Making Powerpoint ignore Word outlines below some level?

[New Daddy]

It's a nice workflow to start from a Word document and convert it to a Powerpoint presentation.

The outline of Word seems to be a natural fit for such workflow.

One shortcoming is making Powerpoint ignore certain levels. For example, I'd like Powerpoint to pick up only Headings 1 through 3 but not below.

Many internet sources say that demoting the outline level of a paragraph to "body text" will make the paragraph ignored by Powerpoint. Not so, according to many rounds of my experimentation. As long as lower levels of outlines are part of the outline hierarchy regardless of their "Outline level", Powerpoint will pick them up.

Is there any workaround? I'd really like to have Powerpoint become oblivious to Heading 4 and below, which will be available to me only through the Word document during presentation.

[HansV]

You'll have to limit your Word document to use only outline levels 1, 2 and 3.

[New Daddy]

That is very very lame.

Are there any third-party apps that can better convert a Word outline to a Powerpoint presentation?

[HansV]

Not that I know of, since the existing feature does what most users (except you) want...

[StuartR]

You could run a Word macro like this one that deletes all text except for Headings 1 to 3.

Code: Select all

Public Sub Headings1to3Only()

Dim para As Paragraph

    On Error Resume Next
    Kill "C:\Windows\Temp\Headings1to3Only.*" ' Delete temp file from previous run if it exists
    On Error GoTo 0
    
    ActiveDocument.SaveAs FileName:="Headings1to3Only"
    
    For Each para In ActiveDocument.Paragraphs
        Select Case para.OutlineLevel
            Case wdOutlineLevel1, wdOutlineLevel2, wdOutlineLevel3
            Case Else
                para.Range.Delete
        End Select
    Next para
End Sub

[New Daddy]

The macro is a great approach.

That leads me to think: is there any way, natively or otherwise, for Powerpoint to import Word outline and convert "Normal" styles into presenter's notes? That way, I can jot down my notes while creating slide outlines in Word. I think it will make a great workflow.

[HansV]

Not that I know of. You'll find a macro to import notes from a text file into a presentation at Importing notes text from a text file.