Introduction
The first step is to build an example deck or document. You can do this manually, or use tools like Claude or Gamma to create an initial draft. Once you have a draft deck or document, you'll convert it into a template by uploading it to Asset Builder.
With a template, you keep the design, layout, and any fixed wording exactly as you want it — and mark the parts that should be filled in automatically using {{placeholders}}.
Use Claude Skill to prepare your template automatically
We've built a Claude Skill that automatically replaces dynamic content in your PowerPoint deck or Word document with {{placeholders}} for you.
We've built a Claude Skill that automatically replaces dynamic content in your PowerPoint deck or Word document with {{placeholders}} for you.
To use it:
In Claude, go to Customize, then choose Skills
Click Add, then Upload a skill
Once the skill is added, start a new Cowork task, type
/add-placeholders-to-deck-or-document, and upload your document or deck
Recommended model: Opus 4.8 (high effort)Claude will return an updated document or deck, ready to upload to Asset Builder.
Fixed content vs. dynamic content
Example of a slide with {{placeholders}} added
Every template is made up of two types of content:
Fixed content stays exactly the same every time the asset is generated — things like titles, headings, boilerplate text, logos, and design elements. Leave this as normal text and formatting in your file.
Dynamic content changes for each account. You mark these spots with
{{placeholders}}, and they'll be automatically filled in when the asset is generated.
A slide or section can be entirely fixed (no placeholders at all), or it can include one or more placeholders. Any fixed slides or sections you create will always be kept exactly as designed.
Example templates with placeholders
PowerPoint deck
Word document
How to add a placeholder
Wherever you want dynamic, account-specific content to appear, replace that content with a placeholder using double curly braces:
{{placeholder name}}For example, a slide with an overview of a company's business could become:
{{company overview}}
Tips for naming your placeholders:
Use a short, descriptive name so relevant content can be mapped to it automatically — for example,
{{strategic priorities}}or{{business challenges}}.Place the placeholder exactly where you want the content to appear, using the formatting you want that content to have.
You can use as many placeholders as you need throughout your file.
Examples of placeholders
Placeholders are very flexible, as these examples show:
Placeholder as bullet points. Databook will build out a set of bullet points automatically, adding as many items as there is relevant content for.
Placeholder as numbered list. Databook will build out a numbered list automatically, adding as many items as there is relevant content for.
Placeholder for table contents. Databook will automatically fill out content for the entire table from this placeholder, dynamically adding or removing rows as needed.
Placeholder for dynamic images. Databook will automatically replace an image based on the placeholder set in the image's alt text, for example
{{company logo}}.
Additional placeholder types, such as charts, will become available in future releases.
Uploading your template
Once your file is ready, here's how to upload it:
Go to AI Studio > Assets and select + New asset.
Give your asset a name.
Upload your prepared file. Each asset uses one template file (
.pptxor.docx).
Once your template is uploaded, Asset Builder automatically scans it and detects your placeholders. Each slide (or section, for Word documents) shows how many placeholders were found, so you can see at a glance how much configuration is left before you start mapping content.
Replacing a template later
If you upload a new file to replace your template after you've already started configuring it, your placeholder mappings, industry targeting, and other configuration may be lost. Where possible, edit your existing file rather than replacing it to avoid losing your progress. Asset Builder warns you before you replace a template and lets you cancel.