ICT 0417 – Presentations: Creating a New Presentation from a Text File
Topic 19 – Presentations
Objective
Students will be able to create a new presentation using a plain‑text file as the source.
Why use a text file?
Fast to edit with any text editor.
Portable across operating systems.
Useful for batch creation or automation.
Key Concepts
Understanding the structure of a presentation file.
Using a text editor to write slide content.
Importing the text file into presentation software (e.g., Microsoft PowerPoint, LibreOffice Impress, Google Slides).
Step‑by‑Step Procedure
Open a plain‑text editor (Notepad, TextEdit, VS Code, etc.).
Enter slide data using a simple markup. A common format is:
Marker
Purpose
# Title
Creates a new slide with the given title.
## Subtitle
Subtitle or heading on the same slide.
- Bullet point
Bullet list item.
---
Slide separator (optional).
Save the file with a .txt extension, e.g., MyPresentation.txt.
Import the file into your presentation program:
PowerPoint: Use Insert → Slides from Outline… and select the .txt file.
LibreOffice Impress: Choose File → Open, select “Text (Plain)” and the file; each line beginning with “#” becomes a new slide.
Google Slides: No direct import; use a script or copy‑paste each slide manually.
Review and adjust formatting:
Apply a slide master for consistent design.
Convert bullet markers to the software’s bullet style.
Add images, charts, or animations as required.
Save the presentation in the native format (e.g., .pptx, .odp).
Tips for Efficient Slide Creation
Keep each slide’s content concise – aim for no more than 6 lines of text.
Use consistent heading levels (#, ##) to maintain hierarchy.
When using numbers for ordered lists, start each list with “1.” – the software will renumber automatically.
Test the import on a short sample file before creating a full presentation.
Common Errors and How to Fix Them
Error
Cause
Solution
All text appears on one slide
Missing slide separator or heading marker
Ensure each new slide starts with “# ” (hash followed by a space).
Bullets become plain text
Incorrect bullet character
Use a hyphen followed by a space (“- ”) or an asterisk (“* ”).
Special characters show as �
File saved with the wrong encoding
Save the file as UTF‑8.
Extension Activity
Write a short script (e.g., in Python) that reads a CS \cdot file of slide titles and bullet points and generates the formatted text file automatically.
Compare the time taken to create a 10‑slide presentation manually versus using the text‑file method.
Suggested diagram: Flowchart showing the process from text file creation → import → formatting → final presentation.
Summary Checklist
Plain‑text file saved as .txt and encoded in UTF‑8.
Each slide begins with a “# ” heading.
Bullets start with “- ” (or “* ”).
File imported using the appropriate “Insert from Outline” feature.