What it does
Uses a settings sheets (Refresh_PowerPoint_Slides) to refresh the items within PowerPoint slides (copies and pastes from source data in Excel), then resizes/repositions based on the previous items that are replaced.

When to use it
When you want to quickly refresh the content of one or more PowerPoint slides, where the source data is from an Excel table/range or chart.

Why to use it
It’s a very quick way to update/refresh dozens or even hundreds of PowerPoint slides based on source data in Excel tables/ranges or charts.

Default shortcut
None

Other Details

• Category: MS Office / PowerPoint
• Difficulty: 5/5
• Usage/frequency: 2/5
• Automation factor: 5/5 (estimated 300 seconds saved each time used)
• Type: Bulk
• Date added: 11/11/2017
• Tags: Bulk, PowerPoint, slides, update, refresh, tables, charts

Related Macros
PowerPoint Bulk Slide Update
PowerPoint Bulk Shape Update

Other Articles
None

Prerequisites
Identify the PowerPoint file and any source data Excel files you want to use to quickly update the PowerPoint slide content based on that source data in Excel.

Instructions
Run the Refresh PowerPoint Slides macro.  The Refresh_PowerPoint_Slides sheet is created in the active workbook.  Populate the yellow required fields in this sheet, many of which will reference a separate sheet in the same workbook that should have a list of all the slide items/shapes that should be updated, and which Excel file/sheet/range should be used to update them.  When you have populated the settings sheet and the related sheet with all the slide items to update, then run the Refresh PowerPoint Slides macro again to refresh the slides (copy and paste items, remove the previous items being replaced, and resize/reposition the new items).  These are the fields within the Refresh_PowerPoint_Slides sheet you’ll want to fill in (all are required and examples are provided for reference):

• PowerPoint File Path: enter the full path of the PowerPoint file that contains the slides you want to update/refresh.
• Slide Contents List Sheet Name: enter the name of the sheet that contains all the slides, shapes, source Excel file, source sheet, source type, and source range name.
• Slide Name Column: enter the column letter containing the slide name containing the contents you want to refresh.
• Source Type Column: enter the column letter containing the source type (“Range” or “Picture”).
• Source File Column: enter the column letter containing the entire Excel path that contains the source data to use.  Note that the Excel file must be open to refresh the PowerPoint slide content.
• Source Sheet Column: enter the column letter containing the Excel sheet name (within the source file referenced above) containing the source data to use.
• Source Range Name Column: enter the column letter containing the Excel range name (within the source file/sheet referenced above) containing the source data to use.
• Shape Name Column: enter the column letter containing the name of the shape that should be updated within the PowerPoint file/slide.

To quickly set PowerPoint slide names or shape names in bulk using Excel, first run the Set PowerPoint File For Excel macro within PowerPoint with your intended PowerPoint file open and activated.  This will set the PowerPoint file that Excel can be used to update in bulk.  Then use the PowerPoint Bulk Slide Update macro and/or PowerPoint Bulk Slide Update macro within Excel to quickly and easily modify settings such as names, sizes, positions, etc.