Convert your (Beamer) PDF slides to (Powerpoint) PPTX
So you don't like using Powerpoint and would rather use Latex/Beamer to make your slides,however, you have a fancy Surface and you want to use the pen during the presentation? Here is my solution.
Slideshark (slideshark.com) (free) is an app that will convert the PowerPoint to a Slideshark format and then allow you to play/show the slides through the Slidehshark app. It converts the PowerPoint better than any other app I have ever seen, preserving fonts and animations extremely well. Conversant with computers or programming. I was asked to do this task of converting some lecture slides (which are in PowerPoint format) to the Beamer format.
This script gets a PDF file as input and generates a Powerpoint PPTX file while preserving the format of the original PDF. Theoretically all PDF files, regardless of the original generator, can be converted to PPTX slides with this (not tested though).
![Converter Converter](/uploads/1/2/5/8/125846890/445952255.png)
Simply explained, I convert all the slides to high-quality image files first, and then push them into a Powerpoint project as a slide.
- Copy your pdf file next to the script first.
- Execute
./pdf2pptx.sh test.pdf
to generate atest.pdf.pptx
file (replacetest.pdf
with your filename). - By default the output powerpoint project is in the widescreen mode. If your slides are not for widescreen you can alternatively run
./pdf2pptx.sh test.pdf notwide
to generate a 4:3 standard PPTX project.
- You need
convert
from [ImageMagick] (http://www.imagemagick.org/script/binary-releases.php) zip
andsed
If you're using Linux you probably already have all the above.
If you're using OSX you need to install ImageMagick and make sure
convert
is accessible from your Terminal.If you're using Windows you can use Cygwin, but if you don't have it already, it is not recommended!If you're using Windows 10, you can easily set up Ubuntu bash (More Info), install ImageMagick and then use the script natively.Another solution for Windows users is to access a linux box (such as your university servers) to take care of the task.
ImageMagick no longer allows PDF to image conversion. If you get the following error on the test example:
in
/etc/ImageMagick-6/policy.xml
or /etc/ImageMagick/policy.xml
, change:to
Now it should work. Note that modifying the policy file would require
root
privileges. If you do not have root access on your machine, you can alternatively compile and use an older version of ImageMagick.Thanks to Melissa O'Neill for providing a Pdf2Keynote tool for mac which has motivated this small project!
It’s time to share your PowerPoint presentation with your audience. If you’re going to show your PowerPoint presentation using a computer projector and a laptop, you need to know how to connect the computer to your laptop, and how to set up the projector, turn it on, focus it, and so on. These details vary among projectors, so consult the projector manual. The following list provides a few general tips that might help:
- Connecting the projector: Most laptops have an external video port on the back or side, and most projectors have a video input connection. A standard VGA or DVI (depending on the type of connector on the PC and the projector) cable works to connect the computer to the projector.
- Activating the external video port: To use the laptop with a projector, activate the external video port. Some laptops have a key that you can press to accomplish this; others require that you change the display settings. If you can’t figure out how to make the switch, try right-clicking an empty area of the desktop and choosing Properties. This brings up a Properties dialog box. Click the Settings tab and then click Advanced and look for a setting to enable the external video port.
- Resuming normal video: When your presentation is finished, switch your computer back to its normal video port setting before you disconnect the projector.
- Selecting the projector’s video input: Most projectors accept input from more than one source. You might be able to connect a computer and a VCR to the projector. The projector should have some buttons or perhaps a menu that lets you select the input used to display the presentation.
- Using the projector’s remote control: If you want to use the projector’s remote control to operate your presentation, you need the appropriate cable to connect the projector to your laptop’s mouse port or USB. The correct cable should come with the projector.
- Using sound: If your presentation has sound, connect your computer’s sound outputs to a set of amplified speakers or a PA system. The correct cable depends on the PA system, but a cable with a mini-stereo plug on one end and a 1/4-inch plug on the other will probably do the trick.