Seen as you’ve fallen onto this page, you’ve probably come across PowerPoint add-ins (or plugins) but aren’t quite sure what they do? This blog post will address your questions, including what PowerPoint add-ins are, how they work, and what they’re used for.
What is a PowerPoint Add-in?
A PowerPoint add-in is a software tool that expands the features available in Microsoft PowerPoint. These add-ins are a authorized method to boost functionality, and Microsoft encourages third-party developers to create them for the Office suite (i.e., tools like Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
A PowerPoint add-in is also referred to as a PowerPoint plugin, extension, software add-in, or add-on. These terms are used interchangeably. Regardless of what different people call it, once installed, add-ins appear as an additional ribbon in PowerPoint. For instance, when you download the PowerTools add-in, it shows up in the following way.
As you can see, add-ins come with a bunch of tools in their ribbons to help automate repetitive tasks like formatting slides. Depending on the add-in, extra tools can also appear when right clicking different shapes (see below).
How Do PowerPoint Add-ins Work?
A PowerPoint add-in is a piece of software specifically designed to integrate with Microsoft PowerPoint. You can install these add-ins by either downloading a file and using PowerPoint’s native settings to reference this file.
After installation, PowerPoint add-ins typically enhance the standard features of PowerPoint by enabling new capabilities or by simplifying tasks that would otherwise require more clicks or effort. For example, the Think-cell add-in offers advanced charting features with integration to Microsoft Excel. The PowerTools add-in helps with creating and formatting professional slides quicker.
Does Microsoft Support Plugins for PowerPoint?
Yes, Microsoft not only allows, but also encourages developers to create add-ins for PowerPoint and other Office applications.
Why Do I Need a PowerPoint Add-in?
Depends on how you see it… Either to save time when building slides, or to build nicer slides in the same amount of time. PowerPoint add-ins are generally focused on speeding up and simplifying repetitive tasks. They are built for professionals working in fields like Consulting, Investment Banking, Corporate Strategy, Marketing and others where creating presentations in PowerPoint is part of the day to day. In these roles where long hours are the norm, any tool that can save time is practically priceless.
What features does a productivity add-in provide?
As a reference, here are some of the features that PowerTools provides:
Template assets: The PowerTools add-in comes imbedded with hundreds of consulting template slides, editable maps, and icons. These help any user start their slides from solid assets, saving them tons of time.
Copy-paste position: This feature is a game changer when you want the same object (e.g., title, subtitle, breadcrumbs) on many slides to have the same position. That way, those slide elements won’t dance around when flipping through your presentation, they’ll stay fixed.
Straighten lines: When right clicking on any line, PowerTools will prompt you to straighten it vertically or horizontally.
Bulk Formatting: If manual formatting of entire decks doesn’t sound worth your time, you’ll want bulk formatting features. These allow document-wide formatting changes (e.g., colors, fonts) without having to click on each slide individually.
Match to first: PowerTools’ Match to first feature is for when you want your first selected shape’s properties (e.g., formatting, size, position) to be applied to the later-selected shapes. This allows you to quickly align the formatting of one object on your slide to others.
There are hundreds more and, with a bit practice, add-in users quickly incorporate these new features into their workflow. It may seem daunting at first, but the massive time savings are definitely worth the initial learning curve.
