Why? so that we can translate the text easily… or perhaps to proof read the text, or use the content in another medium, like in an email or Word document.<\/p>\n
Out of thousands of hits, only 1 website solved the problem. I’ll share with you the solution next.<\/p>\n
Thinking (wrongly) that surely PowerPoint 2008 for Mac lets us export the text from slides<\/strong>, I hunted for the option. First discovery: there is no export function. Okay, let’s try Save As… no, these options are useless, as the RTF outline text<\/em><\/strong> or HTML<\/strong><\/em> options do not export any slide text<\/em>! Astounding.\u00a0 The “Outline” option requires some unusual structuring that ignores any actual content on the slides! And the “HTML” option actually flattens all the text into a graphic<\/em>. Wow. Because in this SEO era, we surely don’t care about text-based content on our web pages, right?<\/p>\n I found one helpful web page out of thousands that had a solution. It involves running a simple macro snippet, after adding it to the PPT file. I have never used Macros before, but I was able to figure it out in under 5 minutes.<\/p>\n But this technique does not work for POWERPOINT:MAC 2008<\/strong> \u2014 because Microsoft removed<\/em> Macro support in Office 2008.\u00a0 Astounding again. Who does the thinking at the Mac Business Unit there?\u00a0 UPDATE:\u00a0 Macro support is back in Office 2011.<\/p>\n However, luckily, I also have Office 2004<\/strong> for Mac. If you do too, follow along.<\/p>\n The website with the macro solution is here, at the PPT FAQ site<\/a>. Credit to Stephen Rindsberg, who modified code from Kris Lander.<\/p>\n Copy the 2nd chunk of code. Here it is for you:<\/p>\n Now open the PPT file in PowerPoint:Mac 2004, open the menu item “Tools –> Macros” and you will see the Macro editor. It will be empty at first.<\/p>\n![\"powerpoint](\"https:\/\/paulgurney.com\/whats_new_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/powerpoint-Mac-2004.png\" "\\"powerpoint")
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Sub ExportText()\r\n\r\n Dim oPres As Presentation\r\n Dim oSlides As Slides\r\n Dim oSld As Slide 'Slide Object\r\n Dim oShp As Shape 'Shape Object\r\n Dim iFile As Integer 'File handle for output\r\n iFile = FreeFile 'Get a free file number\r\n Dim PathSep As String\r\n Dim FileNum As Integer\r\n\r\n #If Mac Then\r\n PathSep = \":\"\r\n #Else\r\n PathSep = \"\\\"\r\n #End If\r\n\r\n Set oPres = ActivePresentation\r\n Set oSlides = oPres.Slides\r\n\r\n FileNum = FreeFile\r\n\r\n 'Open output file\r\n ' NOTE: errors here if file hasn't been saved\r\n Open oPres.Path & PathSep & \"AllText.TXT\" For Output As FileNum\r\n\r\n For Each oSld In oSlides 'Loop thru each slide\r\n For Each oShp In oSld.Shapes 'Loop thru each shape on slide\r\n\r\n 'Check to see if shape has a text frame and text\r\n If oShp.HasTextFrame And oShp.TextFrame.HasText Then\r\n If oShp.Type = msoPlaceholder Then\r\n Select Case oShp.PlaceholderFormat.Type\r\n Case Is = ppPlaceholderTitle, ppPlaceholderCenterTitle\r\n Print #iFile, \"Title:\" & vbTab & oShp.TextFrame.TextRange\r\n Case Is = ppPlaceholderBody\r\n Print #iFile, \"Body:\" & vbTab & oShp.TextFrame.TextRange\r\n Case Is = ppPlaceholderSubtitle\r\n Print #iFile, \"SubTitle:\" & vbTab & oShp.TextFrame.TextRange\r\n Case Else\r\n Print #iFile, \"Other Placeholder:\" & vbTab & oShp.TextFrame.TextRange\r\n End Select\r\n Else\r\n Print #iFile, vbTab & oShp.TextFrame.TextRange\r\n End If ' msoPlaceholder\r\n End If ' Has text frame\/Has text\r\n\r\n Next oShp\r\n Next oSld\r\n\r\n 'Close output file\r\n Close #iFile\r\n\r\nEnd Sub<\/pre>\n<\/blockquote>\n