Is there a way to use automator/write an apple script to change the font in several powerpoint documents? A recurring issue at work: 

A powerpoint file needs to be moved in to illustrator and saved as an .eps file. The files are almost always submitted with the font set to Calibri which Illustrator doesn't like for whatever reason. I select all the type and change it to Univers which usually enters Illustrator quite well. I'm looking for a way to speed up this process. I'd like to be able to put all my .ppt files in a folder, select that folder, have all the documents open, the type selected and changed to univers (Univers LT Std 55), then have the file save and close. Any advice?

Thanks!
Short answer:

Yes, it's possible. You just need to use the Record button in Automator to record your own mouse movements as you change the font in one PowerPoint file. Then save this recording as a Folder Action. Now every time you drop a some files into a folder with this action, it will automatically run at your mouse movements on those files.

I'm including a screenshot of a proof-of-concept Folder Action that I made just now, but in all honesty, this will probably take a lot of tinkering around and may not be a very clean way to do it.



Better answer:

There is a better way to do this but it will only work on the new .pptx format presentations, not on any of the old .ppt files.

Basically, all you have to do is rename your powerpoint as .zip and then unzip it like a folder.

Once you open the folder, navigate to:

ppt &gt; slides &gt; slide#.xml


Where the "#" is slide number you want to edit. In my case, I only have slide1.xml but you will probably have others too.

Once you open the xml it should be pretty straightforward to search the xml text for the word Calibri and replace it with the words Univers LT.

That's it :)

All you have to do now is save the xml, zip the folder again, and rename the zipped file back to .pptx.



This may sound tedious to do, but I'm sure it's possible to write a simple 5-10 line bash script that will do exactly this. Unfortunately, I can't do it tonight so perhaps one of the mods can help out and post a script for me.

If I have some time tomorrow, I'll try to write one for you and test it on my computer. :)





Screenshots: