Package a Presentation to a CD or Folder in PowerPoint 2010 for Windows

Learn how to package a presentation to a CD or a folder in PowerPoint 2010 for Windows.

Author:Geetesh Bajaj

Product/Version: Microsoft PowerPoint 2010

OS: Microsoft Windows XP and higher

Date Created: October 17, 2016Last Updated: October 17, 2016

Have you ended up with a presentation that has linked files, embedded media clips, and so much more? And now you have been asked to copy
the entire presentation and all linked files to a CD? A CD in these days? How ancient is that? OK, never mind. Let’s rephrase that
question -- have you been asked to copy all the content to a folder, a network location, or a USB drive?

Fortunately, PowerPoint provides the Package Presentation for CD option that can do this task for you, with just a click
or two. In this tutorial, we will learn more about this amazing feature.

Package Presentation for CD?

This feature originated with PowerPoint 2003, and in those days, copying an entire
presentation to a CD was a “killer” feature. In fact, at that time, the Package for CD feature was often the main reason why many users
upgraded from PowerPoint 2002 to 2003. It was, and is still rare for Microsoft to release a subsequent version in just one year.

Follow these steps to use the Package Presentation for CD feature in
PowerPoint 2010:

Make sure you save your presentation. Then, access the File menu to bring up
Backstage view. Select the
Save & Send tab to bring up the options you see in Figure 1, below. Click the
Package Presentation for CD option, highlighted in red within Figure 1.
You will now see the Package for CD button, highlighted in blue within
Figure 1. Click this button.

Figure 1: Package Presentation for CD option

This opens the Package for CD dialog box, as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2: Package for CD dialog box

The options within the Package for CD dialog box are explained below, as marked in Figure 2, above:

A. Name the CD: Provide a name for your CD. Also, PowerPoint uses the same name for the folder if you choose the
Copy to Folder option later rather than the Copy to CD option.

B. Files to be copied: By default, the active presentation is included in this area, highlighted in
red within Figure 2, above. If you want to add more files, click the Add
button, that we explain next.

C. Add: This button, when clicked opens the Add Files dialog box, shown in Figure 3,
below. You can add other PowerPoint files. Additionally, you can also add Word documents and text files.

Figure 3: Add Files dialog box

D. Remove: Select the file you want to remove from the Files to be copied area, and click this
button.

Enhance security and privacy: This section lets you add passwords to open and modify each presentation you add to the
Files to be copied area, as shown highlighted in red within Figure 2,
previously on this page. To learn more about password protection of PowerPoint files, explore our
Encrypt with Password in PowerPoint 2010 for
Windows tutorial. Additionally, you can also choose to
Inspect presentations for inappropriate or private information. Learn more in our
Inspect Document in PowerPoint 2010 for
Windows tutorial.

Click OK to accept your changes, or Cancel to get back to the Package for CD dialog
box without any changes.

F. Copy to Folder: Opens the Copy to Folder dialog box shown in Figure 5, below.
Notice that the Folder name is the same as the content within the Name the CD in the previous dialog
box, shown in Figure 2.

Figure 5: Copy to Folder dialog box

You can also choose a folder location, and opt to Open folder when complete.

When you press the OK button, PowerPoint will bring up a message window, shown in Figure 6, below.

Figure 6: Do you want linked files to be copied?

You are asked to confirm whether you want linked files to be copied. Most of the time, your answer should be Yes.
Once you click the Yes button, PowerPoint will briefly show the Copying Files to Folder message
window, shown in Figure 7, below.

Figure 7: Copying Files to Folder message window

You will then see the folder where all files have been copied, as shown in Figure 8 -- notice that a linked Excel
file has also been copied.

Figure 8: Folder with the copied files

G. Copy to CD: Burns a CD or DVD if you have an attached CD/DVD writer connected to your computer. Essentially, this
burns the content shown in the folder within Figure 8 into a CD or DVD.

H. Close: Click to close the Package for CD dialog box.

Thus, as you can see this Package Presentation for CD feature is very useful, even if you use it to copy all linked files to a folder.
And yes, the CD or DVD you create is autorun enabled on Microsoft Windows systems.

Have your ever used keyboard shortcuts and sequences in PowerPoint? Or are you a complete keyboard aficionado?
Do you want to learn about some new shortcuts? Or do you want to know if your favorite keyboard shortcuts are documented?