---
auto_generated: true
created: 2026-05-18
manual_updated_at: 2026-05-18
modified: 2026-05-18
name: User_Manual
status: active
tags:
- client/oliver
- domain/ai
- tech/docker
- tech/fastapi
- tech/sqlite
- type/sop
type: sop
---

# Presenton User Manual

## What This Tool Does
Presenton is an open-source AI-powered presentation generator. It allows users to create professional presentations from text prompts or existing documents (PPTX, PDF, DOCX). It supports various AI models (OpenAI, Google Gemini, Anthropic, Ollama) and offers custom template creation using HTML and Tailwind CSS.

## Who Uses It
- **Professionals**: Quickly create slides for business meetings, reports, or pitches.
- **Educators**: Generate lecture slides or study materials.
- **Developers**: Integrate presentation generation into workflows via API or MCP.
- **Privacy-Conscious Users**: Run the entire application locally on their device.

## How to Access
Presenton is a self-hosted web application. You can access it locally via your web browser at `http://localhost:5000` after starting the server.

### Prerequisites
- **Docker** and **Docker Compose**: For easy local deployment.
- **LLM API Keys**: Valid keys for OpenAI, Google, or Anthropic (or an Ollama instance running locally).

### Quick Start
1. Clone the repository.
2. Create a `.env` file in the root directory with your API keys:
   ```env
   OPENAI_API_KEY=your_key_here
   OPENAI_MODEL=gpt-4.1
   LLM=openai
   DATABASE_URL=sqlite:///./app_data/presenton.db
   ```
3. Run the application:
   ```bash
   docker-compose up -d
   ```
4. Open `http://localhost:5000` in your browser.

## Main Workflows

### 1. Generate a Presentation from Scratch
1. Navigate to the **New Presentation** screen.
2. Select **AI Template Generation** or **Prompt to Presentation**.
3. Enter your topic or upload a document (PPTX, PDF, DOCX) for context.
4. Choose an AI model (e.g., GPT-4, Gemini, Llama 3 via Ollama).
5. Click **Generate**. The AI will create slides based on your input.
6. Preview and download your presentation.

### 2. Use Custom Templates
1. Go to **Templates**.
2. Select **Create New Template**.
3. Design your slide layout using HTML and Tailwind CSS.
4. Save the template and use it in new presentations.

### 3. Upload Existing Presentation
1. Click **Upload File**.
2. Select a `.pptx` file.
3. Presenton will analyze the design and generate a new presentation with a similar style.

## FAQ

**Q: Can I use my own local models?**
A: Yes. Set `LLM=ollama` in your environment variables and provide the `OLLAMA_URL` and `OLLAMA_MODEL`.

**Q: Where are my data stored?**
A: All user data is stored locally in the `./app_data` volume mapped in your Docker Compose setup. No data is sent to external servers unless required by your chosen AI provider.

**Q: How do I change the port?**
A: Modify the `ports` section in `docker-compose.yml` (e.g., `- "8080:80"`).

**Q: Is there an API?**
A: Yes. The FastAPI server exposes endpoints for programmatic access. See the Developer Manual for details.

## Related
- [[01 Projects/ppt-tool/USER_MANUAL]]
- [[01 Projects/presenton/DEVELOPER_MANUAL.md]]
- [[01 Projects/ppt-tool/USER_MANUAL.md]]
- [[01 Projects/presenton/USER_MANUAL.md]]