In a Powerpoint Slide, changing value to change chart display

Question

I would like to have a slide where I can change values (say, in a textbox) that will result in changes in a chart being displayed on that slide. For example, a slide where I can change the slope of a line in a chart while in slideshow mode.

Anyone have any ideas on how to do this?

Answer 1

It sounds like you probably want an AddIn. An AddIn will run when PowerPoint is run, and allows you to customize the UI.

Alternatively you could write a standalone application, that you would start in addition to starting up PowerPoint. Such an application would allow you to edit slide content, but you will be less able to customize PowerPoint's UI (typically such an application would have its own window (form) with an edit box, etc.)

Resources for creating AddIns:

If you have one of the paid for versions of Visual Studio (i.e. Visual Studio Professional or above) you can use VSTO. See 'Creating Your First Application-Level Add-in for PowerPoint'.

If you're not using VSTO, this is a good guide.

Answer 2

Thanks.

Yes - I have VSTO Professional and found the info on the add-ins interesting - thanks for that.

But was hoping for something easier.  Since the Chart is based on data in the Chart data excel sheet, which is itself just based on one value in one cell, I thought it might be possible to add a textbox to the ppt that enabled the user to change the value in the cell on the Chart data sheet, which would, in turn, change the look of the Chart. 

But I guess not?

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jdballou

Answer 3

I think you may be able to do it with a Macro enabled presentation, but I'm afraid it's not something I've attempted before. To further my knowledge, I just spent 40 minutes trying to get events to hook up in VBA, but for the moment I've given up. If no one more knowledgeable posts in the next few days, I'll have another crack at it.