If you have tried to print handouts in PowerPoint 2010 that include the slide notes, you may have noticed a bit of a shortcoming. You can print handouts with multiple slides per page, or you can print handouts that include the notes. However, there is no way to combine these features and print handouts with notes and get more than one slide per page. While it's not possible to do it within PowerPoint, you can enlist MS Word to quickly get the job done.
- Open a PowerPoint presentation that includes slide notes.
- Choose the File tab on the ribbon.
- Select Save and Send.
- Select Create Handouts.
- Click the Create Handouts button on the right.
The Send to Microsoft Word dialog box appears. - Select Notes next to slides.
Note: If you may be making edits to your slides, select Paste Link as well. This will automatically update the Word file if you make any changes to your slides in PowerPoint. This option will not update changes made to the outline or to slide notes, so if you select Outline Only, the Paste Link option will not be available.
- Click the OK button.
Your slides are automatically imported to Word. By default there are three slides (and their notes) per page. If you would like more slides per page, simply resize the slides and font and then manipulate the ruler guides (particularly those on the vertical ruler) to allow for more slides.
About the author: AJ George is IconLogic's lead Technical Writer and author of both "PowerPoint 2007: The Essentials" and "PowerPoint 2008 for the Macintosh: The Essentials."
I use this method all the time in Word 2003. I'd love to see a function in MS Word to re-size all slides or selected slides. I've built a macro but it's still awkward.
Jim
Posted by: Jim Taylor, CPE, CPMM | October 22, 2010 at 05:07 AM
THANK YOU!!!! I thought I was crazy when I couldn't figure it out in ppt. I really appreciate your post, I had NO idea!
Posted by: JacquelineF | November 16, 2010 at 03:52 AM
You're welcome Jacqueline :)
Posted by: AJ George | November 16, 2010 at 10:52 AM
mine says powerpoint could not send request to word.
i have powerpoint 2010
why is it so complicated for such simple task
Posted by: bret | January 05, 2011 at 10:44 AM
Hi Bret,
I have never gotten this error. I did a google search on this problem and couldn't find anyone else who received it either. My only thought is that perhaps Word 2010 is not properly installed on your system? Please let me know if you find a solution I'd be interested to know what the problem was.
Posted by: AJ George | January 05, 2011 at 11:57 AM
Wow, thanks so much! This is exactly what I was trying to figure out how to do!
Posted by: Andrea | August 16, 2011 at 12:28 PM
You're welcome Andrea!
Posted by: AJ George | August 17, 2011 at 10:38 AM
I do not have MS PP 2010 but 2007. Any ideas how to do this in MS PowerPoint 2007?
Thanks in advance!
Oana
Posted by: Oana | August 24, 2011 at 11:11 AM
Hi Oana,
The process is similar.
1. Click the Microsoft Office button at the top left of the screen.
2. Select Publish>Create Handouts in Microsoft Office Word.
And then follow steps 6 and 7 above.
Posted by: AJ George | August 25, 2011 at 09:42 AM
How is this done on a mac?
Posted by: LA | August 31, 2011 at 05:08 PM
Awesome!! Thank you so much. I have been struggling with this for some time untill luckily I found you answer
Posted by: israel | October 26, 2011 at 10:44 PM
Thank you.Thank you. Thank you.
Hope you won't mind, but I've added a link to this page from the training materials I use for lawyers.
Best regards
Simon
Posted by: Simon Carter | March 14, 2012 at 01:46 AM
I have also had the error where you cannot write to word. I can't figure it out either but word is correctly installed. It used to work and now it doesn't.
Posted by: Lauren | April 05, 2012 at 06:20 PM
Hi Lauren,
Someone else asked this and I didn't have an answer but I searched again now that you've asked. The only answer I can find says that your presentation may be too large for it to properly send to word. The suggestions were:
1. Break the presentation up into a couple of smaller ones, send each of them to Word, then recombine the Word files.
2. In the Send To Word dialog box, choose "Paste Link" instead of Link.
Posted by: AJ | April 06, 2012 at 12:23 PM
Hi George,
Very Good and usful tips. thanks for your help.
Posted by: Arun Vohra | August 09, 2012 at 01:28 AM
how many slides am I able to make in powerpoint 2010? It won't allow me any more than 47
Posted by: Noah | October 10, 2012 at 01:49 AM
Hi Noah,
I do not believe there is a maximum, but I do know that I am able to have more than 47 slides.
The more slides of content you have, however, the larger your file size will be. I would suggest breaking your project up if your file size is becoming inflated.
Posted by: AJ | October 10, 2012 at 03:51 PM
Thank you so much...took forever to find an answer that worked.
Posted by: Alexis | October 20, 2012 at 05:19 PM
Thank you, so much! This makes such a difference!
Posted by: Chrys Peralta | October 30, 2012 at 02:26 PM
When in PowerPoint and creating a handout in Word using 'Create Handout' I am clicking on Paste link. Then I close both files, go back to PP, change text in Notes Pane, save and close PP, and then when reopening Word, it is not updating with the new text. I am clicking on Yes to update. And both files are still in the same location. I have tried it when saving on a network drive and also tried it saving on the C drive. Any ideas? Thanks,
Posted by: Njhanson | November 08, 2012 at 02:53 PM
Hi Njhanson,
I looked into it and it turns out Paste Link will not work for updates made to the outline or the notes, and works only for content on the slides. Thanks for pointing this out. I have updated the article with a note about this.
Posted by: AJ | November 12, 2012 at 04:13 PM
Thanks a lot. It was amazing
Posted by: Hasna | January 31, 2013 at 10:45 AM
Do you know how to do this with a mac?
Posted by: Rachel | February 19, 2013 at 01:06 AM