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Version: 4.1 (2026-H2)

Microsoft 365 Copilot

primedocs is compatible with Microsoft 365 Copilot.

To leverage Copilot's efficiency gains together with primedocs' added value around corporate design, the templates must be optimised accordingly. This section summarises the best practices for template design.

PowerPoint​

Successful integration of Microsoft Copilot into PowerPoint templates requires careful preparation and attention to specific technical requirements. Based on practical experience, the following points are essential:

The template: the foundation for Copilot​

The key to success lies in the slide master of the PowerPoint template. Copilot analyses the available layouts in the master to determine how best to present the requested content.

  • Strict naming of slide layouts:
    Copilot relies on predefined English names for slide layouts to understand their purpose. If layouts are called "Custom Layout 1", the assistant cannot infer their use. You must therefore name the layouts in the slide master according to Microsoft's guidelines. The most important are:
    • Title Slide (title slide)
    • Title + Content (title and content)
    • Section Header (section header)
    • Two Content (two contents)
    • Comparison (comparison)
    • Title Only (title only)
    • Blank (blank)
  • Offer variety in layouts:
    Copilot often selects the appropriate layout based on the length of the text to be generated. If a lot of content is requested for a slide, Copilot looks for a layout with a large content placeholder. Therefore, multiple variants of common layouts should be created. For example, you can offer "Title + Content" slides with text fields of different sizes, or layouts with two, three or four content placeholders.

Handling design elements​

A common issue is that Copilot tries to fill purely decorative shapes and graphics with text. This can disrupt the brand's visual appearance.

  • Challenge:
    There is currently no official function to explicitly mark a shape as "not intended for text". Copilot may therefore mistakenly treat a design element as a placeholder.
  • Possible approaches (workarounds):
    • Anchor in the slide master:
      Purely decorative elements should be placed directly on the master layouts rather than on individual slides. This reduces the likelihood that Copilot will interpret them as editable content. Even better, save them as an image (see next item).
    • Save as an image:
      You can group complex design elements, save them as an image (e.g. PNG), and then reinsert this image into the slide master. Copilot is less likely to incorrectly fill images with text.

References​

Word​

In Word, ensure that the relevant styles are implemented as Built-In Styles. This ensures that Copilot applies the correct styles within a primedocs document.

If a new document is generated via Copilot, it is based on Normal.dotm. If primedocs styles are to be used accordingly, Normal.dotm must be replaced with one from a primedocs template.

Outlook​

No special configurations are required in Outlook.

Excel​

No special configurations are required in Excel.