| 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.
Part of the Office VBA Suite · MIT License
