How to Create a PDF File in MS PowerPoint 2013 | Offline Method

 

Introduction

Creating a PDF file from your MS PowerPoint 2013 presentation is a useful skill that allows you to share your slideshows in a portable and universally accessible format. 

You can review the following conversion posts:

How to create a PDF file in MS Word 2013?

How to create a PDF file in MS Excel 2013?

In this post, we will guide you through the step-by-step process of creating a PDF file directly from MS PowerPoint 2013. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced user, by the end of this article, you'll have the knowledge to generate high-quality PDF files from your PowerPoint presentations. You can see following our video about this (complete tutorial). 

• Understanding the Benefits of PDF Files
• Saving Your PowerPoint Presentation as a PDF
• Utilizing the "Save As" Option in PowerPoint
• Configuring PDF File Settings
• Customizing PDF Options for Slides
• Including Speaker Notes and Handouts in PDF
• Setting Slide Transitions and Animations for PDF
• Adding Hyperlinks and Navigation in PDF
• Optimizing PDF File Size and Quality
• Troubleshooting Common Issues

Understanding the Benefits of PDF Files

PDF (Portable Document Format) files have become a standard for sharing documents due to their versatility and consistency across different devices and platforms. Converting your PowerPoint presentation to PDF ensures that viewers see your slides exactly as intended, regardless of the software or operating system they use.

Saving Your PowerPoint Presentation as a PDF

Creating a PDF file in MS PowerPoint 2013 is a straightforward process. Click the "File" tab in the top-left corner of the PowerPoint window after opening your presentation.

Utilizing the "Save As" Option in PowerPoint

Once you've clicked on the "File" tab, a drop-down menu will appear. From this menu, select the "Save As" option. This action will open the Save As dialog box, where you can specify the location on your computer where you want to save the PDF file.

Configuring PDF File Settings

The file format should be set to "PDF" in the Save As dialogue box. You may also customize the file name to accurately represent your presentation. Additionally, you can specify the desired page range to save either the entire presentation or selected slides.

Customizing PDF Options for Slides

PowerPoint offers various options to customize the PDF output. Click on the "Options" button in the Save As dialog box to access these settings. Here, you can choose to include or exclude specific elements such as comments, ink annotations, or hidden slides in the PDF file. These options allow you to tailor the PDF output according to your preferences.

Including Speaker Notes and Handouts in PDF

If you want to provide additional context or instructions along with your slides, PowerPoint enables you to include speaker notes or handouts in the PDF file. In the Save As dialog box, under the "Publish Options" section, select the desired option to include either the slides with speaker notes or slides with handouts.

Setting Slide Transitions and Animations for PDF

To ensure an engaging viewing experience, PowerPoint allows you to include slide transitions and animations in the PDF file. While these effects won't play automatically in the PDF, they will be visible when viewers manually navigate through the slides. To preserve the slide transitions and animations, make sure to select the "All" option under the "Publish what" section in the Save As dialog box.

Adding Hyperlinks and Navigation in PDF

Hyperlinks and navigation are crucial for interactivity in PowerPoint presentations. When converting to PDF, it's essential to preserve these links. PowerPoint provides an option to include hyperlinks and slide navigation in the PDF file. In the Save As dialog box, under the "Publish Options" section, ensure that the "Hyperlinks" and "Document structure tags for accessibility" checkboxes are selected.

Optimizing PDF File Size and Quality

To optimize the PDF file size and ensure efficient sharing and viewing, consider reducing the file size without compromising the visual quality of your presentation. PowerPoint provides options to compress images and remove unnecessary elements.

In the Save As dialog box, click on the "Options" button, and under the "Publish Options" section, choose the desired image compression settings. Additionally, remove any unused or hidden slides, delete unnecessary elements, and ensure that the fonts used in your presentation are standard fonts to minimize the file size.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

While creating a PDF file in MS PowerPoint 2013 is generally a straightforward process, you may encounter common issues such as formatting discrepancies or missing elements in the PDF output. To troubleshoot these issues, ensure that the original PowerPoint presentation is properly formatted and that all necessary fonts and images are embedded. Additionally, try adjusting the PDF settings or updating your version of PowerPoint to resolve any compatibility issues.

Conclusion

Converting your MS PowerPoint 2013 presentation to a PDF file provides a convenient and accessible way to share your slideshows. By following the step-by-step process outlined in this article, you can easily generate high-quality PDF files directly from PowerPoint.

Remember to save your PowerPoint presentation as a PDF using the "Save As" option, configure the PDF file settings to meet your requirements, and customize options such as including speaker notes and handouts, preserving slide transitions and animations, and adding hyperlinks for interactivity. Optimizing the PDF file size and troubleshooting common issues will further enhance the quality and usability of your PDF presentations.