How to Run a PowerPoint Macro on a Separate Presentation

PowerPoint presentations are projected onto a screen or board.

A macro is a collection of keystrokes and commands formatted into a single command. For example, you could create a macro in PowerPoint to format a presentation including stylizing the presentation and adding pictures. Macros are specific to the presentation you are working on. That means if you want to use the macro on a new PowerPoint presentation, then you must first copy the macro over from the old presentation.

Things You'll Need

• PowerPoint 2007 or 2010

Instructions

1. Open the PowerPoint presentation where the macro you want to copy over is.

2. Press the "Alt" and "F11" keys together to open the Visual Basic Editor (VBE).

3. Click on "File" and then click on "Export File" to open the Export File dialog box.

4. Select a location to save the file to, and then click on the "Save" button. For example, save the file to the Desktop.

5. Open the PowerPoint presentation that you want to copy the macro to, then press "Alt" and "F11" together to open the VBE.

6. Click on "File" and then "Import File."

7. Locate the file you saved in Step 4, then click on "Open." The macro will now work on your new presentation.

Tips & Warnings

• If you regularly make macros that you want to copy, considering saving each macro in a plain text file on your Desktop or other easy to access location. Instead of hunting around in a PowerPoint presentation for the macro, open the text file, copy the code and then paste it into a new window in the VBE (click on "Insert" and then "Module" from within the VBE).

References

• Microsoft: Create a Macro
• Virginia University: An Excel/Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) Programming Primer