_weight_pt":2}

Returns: presentation_id, replies[]

update_slide_properties

Update slide-level properties such as background color or skip-in-slideshow.

Required parameters:

• presentation_id (string) -- the presentation ID
• page_object_id (string) -- the slide ID

Optional parameters:

• background_color_hex (string) -- slide background color hex
• skip_slide (boolean) -- skip this slide during slideshow playback

Example:

{"action":"update_slide_properties","presentation_id":"1BxiMVs0XRA5","page_object_id":"g1234abcd","background_color_hex":"#F5F5F5"}

Returns: presentation_id, replies[]

duplicate_object

Duplicate a slide or element within the presentation.

Required parameters:

• presentation_id (string) -- the presentation ID
• object_id_value (string) -- the slide or element ID to duplicate

Example:

{"action":"duplicate_object","presentation_id":"1BxiMVs0XRA5","object_id_value":"g1234abcd"}

Returns: presentation_id, replies[] (includes new object ID)

reorder_slides

Move one or more slides to a new position.

Required parameters:

• presentation_id (string) -- the presentation ID
• slide_object_ids (array of strings) -- slide IDs to move
• new_position (integer) -- 0-based insertion index

Example:

{"action":"reorder_slides","presentation_id":"1BxiMVs0XRA5","slide_object_ids":["slide1","slide2"],"new_position":0}

Returns: presentation_id, replies[]

batch_update

Execute raw Google Slides batchUpdate requests for advanced operations not covered by other actions. All requests execute atomically in order -- if one fails, none are applied.

Required parameters:

• presentation_id (string) -- the presentation ID
• requests (array of objects) -- raw Slides API request objects

Example:

{"action":"batch_update","presentation_id":"1BxiMVs0XRA5","requests":[{"createSlide":{"objectId":"mySlide","slideLayoutReference":{"predefinedLayout":"BLANK"}}}]}

Returns: presentation_id, replies[]

Workflows

Template Merge Workflow

Fill a template presentation with dynamic data:

1. Create or identify a template presentation containing {{tag}} placeholders in text and shapes
2. Copy the template using the Google Drive tool (copy_file action) to preserve the original
3. Use replace_all_text for each text placeholder (e.g. {{customer_name}} to Acme Corp)
4. Use replace_all_shapes_with_image for each image placeholder (e.g. {{logo}} to an image URL)
5. The original template remains untouched

Build a Presentation from Scratch

1. create_presentation with a title
2. add_slide with desired layouts for each section
3. add_text_box, add_image, add_table, or add_shape to populate each slide
4. update_text_style and update_shape_properties to apply branding
5. get_slide_thumbnail to preview any slide

Notes

• Positions and sizes use inches. The API internally converts to EMU (914,400 EMU = 1 inch, 12,700 EMU = 1 point)
• Images must be publicly accessible URLs
• All batchUpdate-based actions are atomic -- if one operation in the batch fails, none are applied
• Object IDs are auto-generated if not provided. Use custom IDs (via object_id_value) when you need to reference elements in subsequent calls within the same session
• The add_shape action defaults to RECTANGLE shape type if shape_type is not specified (not TEXT_BOX -- use add_text_box for text boxes)
• Search results from search_presentations only return Google Slides files (filtered by MIME type)
• Thumbnail URLs from get_slide_thumbnail expire after approximately 30 minutes