link powerpoint data

[kick-ice]

I have several powerpoint files with personnel recall data on them. I also have a "master" powerpoint file which consolidates all the data onto one slide. The individual files are each a part of the whole. The idea is to update the "master" file when an individual child file is update. I would like to link certain data from each individual file to its respective text area on the master. If anyone is familiar with databases, the general idea is that I want to create several "views" of the master file, one view for each workcenter. Those "views" are viewable/updateable by the workcenters. I know an access database would be the best solution here. Unfortunately I have been given the requirement that each "view"(workcenter file) should have the same "look and feel" as the master file (of course excluding the data that is hidden from each particular workcenter) - which implies they would like a powerpoint file for each workcenter updateable only in the workcenter applicable area of the file. My thought is to build several small powerpoint files each mirroring the applicable workcenter's data. I have tried to copy an object (textbox) from one powerpoint file and paste-link it into another file, but it pastes a hyperlink. I simply want the master object data to be linked to the "child" object data - when child changes so does master. Any suggestions?

[waynehoskins]

AS/400?

Seriously, it sounds like a perfect fit for a web app (or similar) talking to a database, and then the database dumps out the data periodically into your Master File.

[kick-ice]

I completely agree, and I may go that direction but for now I have been given very little time (about a day and a half) to get this done.

[kick-ice]

As it turns out, I ended up going the route of using a db. I convinced the powers that in the long run it would be worth the time and effort. As of now I have finished the backend db design along with the user interface for most of the functionality for data input and updates. My issue now is building a module to export data to a powerpoint slide in a certain format. I am trying to use VSTO for the effort but I keep running into a problem. Visual Studio 2005 consistently yells at me for "the type 'Microsoft.Office.Core' is defined in an assembly that is not referenced." (more to the error but this seems to be the important stuff)
I think I am going to have to reinstall office from what google says. Has anyone else had issues with office core libraries such as this?

[kick-ice]

My original post said that I had very little time to complete this. I know that date has been way overshot, but my bosses still would like this done. I have had a really tough time getting VSTO to work beyond simply starting up a new powerpoint document. I cannot get any text/data into a slide. Considering this problem, I have changed course somewhat and am now attempting to write data out to a pdf file instead of a powerpoint file. Any input on some .net libraries for writing pdf files?

[shayward]

Hey - good timing. I've been learning VSTO over the past few months (sorry I missed your original post) and I'm likely going to be speaking on it at the Toronto Code Camp in March 2009.

I've built two proof of concepts:

1. Inserting song lyrics into slides for worship
2. Inserting Bible verses into slides for sermons/teaching

Questions:

Which version of MS Office are you using?
Where is your data coming from?
How do you want your data presented?

I should hopefully be able to help you out on this.

[kick-ice]

Good to hear someone is working with VSTO. I have hit brickwalls pretty much everywhere.

My project involves adding and manipulating records (actually personnel records) using a windows app (I have already built the app and the db backend). So far everything seems to work very well - probably needs more error handling for those simple minded users but the interactive part of the app is done. I am now looking for a way to automatically build a powerpoint report of those personnel (based on selected criteria). The idea is to have a button on the app form that will kick off VSTO 2005 code which will in turn build the powerpoint slide with all the data and proper formatting.

To answer your question, I am building to powerpoint 2007. All the data that will be put into the slide is coming from datasets (already built and functioning via my db (ms access) backend - completely modular system). I just want to take the datasets that I have and put them in a slide in a certain format. I built a VSTO powerpoint "addin" (ok - I used the wizard so I didn't really build it) which contains a ThisAddIn.vb which in turn contains a "ThisAddIn_Startup" and "ThisAddIn_Shutdown". But all it does is start powerpoint for me. And of course it is a separate project so it has no access to my datasets.

If you are using visual studio do you have an example c# project/solution I could see?

[shayward]

My experience thus far is building extensions to PowerPoint 2003 and 2007. Thus I could help you with a tool bar (or addition to the Ribbon in 2007) that would allow data from your db to be downloaded into PowerPoint.

In terms of just spitting out a new PowerPoint file directly from a WinForms app... maybe. I haven't tried that yet, but I'm interested in finding out.

C# is great (I also do VB.NET but I'm a little rusty on it).

Would a toolbar suffice?

[kick-ice]

Any examples you could get to me would be great. I assume a toolbar gets added to powerpoint which allows the user to perform custom actions?

[shayward]

I assume a toolbar gets added to powerpoint which allows the user to perform custom actions?

You got it.

Transposing Chord Sheets in Microsoft Word

If you have split up your architecture into multiple tiers you'll find applying your logic in VSTO a snap. In the above example, I created a completely application-agnostic chord transposition engine (sadly, much easier than I expected) and I have applied it to Word 2003, Word 2007, and a custom Rich Text Editor I'm building.

Any examples you could get to me would be great.

Visual Studio 2008 okay? Or does it need to be 2005?

[kick-ice]

2008 should be alright. I'll just load and compile the cs files individually.

[shayward]

Let me know if this works for you:

VSTO-Sample-For-PowerPoint.zip

I'm not sure if there is much difference between VSTO 2005 SE and Visual Studio 2008. Note that I created a Ribbon tab using the Ribbon designer. I would hope VSTO 2005 SE has that.