Automating a Looker Dashboard with Google Slides and Python

Data-driven presentations are crucial for effective decision-making, but manually updating reports can be time-consuming and error-prone. By leveraging Python, Looker’s API, and FlashDocs’ API, businesses can streamline reporting workflows and ensure their presentations always reflect the latest insights.

This guide walks you through automating a Looker dashboard with Google Slides using Python, covering key steps, best practices, and tools like the FlashDocs API to simplify the process.

Why Automate Looker Dashboards in Google Slides?

1. Save Time and Reduce Manual Effort

Manually exporting data from Looker and inserting it into Google Slides is inefficient. Automation ensures your slides stay up-to-date with minimal intervention.

2. Improve Data Accuracy and Consistency

Automating the process reduces the risk of human errors that can occur during data transfers, ensuring reports remain reliable.

3. Scale and Optimize Reporting

Organizations with recurring reports can generate presentations dynamically, reducing redundancy and improving efficiency.

4. Ensure Real-Time Data Updates

By automating Google Slides from Looker, teams can access the most current insights, enabling data-driven decision-making.

Steps to Automate a Looker Dashboard with Google Slides and Python

Step 1: Set Up Your Looker API Credentials

To extract data from Looker, you need API access. Follow these steps:

1. Navigate to Looker Admin Settings → API Keys
2. Generate an API key and store it securely
3. Install the Looker SDK for Python:
4. pip install looker-sdk
5. Authenticate using your credentials in Python:
6. import looker_sdk
sdk = looker_sdk.init40(config_file="looker.ini")

Step 2: Extract Data from Looker

‍Retrieve data from a specific Looker dashboard using the API:response = sdk.run_look(look_id=1234, result_format="json")
prompt = response.json()This will fetch the dashboard data in JSON format for further processing.

‍Step 3: Use FlashDocs API to Generate Google Slides

‍Instead of manually creating and formatting Google Slides, you can use FlashDocs API to generate slides dynamically.

First, install the necessary dependencies:

‍pip install requests

‍Next, send the Looker data to FlashDocs API to generate the slides:import requests

FLASHDOCS_API_KEY = "your_flashdocs_api_key"
FLASHDOCS_URL = "https://api.flashdocs.ai/v3/generate/deck"

headers = {
   "Authorization": f"Bearer {FLASHDOCS_API_KEY}",
   "Content-Type": "application/json"
}

payload = {
   "prompt": "Generate a summary of key insights from the Looker dashboard.",
   "source_document_id": "your_source_document_id",
   "number_slides": 5,
   "outline": [
       {
           "content_instruction": "Summarize key trends and insights from the dashboard.",
           "layout_instruction": "Bullet points with data highlights."
       }
   ],
   "audience_domain": "yourcompany.com",
   "presentation_name": "Looker Dashboard Insights",
   "google_document_editors": ["analyst@yourcompany.com"]
}

response = requests.post(FLASHDOCS_URL, headers=headers, json=payload)
slides_link = response.json().get("document_url")
print(f"Generated Google Slides: {slides_link}")

‍This sends Looker’s extracted data to FlashDocs, which processes it and returns a link to the newly created Google Slides presentation.

‍Step 4: Automate the Workflow

‍To keep your reports updated automatically, schedule this script using a cron job or a cloud function.For example, using a cron job:

‍crontab -e

‍Add the following line to run the script daily at 8 AM:0 8 * * * /usr/bin/python3 /path/to/your_script.py

‍Simplify the Process with FlashDocs API

‍We have built FlashDocs API to make Looker and Google Slides automation even easier. Our API enables businesses to generate and edit Google Slides presentations effortlessly, eliminating the need for complex scripting.Key Features:

• Direct Looker integration for seamless data extraction
• Automated slide generation with real-time data updates
• Customizable templates for brand consistency
• Secure and scalable automation for enterprise needs

Conclusion

‍Automating a Looker dashboard with Google Slides and Python enhances efficiency, ensures accuracy, and enables real-time reporting. By leveraging Looker’s API and FlashDocs API, teams can generate dynamic presentations effortlessly.🚀

‍Get started with FlashDocs API today: FlashDocs API Docs

Related posts

• Google Slides API Essential Guide
• The Best APIs to Create PowerPoint Presentations in 2025
• Automating a Looker Dashboard with PowerPoint and Python
• Create and Edit PowerPoint Presentations Programmatically
• Automate Document Generation with APIs: Best Practices and Tools

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