PowerPoint® 2007 Bible

Chapter 15. Incorporating Data from Other Programs

IN THIS CHAPTER

Working with external content: An overview

Copying content from other programs

Introducing OLE

Linking and embedding data

Exporting PowerPoint objects to other programs

As you have already seen, PowerPoint contains an assortment of tools for creating various types of objects: charts, WordArt, SmartArt diagrams, clip art, and so on. You have also learned how to place graphics into PowerPoint from a saved file, how to embed Excel charts on slides, and how to borrow slides from other PowerPoint presentations and outlines from Word or other text editors.

However, a lot of other objects don't fall into any of these categories, so PowerPoint doesn't have a special command for bringing in exactly that type of object. Examples include a flow chart from a program like Microsoft Visio, a slide from a different presentation application, some records from a database, or a map from a mapping program.

This chapter looks at the various ways to import and create content from other applications in PowerPoint, as well as how to export PowerPoint objects for use in other programs.

Working with External Content: An Overview

There are several ways to bring content from other programs into your presentation. The method you choose depends on how you want the content to behave once it arrives. You can make the inserted content a full citizen of the presentation — that is, with no ties to its native application or data file — or you can help ...