Can I create custom built design objects and macros?

[Jedediah]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: Intel

I'm using PPT 2008 for Mac. My client (on a Windows machine, using Office 2007) is wondering if we can create customized "macros" in Power Point to automate the placement of specific, custom-styled graphical objects and standard text boxes. Whether this would mean the creation of custom "smart-art" graphics or not, I'm not sure. They would like to see, as they had in the Office 2003 version of PPT, a customized "tool bar" (?) with all of the custom elements we've created and when they click on one, the element appears on the slide in a specific location via a programmed macro(?).

Anyhow, they know that this has been done in the past in PPT 2003 but I'm wondering is this functionality option has (a) been completely done away with in PPT 2008 for Mac and/or Office 2007 for Windows Users or (b) is a PPT for windows-only option.

Is there a quick and easy answer to this or not?

If this does require advanced programming (or action scripting maybe?), would that need to be written specifically for a Windows operating system anyways?

Thanks!

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: Intel

I'm using PPT 2008 for Mac. My client (on a Windows machine, using Office 2007) is

wondering if we can create customized "macros" in Power Point

Not using 2008, no. MS removed support for VBA from PowerPoint 2008. VBA is the language
most commonly used to write macros and add-ins for PowerPoint.

You could use 2004 or earlier versions, though it'd be more difficult than it'd need to
be. There are ways to run Windows+Office on your Mac. It'd be cheaper and a lot less
frustrating in the long run to develop the software that way or even buy an inexpensive
Windows laptop to work on.

VBA/macros are still quite workable in 2007.

Writing something like this isn't a beginning project.

In case you decide not to tackle it yourself, I have a PPT add-in that does pretty much
what you describe and a lot more. If interested, give me a shout at steve at-sign pptools
dot com

If you decide to take it on, the best place to ask questions would probably be the Windows
PowerPoint section of this newsgroup/forum (Public.PowerPoint). I'll be happy to help out
there (or here).

to automate the placement of specific, custom-styled graphical objects and standard text

boxes. Whether this would mean the creation of custom "smart-art" graphics or not, I'm not
sure. They would like to see, as they had in the Office 2003 version of PPT, a customized
"tool bar" (?) with all of the custom elements we've created and when they click on one,
the element appears on the slide in a specific location via a programmed macro(?).

Anyhow, they know that this has been done in the past in PPT 2003 but I'm wondering is

this functionality option has (a) been completely done away with in PPT 2008 for Mac
and/or Office 2007 for Windows Users or (b) is a PPT for windows-only option.

Is there a quick and easy answer to this or not?

If this does require advanced programming (or action scripting maybe?), would that need

to be written specifically for a Windows operating system anyways?

Thanks!

================================================
Steve Rindsberg, PPT MVP
PPT FAQ: www.pptfaq.com
PPTools: www.pptools.com
================================================

 

[Jim Gordon MVP]

wondering if we can create customized "macros" in Power Point

Not using 2008, no. MS removed support for VBA from PowerPoint 2008. VBA is the language
most commonly used to write macros and add-ins for PowerPoint.

You could use 2004 or earlier versions, though it'd be more difficult than it'd need to
be. There are ways to run Windows+Office on your Mac. It'd be cheaper and a lot less
frustrating in the long run to develop the software that way or even buy an inexpensive
Windows laptop to work on.

VBA/macros are still quite workable in 2007.

Writing something like this isn't a beginning project.

In case you decide not to tackle it yourself, I have a PPT add-in that does pretty much
what you describe and a lot more. If interested, give me a shout at steve at-sign pptools
dot com

If you decide to take it on, the best place to ask questions would probably be the Windows
PowerPoint section of this newsgroup/forum (Public.PowerPoint). I'll be happy to help out
there (or here).

boxes. Whether this would mean the creation of custom "smart-art" graphics or not, I'm not
sure. They would like to see, as they had in the Office 2003 version of PPT, a customized
"tool bar" (?) with all of the custom elements we've created and when they click on one,
the element appears on the slide in a specific location via a programmed macro(?).
this functionality option has (a) been completely done away with in PPT 2008 for Mac
and/or Office 2007 for Windows Users or (b) is a PPT for windows-only option.
to be written specifically for a Windows operating system anyways?

================================================
Steve Rindsberg, PPT MVP
PPT FAQ: www.pptfaq.com
PPTools: www.pptools.com
================================================

Hi,

To follow up on what Steve said, there is also the issue of the new file
format and drawing engine vs the old one.

Steve's right about no Macro capability in Office 2008 on the Mac.
Microsoft has promised to restore VBA in the next version of Mac Office,
but meanwhile you're stuck in Windows land.

Jim

--
Jim Gordon
Mac MVP

MVPs are independent experts who are not affiliated with Microsoft.


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