Insert & Edit Matlab figures inside Power Point presentations

Hello to all,

My work often demands power point presentations which contain at least 10 slides with Matlab - provided images (results of signal processing algorithms). Usually, I convert the plotted signals (figures) into *.png images and copy/paste them in the presentations. During the presentation, it is often needed to zoom in, edit or modify the figures and I have to open Matlab, find the signals and plot them again. This is time consuming. Is there a way to insert the Matlab figures (the *.fig files) directly in the power point presentation and edit them? (much like editing an Excel chart).

Best regards,
Jean

Answer 1

[Dr. Seis]

Probably not. Is it not possible to run Matlab (with those figures open) in the background during the presentation? That way if there is a need to zoom or query a figure, then it can be done there. If you are making changes to the signal (i.e., through filtering, convolution, etc.), then it might be better to invest some time creating a Matlab GUI. This is what I did to display and process seismic data.

Also, I would suggest using encapsulated post-script (".eps" extension) for presentation figures.

Answer 2

[Jan]

If you ask Google for "Matlab PowerPoint embed", you find this:

• http://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/fileexchange/19597-calling-matlab-from-powerpoint
• http://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/fileexchange/340
• http://www.mathworks.nl/matlabcentral/answers/432-how-do-i-programatically-control-power-point-from-matlab

Would the export as EMF be helpful, e.g. by print -dmeta?

But what is the time-consuming part of using MATLAB during a presentation? If you start MATLAB before and open the needed figures in the required order, than Ctrl-TAB should bring the needed figure to front, and if you are ready with a specific figure, you can close it.

It is necessary to do the manipulations of the figure in real-time? Or can you do this before an record the results to a movie?

I'm using another approach: PowerPoint is excellent to create slides. But as long as you do not use fancy effects to confuse the audience, the slides can be exported as pictures and displayed by MATLAB instead of the other way arround. It is easier to embed PowerPoint slides to MATLAB than FIGUREs to PowerPoint... You can remove the border around the FIGUREs with FEX: WindowAPI.