Microsoft Office 2000/Visual Basic Programmer's Guide

Creating a PowerPoint Add-in

To create a PowerPoint add-in, you create a new presentation and add code and custom toolbars. Then you save your presentation as both a presentation file (.ppt) and a PowerPoint add-in (.ppa).

To create a PowerPoint add-in

1. Create a new presentation and add code to its VBA project, and create any custom toolbars or menu bars.
   
   
2. When you've tested and debugged the code, compile the project by clicking Compile VBA Project on the Debug menu.
   
   
3. If you want, protect the project from viewing as described in "Securing an Access, Excel, PowerPoint, or Word Add-in's VBA Project" later in this chapter.
   
   
4. Save the project as a PowerPoint presentation, with the extension .ppt, and then save the project as a PowerPoint add-in, which has the extension .ppa. By default, PowerPoint add-ins are saved to the same folder as Excel add-ins: the C:\Windows\Application Data\Microsoft\Addins subfolder or, if the system is using user profiles, the C:\Windows\Profiles\UserName\Application Data\Microsoft\AddIns subfolder. This folder is where PowerPoint looks for add-ins when you browse for a new add-in in the Add-ins dialog box (Tools menu).

   Important   Once you save the project as a PowerPoint add-in, you can no longer view the VBA project, not even in break mode, nor can you view the slides associated with it. Therefore, you should also save your PowerPoint add-in as a standard presentation, in case you need to make changes to it and resave it as an add-in.