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How to Turn PowerPoint into Notes (Step-by-Step)

November 7, 2023 13.3K views

Imagine transforming your PowerPoint presentations into insightful notes, effortlessly accessible whenever you need them. In this guide, we explore various methods to turn your PowerPoint content into valuable notes. From converting slides on Windows and Mac to note-taking on an iPad and leveraging WPS Office's powerful features, we provide you with step-by-step instructions and expert tips to enhance your note-taking and editing capabilities.

Convert PowerPoint Slides to a Word Document on Windows & Mac

Windows

Step 1: Open the PowerPoint presentation you want to convert to a Word document.

Step 2: Navigate to the "File" menu, and select "Export."

select export


Step 3: Within the Export menu, pick "Create Handouts" and then select "Create Handouts" again. If you're using PowerPoint 2010, go to File Types, and under Create Handouts, choose "Create Handouts in Microsoft Word." This action will open the Send to Microsoft Word dialog box.

create a handouts


Step 4: In the Send to Microsoft Word dialog box, select the desired page layout option.

Step 5: PowerPoint presentations can be converted to Word documents in five ways: Notes next to slides, Blank lines next to slides, Notes below slides, Blank lines below slides, or Outline only.

select type


Mac

Step 1: Launch the PowerPoint presentation on your MacBook.

Step 2: Click on the “File” tab located at the top-left corner of the PowerPoint menu bar.

select file


Step 3: From the drop-down menu, opt for the “Export” option.

export


Step 4: In the "Save As" dialog box, provide a name for your file and select a location on your local disk to save it.

name file


Step 5: Under “File Format,” choose "Rich Text Format (.rtf)" from the drop-down menu.

choose format


Step 6: Click the “Export” button to save your PowerPoint as a new .rtf document.

click export

Step 7: Open Microsoft Word on your MacBook and find the “Open” tab on the left panel.

click open

Step 8: Locate the .rtf document in your local disk and select it.

Finally, click the “Open” button located at the bottom right corner of the screen to convert the file into a Word document.

select file

Here are tips for exporting PowerPoint presentations to different formats based on your specific needs:

  • PDF/XPS Documents: Share your presentation with those without PowerPoint by exporting it as a PDF or XPS document, easily viewable with common PDF viewers.

  • Videos: Export your presentation as a video to preserve dynamic elements like animations and annotations, making it perfect for interactive content.

  • Handouts: Convert your presentation into a Word document to create editable handouts or documents that can be customized and further edited.

  • Online Publishing: Collaborate with others or share your presentation online using platforms like Microsoft OneDrive or Google Slides for real-time collaboration and easy sharing.

How to Take Notes in PowerPoint Slides on iPad

What is Notability?

Notability is a powerful note-taking app for iPad that lets you create, edit, and organize your notes. You can also import files from other apps like PDFs, PowerPoints, and spreadsheets into Notability. You can use various tools to annotate, highlight, draw, or record audio on your notes.

Steps

Step 1: Open the PowerPoint file you want to export on your iPad using a compatible app.

Step 2: Access the Share Menu Tap the Share icon located at the top right corner of the screen (box with an arrow pointing up).

Step 3: Choose Notability From the list of apps that appear, select Notability. If you can't see Notability, scroll down and tap "More" to enable it.

Step 4: Import Settings Choose whether you want to import the file as a new note or add it to an existing note in Notability. You can also rename the file or select a different subject or divider for it.

Step 5: Confirm Import Tap the Import option to confirm your choice. This will import the file into Notability as a PDF background for your note.

Step 6: Open the Imported Note Open the note in Notability, which now contains the PowerPoint slides, and begin taking notes on them.

How to Edit PowerPoint for Free with WPS Office

WPS Office

What Is WPS Office

WPS Office is a versatile office suite that includes Writer (similar to Word), Presentation (similar to PowerPoint), and Spreadsheets (similar to Excel). It's known for its seamless compatibility with Microsoft Office file formats, ensuring that you can work on documents, presentations, and spreadsheets without any compatibility issues.

Advantages of WPS Office Compared to Microsoft Office (Free Version):

  1. PDF Editing: WPS Office provides a built-in PDF editor, allowing you to edit PDF documents without the need for additional software. This feature is not available for free in Microsoft Office.

  2. Built-in Free Delicate Templates Store: WPS Office offers a vast collection of professionally designed templates for presentations, documents, and spreadsheets. These templates help you create visually appealing content effortlessly. Microsoft Office's free version has fewer template options.

How to Edit PowerPoint Presentations in WPS Presentation

If you want to edit PowerPoint presentations for free, WPS Office is a fantastic option. Here's how to do it:

Step 1: Open your WPS Office application.

Step 2: Click on the "Presentation" icon to access WPS Presentation, which is the PowerPoint equivalent.

select app

Step 3: Open the PowerPoint presentation you want to edit by selecting "Open." Browse your computer to find the presentation file.

select open

Step 4: Once the presentation is open, you can make edits, add or remove content, and format your slides as needed. WPS Presentation offers a user-friendly interface that's similar to PowerPoint, making it easy to navigate and edit.

edit your slide

Step 5: After you've made your edits, click "Menu" and choose "Save" to save your changes.

save

Save Powerpoint as PDF Note(Online)

To save your PowerPoint presentation as a PDF with notes online, you can use the free online converter, WPS PDF Tools. This method is compatible with both Windows and Mac computers, as well as iOS and Android mobile devices. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Open your web browser and visit the WPS PDF Tools website (https://pdf.wps.com/convert-ppt-to-pdf/).

Step 2: Click on "Select PPT file" to upload your PowerPoint presentation.

Step 3: WPS PDF Tools will process your presentation.

Step 4: After the conversion is complete, click "Download" to save the PDF file to your device.

Access your PowerPoint presentation as a PDF with notes on any device, whether it's a computer, tablet, or smartphone.

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FAQs

How do I convert a PowerPoint presentation to PDF in Adobe Reader?

If you want to convert a PowerPoint presentation to a PDF using Adobe Reader, it's a straightforward process. Begin by opening your PowerPoint presentation in the software. Then, navigate to the Export option, which you can find under the File menu. From there, you'll have the choice to select "Create Adobe PDF" or "Create PDF/XPS Document" if you don't have Adobe Acrobat installed.

How do you print your slides in a handout that includes slide numbering?

By default, in PowerPoint for Microsoft 365 (version 1810 and later), printed handouts include a slide number below each slide image. To disable this option, access the Print dialog box in the same menu where you chose to print Handouts. At the bottom of the menu, you'll find several toggle options with check marks. Clear the check mark next to Print slide numbers on handouts.

How do you hide notes when sharing in PowerPoint?

In the Slide Show menu, select 'Use Presenter View.' When the 'Presenter View' window appears, click on the 'Notes' button. You can then scroll through the notes privately while your audience sees the current slide.

Summary

In summary, this guide offers a comprehensive approach to converting PowerPoint presentations into valuable, easily accessible notes in 2023. It covers various methods for both Windows and Mac users, as well as a detailed process for iPad users utilizing the Notability app.

Additionally, it introduces the versatile WPS Office suite, highlighting its advantages over Microsoft Office and providing step-by-step instructions for editing PowerPoint presentations.For those looking to save PowerPoint presentations with notes as PDFs, the guide suggests using the free online converter, WPS PDF Tools, accessible on various devices


15 years of office industry experience, tech lover and copywriter. Follow me for product reviews, comparisons, and recommendations for new apps and software.