Quick start

Grunt is a PowerPoint add-in built around one core idea: keep your data separate from your formatting so updates stay fast and predictable.

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Understand the Grunt model

Legacy support guidance describes Grunt as a rule-based way of building slides:

• Your data carries the values, labels, and structure.
• Rules decide how that data should look.
• Visual Grids combine the two to create charts, tables, and mixed layouts.

This separation lets you update numbers without rebuilding the design each time.

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Create your first Visual Grid

To create a simple Visual Grid with embedded data:

1. Open the Grunt tab in PowerPoint.
2. Choose Visual Grid.
3. Select the number of rows and columns you want.
4. Draw the object on the slide.
5. Open the data editor from the edge menu and enter your data.

The grid updates as you commit changes in the data editor.

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Add your first rule

Rules are how you control formatting and data visualization in Grunt.

1. Select the cells, rows, or columns you want to format.
2. Add a rule from the context menu, or press Ctrl + Enter.
3. Choose the rule you want.
4. Turn on the properties you need in the rule dialog.

Rules are applied through the rule stack on the edge of the PowerPoint window. Rules higher in the stack override conflicting settings lower in the stack.

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Start with Excel when your data will change

If your content will be updated often, do not type the data into PowerPoint first. Instead:

1. Open the workbook in Excel.
2. Copy the range you want to use.
3. Paste it into PowerPoint through Grunt.

This creates a link back to Excel so Grunt can refresh the object later. Continue to Work with data or Excel connections for that workflow.

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Set a default theme for new presentations

To make new presentations start with your company theme:

1. Open the theme or template in PowerPoint.
2. Open the Design tab and save the current theme.
3. Find the saved theme under Custom.
4. Right-click it and choose Set as Default Theme.

This makes PowerPoint apply the saved theme automatically in new presentations.

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