Personal Macros in PowerPoint

[Chris Macro]

Is there a way to setup a personal macro file (similar to Excel) that will let you edit the code inside the VBE? I have tried creating an add-in file, but I cannot view the vba to make changes or to add to my QAT bar. Any suggestions?

[John Wilson]

There's no "Excel like" way to do this Chris.

You will need to go with a ppam addin that also creates a ribbon menu (XML) to run the code. There's a very good book on this for 2007 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/RibbonX-Customizing-Office-2007-Ribbon/dp/0470191112) which mainly works with later versions too

To edit you will have to retain the source pptm file. It is possible to see the code in ppam AddIns by adding a reg key but it won't allow you to make permanent edits in the VBE.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\14.0\PowerPoint\Options --- create Dword DebugAddins and set value to 1 - (change 14.0 to reflect version in use.)

[Chris Macro]

I was afraid of that! That registry trick was great but wish it would allow saves! So how come when you go to setup your QAT it has a drop down filter for macros, yet nothing shows up there? Seems a bit odd that I can't use that functionality even though it says I can.

I actually have the RibbonX book and it is AWESOME! Using a ribbon tab is currently how I have my "personal macros" setup for PowerPoint but was receiving some questions about this and was curious if there was another way. I don't think they are going to like a solution where they have to learn how to create a ribbon, haha!

[John Wilson]

You might want to look at our freebies Add In "kit". It allows four macros to be added to the ribbon and does a fair bit of the hard work. If you like it feel free to distribute.

http://www.pptalchemy.co.uk/Downloads/Kit.zip

[John Wilson]

or even:


http://www.pptalchemy.co.uk/Downloads/Kit.zip

[Chris Macro]

That is an amazing idea!!! I'm actually going to be writing a blog post on that Registry trick (if was too hard to find/understand for a google search). This might fit in very nicely with my article. I'll message you so we can exchange emails.

[jm169896]

Thanks to everyone for these tips... i was able to get a personal macros menu working by using the file provided. I'm now wondering if it's possible to change the icons beside the text in the dropdown. Right now, it just shows a bold 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. I'd like to replace the numbers with icons if possible, but I can't find where it's getting assigned.

[John Wilson]

It's assigned in the XML. You can read this by downloading CustomUIEditor. You would have to know how XML works of course and know the idMso for the icons you need.