BET: Microsoft PowerPoint Add-ins - Creating a PowerPoint Add-in

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Microsoft PowerPoint > Add-ins > Creating a PowerPoint Add-in

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Step 1 - Create a Presentation ".ppt"

	To create a PowerPoint add-in you must first create a PowerPoint presentation as normal.
	It is highly recommended that you test your code thoroughly before creating the add-in.
	There will not always be an active presentation, so any references to the "ActiveWindow" will cause an error if there are no presentations open.
	Make sure you keep a copy of the original presentation because you cannot make any changes to the VBA code once the add-in has been created.
	In fact you will not even see the VBA Project in the Visual Basic Editor.
	If you want to activate any of your macros from shortcut keys these must be added before the presentation is converted to an add-in. You will not be able to do this afterwards.

Step 2 - Write some VBA Code

	The code below is a very simple add-in that displays the number of slides in the active presentation.
	An additional command will be added to the top of the Tools drop-down menu to allow you to display the number of slides.
	You will need to include some initialisation code in your add-in that will be run automatically when the add-in is loaded.

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Public Sub Auto_Open()
Dim objcommandbutton As CommandBarButton
   Call MsgBox("Auto_Open")
   Set objcommandbutton = Application.CommandBars("Tools").Controls.Add _
                                      (Type:=msoControlButton, Before:=1)
   objcommandbutton.Caption = "How Many Slides?"
   objcommandbutton.OnAction = "HowManySlides"
End Sub

You should also include some clean-up code which will run when the add-in is unloaded.

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Public Sub Auto_Close()
Dim objcommandbutton As CommandBarControl
   Call MsgBox("Auto_Close")
   For Each objcommandbutton In Application.CommandBars("Tools").Controls
      If objcommandbutton.Caption = "How Many Slides?" Then
         objcommandbutton.Delete
      End If
   Next objcommandbutton
End Sub

This subroutine will display the number of slides in the active presentation.

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Public Sub HowManySlides()
   If Presentations.Count > 0 Then
      Call MsgBox(ActiveWindow.Selection.SlideRange.Count)
   Else
      Call MsgBox("No presentation is currently active.")
   End If
End Sub

Step 3 - Provide a Name and Description

	Unlike Excel the name and the description of your add-in is not displayed in the (Tools > Add-ins).
	Filling in the (File > Properties)(Summary tab) for PowerPoint add-ins is less important.
	The name that appears in the (Tools > Add-ins) dialog box is just the file name of the PowerPoint add-in so it is important to save your add-in with a meaningful name.

Step 4 - Protecting your Code

	It is often a good idea to protect your code from being viewed and modified. This can be done by password protecting the project.
	This is less important for PowerPoint add-ins since the VBA Project cannot be seen when the add-in is loaded.
	This can be done by filling in the (Tools > VBAProject Properties)(Protection tab).
	To prevent a project from being viewed check the "Lock project for viewing" check box and enter a password.
	Try to use a password that you will remember as there is no way to access the code if you forget the password.
	The contents of the Confirm Password box and the Password box must match when you press OK or you get an error.

(Tools > VBAProject Properties)(Protection tab)

	If you do not check the Lock Project for Viewing option but set a password, you will be required to enter a password the next time you open the (Tools > VBAProject Properties) dialog box.
	It is probably also worth giving your VBA project a name and description. This can be done from the General tab.
	Any passwords and locking that you apply to your project will not take effect until the project is closed and reopened.

Step 5 - Save as a PowerPoint Add-in (".ppa")

	You should always recompile your code before saving the presentation as an add-in.
	If the code has not been pre-compiled then your add-in will take slightly longer to run the first time.
	You can compile your code by selecting (Debug > Compile).
	To save your presentation select (File > SaveAs) to display the Save As dialog box.
	Select *PowerPoint Add-In (.ppa)** from the "Save as Type" drop-down.

(File > SaveAs) dialog box

	The folder path will change automatically to the default folder path for your add-ins.
	PowerPoint 2003 - C:\Documents and Settings\"user name"\Application Data\Microsoft\Addins\
	PowerPoint 2002 - C:\Documents and Settings\"user name"\Application Data\Microsoft\Addins\
	PowerPoint 2000 - C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\Library\
	PowerPoint 97 - C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\Library\
	It is possible to save the add-in to a different directory.
	Once you are happy with the name of the your add-in and the folder which it will be saved to press "OK".
	The PowerPoint add-in will be saved although your original presentation will remain open.

Step 6 - Things to Remember

		Any procedures in an Add-in are not displayed in the (Tools > Macro > Macros) dialog box.
		If you want PowerPoint to automatically install your add-in then save it in the default "Add-ins" folder.
		Your comments are not automatically removed when the file is saved as an Add-in. Removing all the comments will help to reduce the file size.
		PowerPoint add-ins should be as small as possible. The smaller the file size the faster they load.
		Once a PowerPoint document has been converted to an add-in the VBA Project will be unviewable.

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Step 1 - Create a Presentation ".ppt"

To create a PowerPoint add-in you must first create a PowerPoint presentation as normal.

It is highly recommended that you test your code thoroughly before creating the add-in.

There will not always be an active presentation, so any references to the "ActiveWindow" will cause an error if there are no presentations open.

Make sure you keep a copy of the original presentation because you cannot make any changes to the VBA code once the add-in has been created.

In fact you will not even see the VBA Project in the Visual Basic Editor.

If you want to activate any of your macros from shortcut keys these must be added before the presentation is converted to an add-in. You will not be able to do this afterwards.

Step 2 - Write some VBA Code

The code below is a very simple add-in that displays the number of slides in the active presentation.

An additional command will be added to the top of the Tools drop-down menu to allow you to display the number of slides.

You will need to include some initialisation code in your add-in that will be run automatically when the add-in is loaded.

You should also include some clean-up code which will run when the add-in is unloaded.

This subroutine will display the number of slides in the active presentation.

Step 3 - Provide a Name and Description

Unlike Excel the name and the description of your add-in is not displayed in the (Tools > Add-ins).

Filling in the (File > Properties)(Summary tab) for PowerPoint add-ins is less important.

The name that appears in the (Tools > Add-ins) dialog box is just the file name of the PowerPoint add-in so it is important to save your add-in with a meaningful name.

Step 4 - Protecting your Code

It is often a good idea to protect your code from being viewed and modified. This can be done by password protecting the project.

This is less important for PowerPoint add-ins since the VBA Project cannot be seen when the add-in is loaded.

This can be done by filling in the (Tools > VBAProject Properties)(Protection tab).

To prevent a project from being viewed check the "Lock project for viewing" check box and enter a password.

Try to use a password that you will remember as there is no way to access the code if you forget the password.

The contents of the Confirm Password box and the Password box must match when you press OK or you get an error.

(Tools > VBAProject Properties)(Protection tab)

If you do not check the Lock Project for Viewing option but set a password, you will be required to enter a password the next time you open the (Tools > VBAProject Properties) dialog box.

It is probably also worth giving your VBA project a name and description. This can be done from the General tab.

Any passwords and locking that you apply to your project will not take effect until the project is closed and reopened.

Step 5 - Save as a PowerPoint Add-in (".ppa")

You should always recompile your code before saving the presentation as an add-in.

If the code has not been pre-compiled then your add-in will take slightly longer to run the first time.

You can compile your code by selecting (Debug > Compile).

To save your presentation select (File > SaveAs) to display the Save As dialog box.

Select PowerPoint Add-In (*.ppa) from the "Save as Type" drop-down.

(File > SaveAs) dialog box

The folder path will change automatically to the default folder path for your add-ins.

PowerPoint 2003 - C:\Documents and Settings\"user name"\Application Data\Microsoft\Addins\

PowerPoint 2002 - C:\Documents and Settings\"user name"\Application Data\Microsoft\Addins\

PowerPoint 2000 - C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\Library\

PowerPoint 97 - C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\Library\

It is possible to save the add-in to a different directory.

Once you are happy with the name of the your add-in and the folder which it will be saved to press "OK".

The PowerPoint add-in will be saved although your original presentation will remain open.

Step 6 - Things to Remember

Any procedures in an Add-in are not displayed in the (Tools > Macro > Macros) dialog box.

If you want PowerPoint to automatically install your add-in then save it in the default "Add-ins" folder.

Your comments are not automatically removed when the file is saved as an Add-in. Removing all the comments will help to reduce the file size.

PowerPoint add-ins should be as small as possible. The smaller the file size the faster they load.

Once a PowerPoint document has been converted to an add-in the VBA Project will be unviewable.

Select **PowerPoint Add-In (*.ppa)** from the "Save as Type" drop-down.