If you have ever created a macro in PowerPoint, you would know that you need to create the macro in a .pptm file, which is a PowerPoint Macro-Enabled Presentation, and then create the add-in (.ppam file) from it. This is done because once you create the add-in, you would not be able to view the codes from the add-in file. If you enable the add-in and press Alt+F11, you would see a blank window in the VBA code editor, as if the code doesn't exist!
But what if the add-in is the only file you have where you have lost the original .pptm file, and now you need to update the macro. What would you do then? Read on to know how to view the macro code using a .ppam file.
For this you need to modify the Windows Registry. If you don't know what the Windows Registry is, try Googling it. The only thing you need to know that to modify the Windows Registry you need to follow the instructions minutely. Otherwise it might even leave your computer useless. I would suggest you to backup the Windows Registry before you try these steps. Once done, follow the steps below:
1. Close all instances of PowerPoint
2. Click on Start and type in Regedit where you will see the following
3. Click on "Run as administrator"
4. Once the Windows Registry Editor opens, navigate to the following key in the registry tree:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\16.0\PowerPoint\Options
5. On the right side of the windows find the key name DebugAddins
6. If you do not see it, you need to create it
7. To create the key, right-click on the right side, click on New, then click on "DWORD (32-bit) Value"
8. Name if DebugAddins and then double click on it
9. In the window that pops up ensure the DWORD value is 1 and click OK
10. Close the Registry Editor, and restart Windows
11. Finally, open the .ppam file and go into your Visual Basic Editor (Alt+F11). You will now be able to see any PowerPoint add-in VBA code that is currently running!
