Using PowerPoint 2003 with PDF files - PowerPoint

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Using PowerPoint 2003 with PDF files

Applies to: Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2003

The conditions in which Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2003 supports the Portable Document Format (PDF) (PDF: A Postscript-based electronic file format that preserves document formatting and enables file sharing.) depends on the result you're after. To determine if the type of support you require for using PowerPoint and the PDF file format together is possible, choose one of the following:

Show Can I import PDF content into a PowerPoint presentation?

Yes, it is possible for you to import PDF content from another application into a PowerPoint presentation; however, you will not be able to work with this content as you can with text. When you bring PDF content into your PowerPoint presentation, it acts like an object or an image, rather than text that you can edit.

To obtain the most up-to-date information on how to import PDF content into a PowerPoint presentation, review the PowerTools for PowerPoint PowerUsers - Import PDF content into PowerPoint instructions located on The PowerPoint FAQ Web site.

Show Can I use PowerPoint to create a PDF file?

While PowerPoint is a great tool for creating content that you can use in the PDF file format, you cannot create PDF files by using PowerPoint.

With help from contacts on the The PowerPoint FAQ Web site or the PowerPoint Discussion Group, or with information from your third-party PDF software application vendor, you can convert your presentations into PDF files.

Show Can I convert a PowerPoint presentation into a PDF file?

Yes, it is possible for you to convert a PowerPoint 2003 presentation into a PDF file. However, not from within PowerPoint — but you can by using a third-party PDF-based software application.

To obtain the most up-to-date instructions on how to accomplish this, you can seek assistance from one of the following resources:

The PowerPoint FAQ
The PowerPoint Discussion Group, available from Microsoft Office Online
Help content or Customer Support from your third-party PDF-based software application vendor

Show Can I convert a PDF file into a PowerPoint presentation?

PowerPoint does not directly support converting a PDF file into a PowerPoint presentation. However, you can paste a PDF file from Adobe Acrobat Reader into a PowerPoint slide.

To obtain instructions on how to paste a PDF file into a PowerPoint slide, read the Microsoft Knowledge Base article How to put Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.0 (*.pdf) files on a slide in PowerPoint 2002 and PowerPoint 2003.

Show Can I link to a PDF file from within a presentation?

Yes! To link to a PDF file from within a PowerPoint presentation, do the following:

Select the text or object that you want to use to link to the PDF file.
On the Insert menu, click Hyperlink.
Under Link to, click Existing File or Web Page.
Select the PDF file that you want to link to, and then click OK.

Show Verify the link!

To run the presentation to ensure that the hyperlink is working correctly, do the following:

Click Slide Show at the lower left of the PowerPoint window or press F5.
Click the hyperlink to the PDF file.

Note To make sure that your hyperlinks work, keep all the files you link to from within a presentation in the same folder as your presentation.

Related Office Online discussions

Read related questions and answers from other Microsoft Office customers.