Adding PDF files to your PowerPoint presentations can be very useful in various ways. PDFs allow you to include important documents, charts, images, etc. that may not be easily recreated in PowerPoint. Embedding a PDF also retains the original formatting and layout, which is important for many documents.
In this article, we will explore the benefits of inserting PDFs into PowerPoint and the different methods you can use to embed a PDF in your presentation.
Benefits of Inserting PDFs in PowerPoint
Here are some of the key benefits of adding PDFs to your PowerPoint presentations:
Retains Original Format & Layout
When you embed a PDF file in your PowerPoint presentation, it retains the original formatting, fonts, colors, and layout of the document. This ensures the PDF looks exactly like the original file, with the proper positioning of text, images, tables, etc.
Reduces File Size
Rather than inserting images or screenshots of a PDF’s contents, embedding the actual PDF can result in a smaller file size for your PowerPoint. This makes it easier to share and email the presentation.
Adds Important Reference Documents
Presentations often supplement a speaker’s verbal information with charts, reports, specification sheets and other reference documents – most of which are readily available as PDFs. Embedding them makes the information more accessible to your audience.
Streamlines Workflow
Adding PDFs can help streamline your workflow process so you don’t have to jump between programs to view information. The content is readily available within your presentation.
Methods to Insert a PDF into PowerPoint
There are several straightforward methods for embedding a PDF file in PowerPoint:
Insert as Image
You can insert a PDF page as an image by taking a screenshot of the file, cropping it if necessary, and pasting it into your slide. This preserves the look of the PDF but does not allow interactivity.
Insert as Object
The “Insert Object” method embeds the PDF as an object that can be double clicked to open the file with your computer’s default PDF reader. This allows viewers to interact with the original PDF.
Insert as Link
You can also add a hyperlink to the PDF file so that clicking the link will open the file. This method does not embed the PDF visually on the slide.
Convert Using Online Tools
Many free online tools allow you to convert a PDF file into a PowerPoint presentation if you need to edit the contents. However, formatting and layout may change in the process.
Insert as SlideLizard Widget
Solutions like SlideLizard allow you to embed a live widget into PowerPoint that displays the PDF and adds interactivity, like scrolling and zooming, during your presentation.
Step-by-Step Tutorial
Here is a simple step-by-step tutorial for embedding a PDF as an object in PowerPoint:
- Open your PowerPoint presentation and navigate to the slide where you want to embed the PDF file.
- Ensure the PDF you want to embed is open on your computer too.
- In PowerPoint, go to the “Insert” tab and click on “Object” in the Text section.
- In the Object dialog box, select “Create from File” then “Browse” to locate your PDF file.
- Click OK to embed the entire PDF on the slide.
You can now double click the PDF object in your slide to open the file with your default PDF reader. The embedded file is also included when you export the PowerPoint to PDF.
Conclusion
Inserting PDFs into your PowerPoint presentation provides useful benefits like retaining original formatting, adding reference documents, and streamlining workflows.
While there are several methods for embedding PDFs, the easiest options are adding the file as an image, object, or link. For more interactivity, solutions like SlideLizard allow advanced features like scrolling and zooming without leaving PowerPoint.
With the right technique, adding PDFs can help you enhance your next PowerPoint presentation!
