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."

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