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Visual Grid is the main layout surface in Grunt. You can use it for tables, charts, mixed text-and-graphic layouts, and other structured slide content.

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Choose a data mode

You can build a Visual Grid in two ways:
  • Use embedded data stored in the presentation
  • Link the grid to Excel data
Both modes use the same structure and rule system. The difference is where the data lives and how you update it later.

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Use sizing modes on rows and columns

Legacy support guidance describes three main sizing modes for Visual Grid rows and columns:
  • Relative keeps the row or column sized relative to the others
  • Fixed locks the row or column to a fixed size
  • Autofit resizes the row or column based on its content
Use Relative when the grid should rebalance as content grows. Use Fixed when exact layout stability matters. Use Autofit when text length is hard to predict.

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Set row and column types

You can label rows and columns with these built-in types:
  • Content
  • Header
  • Sub-header
  • Footer
These types help Grunt:
  • Build cleaner targets when you add rules
  • Keep formatting more maintainable over time
  • Sort content rows while leaving headers and footers in place
The legacy support guidance recommends types over explicit row IDs when the grid will grow or change.

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Use tags for advanced targeting

Tags extend the targeting model beyond full rows and columns. Use tags when you need to:
  • Target a custom set of cells
  • Reuse the same custom target across several rules
  • Drive formatting from smart definitions, such as values above a threshold or rows containing a specific word
You can manage tags from the Tag Manager in the edge menu.

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Understand include and exclude logic

Rules target everything in the include list, minus anything in the exclude list. Legacy FAQ guidance notes that Grunt may prefer Exclude over Include when that creates a more durable target. For example, if you format everything except a header row, Grunt can exclude the header so newly added content rows are automatically covered.

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Build chart-like layouts inside a grid

A Visual Grid can also host chart-style visuals. For example, the legacy stacked-bar article recommends this workflow:
  1. Paste the data into the grid.
  2. Insert a new display column for the chart output.
  3. Apply the Stacked bar rule to that display column.
  4. Point the rule’s data target to the numeric columns.
  5. Add the remaining series and hide the raw numeric columns if needed.
This gives you more freedom over label placement and surrounding layout than a stand-alone chart.

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Troubleshooting: Visual Grid becomes unresponsive

If a Visual Grid stops responding to clicks and no menus appear (while other grids on the same slide work normally), restart PowerPoint. This is typically caused by a temporary selection state issue. If the problem recurs, collect logs and contact support.

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Continue

Use Charts for chart-specific guidance, or Excel connections when your grid should stay linked to a workbook.