PowerPoint Add-in Types (in progress)
There are several different types of PowerPoint add-ins you may encounter. We'll explain a bit about each of the different types and at the bottom of the page we'll show a summary of the advantages/disadvantages of each.
What ARE Add-ins?
Explain
PowerPoint Add-ins
These are the classic add-ins written in a programming language called VBA (Visual Basic for Applications). VBA is built into Windows and Mac desktop versions of PowerPoint (and Excel, Word, etc.)
Windows PowerPoint add-ins arrive as a standalone PPAM file, as a ZIP file that contains a PPAM and possible other support files, or as an EXE/MSI "installer" app that installs any necessary files and optionally makes registry and other settings as needed (so you don't have to!).
Mac PowerPoint add-ins may arrive as PPAM files or as other types of "installer" files.
Either way, the developer will provide instructions for installing their add-in.
What PowerPoint/VBA add-ins are currently installed?
Windows: choose this, that the other, get this dialog box where you can temporarily disable or permanently remove most add-ins.
[screenshot]
Mac: likewise
[screenshot]
Application Add-ins
PowerPoint Add-ins
That table we promised you
Or maybe bullet points, who knows.
VBA:
Works on Windows/Mac desktop PowerPoint (but author must make special allowances to make it run on Mac PowerPoint; there aren't as many of these, most are Windows-only.
Easy for developer to distribute and to update frequently if they desire.
Can automate almost anything that you can do manually in PowerPoint. And many things that you can't do at all.
App Add-Ins
So far they don't permit doing nearly as many things as VBA or COM add-ins, though they make it easy to create pane add-ins that provide instant access to web content.
COM Add-ins
(Separate section for NET add-ins?)
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