Overview

The pptx.dev API supports over 25 chart types that render as native PowerPoint charts — fully editable in PowerPoint or Google Slides. This guide covers how to add charts to your presentations.

Chart Layout Options

Each layout also supports -slideimage variants for background images.

Supported Chart Types

Column and Bar Charts

• COLUMN — single series column
• CLUSTERED_COLUMN — multiple series side by side
• STACKED_COLUMN_2X / STACKED_COLUMN_3X — stacked columns
• BAR — horizontal single series
• CLUSTERED_BAR_2X — horizontal grouped bars
• STACKED_BAR_2X / STACKED_BAR_3X — stacked horizontal bars

Line Charts

• LINE — basic line
• LINE_WITH_MARKERS — line with data point markers
• LINE_WITH_HIGH_LOW — line with a high/low band
• Multi-series: LINE_2X, LINE_3X, STACKED_LINE_2X, STACKED_LINE_3X

Circular Charts

• PIE — pie chart
• DOUGHNUT — donut chart

Specialty Charts

• WATERFALL — waterfall chart for financial analysis
• FUNNEL — funnel chart for pipeline visualization
• TREEMAP — hierarchical data visualization
• HISTOGRAM — frequency distribution
• BOX_AND_WHISKER — statistical spread
• SCATTER — XY scatter plot
• RADAR / FILLED_RADAR — radar/spider charts
• PARETO — Pareto analysis
• SPARKLINE — inline mini-charts

Map Charts

• WORLD, UNITED_STATES, UNITED_KINGDOM, CANADA, AUSTRALIA

Example: Revenue Column Chart

curl -X POST https://api.pptx.dev/v1/presentations \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
  "$schema": "https://openpresentation.org/schema/opf/v1",
  "name": "Revenue Report",
  "slides": [
    {
      "layout": "chart-1x-title-center",
      "title": "Revenue by Quarter",
      "chart": {
        "type": "clustered-column",
        "data": {
          "columns": [
            "Series",
            "Q1",
            "Q2",
            "Q3",
            "Q4"
          ],
          "rows": [
            [
              "2025",
              1200,
              1800,
              2100,
              2400
            ],
            [
              "2026",
              1500,
              2200,
              2800,
              null
            ]
          ]
        }
      },
      "design": {
        "titleAlignment": "center",
        "contentAlignment": "center"
      }
    }
  ],
  "design": {
    "colorScheme": "forest-green",
    "fontScheme": "calibri"
  },
  "catalogs": {
    "layouts": {
      "records": [
        {
          "$schema": "https://openpresentation.org/schema/opf-layout/v1",
          "id": "chart-1x-title-center",
          "name": "Chart 1x Title Center",
          "placeholders": [
            {
              "type": "title"
            },
            {
              "type": "chart"
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}'

Example: Pie Chart

{
  "$schema": "https://openpresentation.org/schema/opf/v1",
  "name": "Market Share",
  "slides": [
    {
      "layout": "chart-1x",
      "title": "Market Share",
      "chart": {
        "type": "pie",
        "data": {
          "columns": [
            "Series",
            "Our Product",
            "Competitor A",
            "Competitor B",
            "Others"
          ],
          "rows": [
            [
              "Share",
              35,
              28,
              22,
              15
            ]
          ]
        }
      },
      "design": {
        "contentAlignment": "center"
      }
    }
  ]
}

Example: Two Charts Side by Side

{
  "$schema": "https://openpresentation.org/schema/opf/v1",
  "name": "Sales Overview",
  "slides": [
    {
      "layout": "chart-2x",
      "title": "Sales Overview",
      "blocks": [
        {
          "chart": {
            "type": "line-with-markers",
            "data": {
              "columns": [
                "Series",
                "Jan",
                "Feb",
                "Mar",
                "Apr"
              ],
              "rows": [
                [
                  "Revenue",
                  100,
                  120,
                  115,
                  140
                ]
              ]
            }
          }
        },
        {
          "chart": {
            "type": "doughnut",
            "data": {
              "columns": [
                "Series",
                "Online",
                "In-Store",
                "Partners"
              ],
              "rows": [
                [
                  "Channel",
                  55,
                  30,
                  15
                ]
              ]
            }
          }
        }
      ],
      "design": {
        "contentAlignment": "center"
      }
    }
  ]
}

Chart Best Practices

1. Limit data points. 4-8 categories per chart keeps slides readable.
2. Use the right chart type. Comparisons → column/bar. Trends → line. Parts of whole → pie/doughnut.
3. Label clearly. Use descriptive series names and category labels.
4. Pair with KPI slides. Lead with a number slide for the headline metric, then follow with a chart for the trend.

Next Steps

• Deep dive into column and bar charts
• Learn about line charts
• Explore pie and doughnut charts