Word Outline-Numbered Document to PowerPoint (2000/SR-1)

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Is it possible to insert a Word document using outline-numbering (not Styles) into PowerPoint … and retain the outline numbers as level indicators, rather than having them treated as part of the text.

Although I would have done this, myself, using Styles, I am trying to help someone who has already created their outline using outline-numbering. I have tried several things, but they all result in everything being brought in as second-level bullets.

Thanks!

Diane

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Diane,
Have you tried using the copy (from Word),and Paste Special (in PowerPoint) selecting the Microsoft Word Document Object option?
This embeds the outline in a Word native format within PowerPoint.

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Hi, Ryan!

I just now tried that, but in PowerPoint, I only have three Paste Special options: HTML Format, Formatted Text (RTF), and Unformatted Text. None of those worked. Is there something special I need to do to get the Microsoft Word Document Object option?

Diane

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Diane,

I am not sure how to add the Word Object to the ‘Paste Special’ options, but I have another thought….

Try this in PowerPoint: Using the Insert drop down menu, select ‘Insert Object’.
1. If “Create New”: Scroll through the objects and see if Microsoft Word is available.
You could copy and paste into the new object? I can…
2. If “Create from File”: Browse to the word document and insert into presentation.
The document is inserted and looks beautiful.
Does this help?

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Hi, Ryan!

Pretty clever. Both of these suggestions placed the outline text onto the slide. He would have to repeat these steps for each slide, and I don’t know how many slides that will entail. This will work okay if he doesn’t intend to edit them once they are an object in PowerPoint. If he wants to get them into PowerPoint and continue editing it, this will not work for him.

I’ll pass this along to him. Thanks.

Diane

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Diane,
One last thing you can try is under the ‘Insert’ drop down menu; and that is the ‘Insert Outline’ feature.
I am not satisfied by it’s functionality but it is somewhat crude at getting the information into PowerPoint from .doc, .rtf, and .txt formats.
I have found that I need to insert the tab stops in the ruler bar of the presentation to make the outline align properly.[/i]
Let me know if this works for you.

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Hi, Ryan!

I had tried that. The outline numbers are brought over as text, not as a “bullet” number. In fact, a bullet is placed at the beginning of each numbered item. All items are brought in at the second level. I can move them backward to the first level (Title level) and forward seven more levels (bulleted levels).

The outline numbers from Word will have to be deleted manually. If the outline numbers from Word had been left behind, that would have eliminated this cleanup effort.

Diane

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It might be that one of Word’s AutoFormat options will convert the “not really an outline” outline into one that uses Heading levels. I never use AutoFormat, so I don’t know for sure.

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To add to jscher2000’s info, I would also check out the Word forum to see if there’s an easy way to convert the numbered lists to styles. PPT uses heading 1 for titles, heading 2 for first level bullets, level 3 for secondary bullets and so on. As you’re seeing, it’s generally much easier to ensure that the “outline” is formatted with those heading styles applied before importing the outline into PPT. Also note that anything using “normal” style in Word won’t transfer to PPT.

You know, PPT will also pick up tabs (from Notepad, at least–might also work in Word) in the same manner. One tab at beginning of a line=Title, two tabs=first level bullet, three tabs=secondary bullet, etc. Maybe a quick way to change the outline would be to replace the numbers with the appropriate level of tabs and then in PPT use the numbering (Format/Bullets and Numbering) to apply the numbers.

Just tossing out a couple of ideas.

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I looked through AutoFormat and couldn’t find anything that appeared to be a possibility.

I removed the numbering and replaced it with the appropriate number of tabs. However, each item has to be moved back one level after inserting them into PowerPoint. When applying the numbers using Format/Bullets and Numbering, I had to apply the appropriate number format individually to each small group of like numbers.

However, trying all these suggestions inspired me try changing each item to a Heading style in Word. This required only one change per outline item. When I inserted it into PowerPoint, it was perfect … everything in its proper place and format.

I will also check out the Word forum to see if there might be a better way to convert outline numbering to Heading styles.

Thanks jscher2000 and Echo for your suggestions and inspiration!

Diane

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I removed the numbering and replaced it with the appropriate number of tabs. However, each item has to be moved back one level after inserting them into PowerPoint.

Ah, nuts. I probably gave you the wrong number of tabs for plain text, then. Title must be no tabs, first level bullet=1 tab, second level=2 tabs and so on.

Apologies for giving you misleading information, Diane. I’m glad you found a way that worked for you, though.

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Hi, Echo!

No apologies necessary … I know that a first level is at the left margin, etc., so I tried it with the tabs set this way and the way you indicated (just in case it worked differently in this instance). I had to move them both back.

Thanks!
Diane

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