vba-powerpoint

name

vba-powerpoint

description

Extract, refactor, and re-import VBA code from PowerPoint macro-enabled presentations (.pptm) and templates (.potm) on Windows using Python and COM automation. Use when: exporting PowerPoint VBA modules to .bas files for version control, editing presentation macros in VS Code, importing refactored modules back into a .pptm, enabling VBA project access in PowerPoint. Always creates a verified backup before any import — flow stops if no backup exists. Triggers on: export VBA PowerPoint, import VBA PowerPoint, vba-powerpoint, PowerPoint macros, pptm VBA, extraer macros PowerPoint, importar VBA PowerPoint, refactorizar macros PowerPoint, módulos VBA PowerPoint, PowerPoint automation, backup pptm.

vba-powerpoint

Export, refactor, and re-import VBA modules from PowerPoint .pptm / .potm files on Windows.

⚠️ Mandatory Safety Rule

No import or overwrite without a verified backup.
If no recent backup of the .pptm exists, stop and create one before proceeding. This rule is not optional.

Recommended Workflow

healthcheck → backup → export → refactor → import → validate

1. Healthcheck

• Confirm PowerPoint is installed and the .pptm file is accessible.
• Verify VBA project access is enabled (see ppt-vba-patterns.md).
• Close all PowerPoint instances.

2. Backup

Copy-Item "Deck.pptm" "Deck_BACKUP_$(Get-Date -f 'yyyyMMdd_HHmmss').pptm"

Do not skip. Import overwrites modules and cannot be undone.

3. Export VBA

python scripts/export_vba_ppt.py Deck.pptm ./exported_vba/

Each VBA component is exported as a .bas or .cls file.

4. Refactor

Edit .bas / .cls files in VS Code. Keep module names unchanged between export and import.

5. Import VBA

python scripts/import_vba_ppt.py Deck.pptm ./exported_vba/

The script automatically creates a new backup immediately before importing. Replaces matching modules in the presentation.

6. Validate

• Open Deck.pptm in PowerPoint.
• Run a macro (Developer → Macros) and confirm expected behaviour.
• Open the VBA editor (Alt+F11) and verify no compile errors.

Important Notes

• Always close PowerPoint before running export or import scripts.
• Module names must match exactly between export and import.
• ThisPresentation module is exported as .cls — edit carefully; it is the presentation event handler.
• .potm templates follow the same workflow; substitute the file path.
• UserForm binary (.frx) is skipped — only text code is exported/imported.
• PowerPoint COM requires Visible = True — unlike Word and Access, PowerPoint may briefly display a window during automation. This is a COM limitation, not a script error.

Included Scripts

• scripts/export_vba_ppt.py — exports all VBA components via COM to .bas / .cls files.
• scripts/import_vba_ppt.py — imports .bas / .cls files back into the .pptm via COM, creating a backup first.

References

• ppt-vba-patterns.md — component types, events, enabling VBOM access, and common PowerPoint VBA patterns.

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Part of the Office VBA Suite · MIT License