In this article
StoryTeller’s Automatic Slide Generation feature creates presentation-ready topline reports in .ppt format with just a few clicks. These reports provide a high-level summary of key results and serve as a foundation for deeper analysis. Auto-generated slides function as standard StoryTeller slides and can be customized using existing StoryTeller features.
Slides are automatically sorted and are formatted using the layouts assigned in the selected template set. Each layout determines how the data is visualized, including chart type, labels, and structure
In this example, the scale variable is visualized in columns, while the single and multi-choice variables are displayed in bars, sorted by values.
1: Creating an Auto-Generated Report
To generate a report, open the Autogenerate Slides function. You can access the function from any of the three options:
1.1: Select Variables
(Optional) Click Filter Variables at the top of the panel to limit which variables appear in the selection list.
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Select the variable(s) to be added and click +Add.
Each variable generates a separate slide unless the variables are grouped. (Optional) Click the Filter button above a variable you’ve added to the list to apply slide-level filters (e.g., Region, Wave, or Country) across selected variables or groups.
Drag and drop variables or groups in the list to change the order.
Slides are generated in the same order as the list.-
(Optional) Click the #/# next to a variable to choose which answers to include on the slide.
If none of the answers are selected, all answers will be included.
Not all variables have multiple answers.
This option only affects what’s shown, not the calculation base.
1.2: Select a Template Set
Choose a template set to define the slide layouts. You can use any of the standard templates or create your own.
1.3: Generate Slides
(Optional) Use the slide name toggles to automatically assign names to the slides
Click Generate to build your slides.
Save your StoryTeller report after generating slides.
2: Grouping Variables
To compare related questions visually on a single slide, you can group variables. Grouped variables appear together in each object on the slide. Variables can be grouped after they have been added to the list.
To group variables of the same type, select the desired variables and click Group
To ungroup variables, select Ungroup.
You can drag variables into or out of a group
If you move one grouped variable up or down in the list, it will leave the group.
Note: You can only group variables of the same type. For instance, multiple scale variables or multiple numeric variables can be grouped together, but you cannot group a scale and a numeric variable in the same group.
In the Auto-generation process, variables reported on the same slide will be included in all data objects on that slide. For instance, if the slide template includes both a chart and a table, the variables will be added into both the chart and the table.
3: Filtering Variables
Apply filters to control how data appears across slide content. Filters apply to all objects on the slide and support looped data or complex question types.
3.1: Filtering the Variable List
Use Filter Variables (at the top right of the Add Variables panel) to narrow down the list of available variables before selecting them.
You can filter by:
Variable type (e.g., hide open-ended questions)
Question block (if blocks exist in the project)
Number of answer alternatives
This helps reduce clutter when working with large surveys.
3.2: Filtering Slide Content
After adding variables to your list, you can filter slide content using the Filter button above the added variable list.
This opens a panel where you can:
Select from existing filter variables (e.g., Region, Wave, or Country) that have been marked as filters in the project
Apply or overwrite filters across multiple selected variables or groups
If selected variables or groups already have conflicting filters, StoryTeller prompts you to confirm before overriding them.
Note: If multiple questions or groups are selected that have different filter options, a warning message appears indicating that proceeding will reset all previously selected filters.
3.3: Choosing Answers to Include
For individual variables, click the blue badge to select specific answer options to include.
If no answers are selected, all will be included
Choices apply only to that variable's chart on its slide. They do not affect the calculation base.
Not all variables have selectable answers (e.g., numeric or scale types)
These settings are useful when focusing analysis on specific response options.