This month, I am focusing on PowerPoint add-ins because the ability to extend PowerPoint’s functionality is one of the biggest attributes that allows it to be a “professional” design tool. The first place to start is PowerPoint’s own extensibility with the QAT – Quick Access Toolbar.
I am a big fan of the Quick Access Toolbar. My first post about it was back in 2009. Then, less than a year later, I became an even bigger fan when PowerPoint 2010 added the ability to export and import pre-made QAT toolbar setups. More recently, at the end of 2015, I became distressed over the QAT when an update to PowerPoint 2016 essentially limited its functionality – which has happily been fixed by the Microsoft PowerPoint Dev team (YAY!!).
The first step in effectively using and setting up the QAT is to move it from above the menus to below. By default, it is above the menu bar (with FILE / HOME / INSERT / etc.) and only has a few buttons. Click the down arrow on the right and select SHOW BELOW THE RIBBON.
At TLC, we have a very customized QAT installed on all of our computers – and has 37 time saving, always available buttons! For this blog post, I am showing our version that only uses standard PowerPoint features (I do run a more customized version that also integrates some tools from 3rd party add-ins – many of which will be in posts this month).
Click HERE to download the TLC customized QAT (download .zip file, extract, then follow install information below).
To install:
– Go to FILE > OTPIONS
– In the POWERPOINT OPTIONS dialog, go to the QUICK ACCESS TOOLBAR tab
– In the lower right, click the ARROW on the Import/Export button
– Select IMPORT CUSTOMIZATION FILE
– In the FILE OPEN dialog, locate the custom QAT file and click OPEN
– At the warning dialog that existing toolbar setup will be overwritten, click YES
– Customized QAT is now installed!
– Troy @ TLC