Why do I get an error from using actxserver​('PowerPoi​nt.Applica​tion')?

I am attempting to use a code that allows me to generate data plots and automatically put them in a PowerPoint presentation. The function in the script that is giving me the most trouble is actxserver. Whenever I try to use it for a PowerPoint application, by typing actxserver('PowerPoint.Application'), it gives me an error that says "Server creation failed. Invalid ProgID 'PowerPoint.Application'". I have PowerPoint installed so I'm not quite sure what the reason for the error is. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Answer 1

[Guillaume]

Invalid ProgID 'PowerPoint.Application'

This would indicate that powerpoint is not installed properly.

I think it would be very unlikely that the progID for whichever version of powerpoint you've got installed is not PowerPoint.Application. You could check for sure by doing a search in the registry for Microsoft PowerPoint Application. One of the entries found should have a subkey with the name VersionIndependentProgID which will contain the registered ProgID for powerpoint.

[Michael Esneul]

Thanks for the quick reply. I looked in the windows registry and could not find a progid. Maybe I'm looking in the wrong location. I tried to look in Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\PowerPoint and Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\PowerPoint but could not find anything.

[Guillaume]

As I said, the best place to find it is by searching for Microsoft PowerPoint Application. It will not be under HKCU or HKLM. On my machine it is under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Wow6432Node\CSLID\{91493441-5A91-11CF-8700-00AA0060263B}

The node will depend on the bitness of your OS and of Office. The actual CLSID depends on the version of Office.

But as I said, it's unlikely that you got the wrong progid. I'd look into reinstalling powerpoint (or maybe try the office repair assistant).

[Michael Esneul]

Thanks again. I was able to find that location and under VersionIndependentProgID it does display PowerPoint.Application. I'll give the office repair assistant a shot as well as trying to reinstall it.

Answer 2

[Sean de Wolski]

You may want to consider looking into MATLAB Report Generator which can generate PPT without even needing powerpoint or being on Windows.

https://www.mathworks.com/products/ML_reportgenerator/features.html#creating-presentations-in-microsoft-powerpoint