If you use PowerPoint on Windows, then you're familiar with the Picture menu in the Insert tab. It provides you with a way to insert pictures from several different sources, such as your computer, stock images, icons, and more.
But when it comes to the button icon in the middle of a picture placeholder, instead of a choice, Windows File Explorer opens for you - forcing you to select a file from your computer.
The clever coding experts at BrightCarbon created a free plugin to change this behavior. Once activated in PowerPoint, when you click the button in any dedicated picture placeholder, you'll see a menu:
PowerPoint Picture Placeholder Selection 2x Wide
This greatly improves productivity, as you thailand telegram no longer have to select the placeholder's frame, move your mouse to the top of the window, click the Insert tab, then click the Picture menu, and finally click the desired source. Two clicks is better than four, right?
You may also want to know how different placeholders behave when using pictures. Echo Swinford, co-author of Building PowerPoint Templates, has this great blog post that explains these arcane oddities!
If you like this add-in and would like something developed specifically for your needs, check out our custom PowerPoint development services.
How to Install the Picture Placeholder Choice Add-in
Installing the add-in is as simple as downloading it and activating it in PowerPoint. Here's how:
Open Windows File Explorer
Copy and paste this location into the address bar and press Enter:
%AppData%\Microsoft\AddIns
Download the add-in from here and save it in the folder above.
Start PowerPoint and click File/Options/Add-ins.
Click the Manage menu and select PowerPoint Add-ins, then Go.
Click Add New... and browse to the folder above to select the downloaded add-in.
Click Open, then Close.
How to Use
Start PowerPoint and go to any slide with a picture placeholder. Click the button in the middle of the placeholder to see the new selection menu. You can hold down the Shift key when clicking the picture placeholder button to turn the new feature on or off.
Launch PowerPoint and click File/Options/Add-ins.
Click the Manage menu and select PowerPoint Add-ins, then Go.
Select the downloaded add-in.
Click Remove, then Close.
License
You may use it on any number of PCs, indefinitely, without restriction. You may not repackage, sell, or disassemble it in any way.
Support
First, please check out the Knowledge Base. Since this is a completely free add-in, we don't officially offer email support, but if you have any questions or feedback, you can contact us and we'll do our best to get back to you.
Mac compatibility
Sorry, but Microsoft doesn't provide the functionality we need to make it compatible with PowerPoint on macOS. You can ask Microsoft to consider adding this feature by voting for this feedback idea.