Run VBA on any PowerPoint to change the LanguageID - vbscript

Question

I'm trying to create a toolbar with a button that will change the LanguageID for all shapes and text boxes in a PowerPoint document to EnglishUS. This is to fix a problem where if someone spell-checks a document using another language (in this instance, French), that language is embedded into the .ppt file itself. When another user tries to spell-check the same area using another language, say English, the words the spell checker suggests are in the original language. For instance, it tried to correct the word 'specified' to 'specifie', a French word. From what I've read, the only way to fix this language issue is with a VBscript, and the only way to run a VBscript in Powerpoint without embedding it into a .ppt and loading that file every time is by creating an add-in with a toolbar button to run the macro, also using VBS. Below is the code which I've taken from various sources, and when I tried to put it together, it didn't work (although it did compile). If someone could take a look, I'm sure its a simple syntax error or something like that, it would be a HUGE help. Thanks in advance!!
By the way if anyone knows an easier way to run a macro in PPT without having to open a certain PPT every time, I'm ALL ears.
and now, the script:
Sub Auto_Open()
Dim oToolbar As CommandBar
Dim oButton As CommandBarButton
Dim MyToolbar As String
''# Give the toolbar a name
MyToolbar = "Fix Language"
On Error Resume Next
''# so that it doesn't stop on the next line if the toolbar's already there
''# Create the toolbar; PowerPoint will error if it already exists
Set oToolbar = CommandBars.Add(Name:=MyToolbar, _
Position:=msoBarFloating, Temporary:=True)
If Err.Number <> 0 Then
''# The toolbar's already there, so we have nothing to do
Exit Sub
End If
On Error GoTo ErrorHandler
''# Now add a button to the new toolbar
Set oButton = oToolbar.Controls.Add(Type:=msoControlButton)
''# And set some of the button's properties
With oButton
.DescriptionText = "Fix Language for Spell Check"
''# Tooltip text when mouse if placed over button
.Caption = "Click to Run Script"
''# Text if Text in Icon is chosen
.OnAction = "Button1"
''# Runs the Sub Button1() code when clicked
.Style = msoButtonIcon
''# Button displays as icon, not text or both
.FaceId = 59
End With
''# Repeat the above for as many more buttons as you need to add
''# Be sure to change the .OnAction property at least for each new button
''# You can set the toolbar position and visibility here if you like
''# By default, it'll be visible when created
oToolbar.Top = 150
oToolbar.Left = 150
oToolbar.Visible = True
NormalExit:
Exit Sub ''# so it doesn't go on to run the errorhandler code
ErrorHandler:
''# Just in case there is an error
MsgBox Err.Number & vbCrLf & Err.Description
Resume NormalExit:
End Sub
Sub Button1()
''# This is the code to replace the LanguageID throughout the ppt
Option Explicit
Public Sub ChangeSpellCheckingLanguage()
Dim j As Integer, k As Integer, scount As Integer, fcount As Integer
scount = ActivePresentation.Slides.Count
For j = 1 To scount
fcount = ActivePresentation.Slides(j).Shapes.Count
For k = 1 To fcount
If ActivePresentation.Slides(j).Shapes(k).HasTextFrame Then
ActivePresentation.Slides(j).Shapes(k) _
.TextFrame.TextRange.LanguageID = msoLanguageIDEnglishUS
End If
Next k
Next j
End Sub
End Sub

Answer 1

The answer is quite obvious if it is not clear yet.
As you can see the sub Button1() encapsulates another sub. Thus, I advise you to remove the call ChangeSpellingCheckingLanguage and the last End sub, then your code will work.

Answer 2

This may be an incredibly late answer, but I just solved this problem using VBScript (which can be run outside of powerpoint). The script as written will change the language of each powerpoint file in a given directory (and subdirectories) to English. Here's the script:
Option Explicit
'microsoft office constants
Const msoTrue = -1
Const msoFalse = 0
Const msoLanguageIDEnglishUS = 1033
Const msoGroup = 6
'starting folder (current folder)
Const START_FOLDER = ".\"
'valid powerpoint file extensions
Dim FILE_EXTENSIONS : FILE_EXTENSIONS = Array("pptx", "pptm", "ppt", "potx", "potm", "pot")
'desired language for all Text
Dim DESIRED_LANGUAGE : DESIRED_LANGUAGE = msoLanguageIDEnglishUS
'VBScript file system objects for starting folder
Dim objFSO : Set objFSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
Dim objStartingFolder : Set objStartingFolder = objFSO.GetFolder(START_FOLDER)
IterateContainingItems objStartingFolder
'recursive subroutine to iterate each file in specified folder and all subfolders
Sub IterateContainingItems(objCurrentFolder)
Dim colFiles : Set colFiles = objCurrentFolder.Files
Dim objCurrentFile
For Each objCurrentFile in colFiles
ReportInfo(objCurrentFile)
Next
Dim colFolders : Set colFolders = objCurrentFolder.SubFolders
Dim objNextFolder
For Each objNextFolder in colFolders
IterateContainingItems objNextFolder
Next
End Sub
'subroutine executed for every file iterated by IterateContainingItems subroutine
Sub ReportInfo(objCurrentFile)
Dim strPathToFile
strPathToFile = objFSO.GetAbsolutePathName(objCurrentFile.Path)
If isPowerpointFile(strPathToFile) Then
Dim objPowerpointApp, objPresentations, objPresentation, objSlides, intSlideCount
set objPowerpointApp = CreateObject("Powerpoint.Application")
set objPresentations = objPowerpointApp.Presentations
Set objPresentation = objPresentations.Open(strPathToFile, msoFalse, msoFalse, msoFalse)
Set objSlides = objPresentation.Slides
intSlideCount = objSlides.Count
ResetLanguage objPresentation
objPresentation.Save
objPresentation.Close
objPowerpointApp.Quit
End If
End Sub
'check if given filepath specifies a powerpoint file as described by the "constant" extension array
Function isPowerpointFile(strFilePath)
Dim strExtension, found, i
strExtension = objFSO.GetExtensionName(strFilePath)
found = false
for i = 0 to ubound(FILE_EXTENSIONS)
if FILE_EXTENSIONS(i) = strExtension then
found = true
exit for
end if
next
isPowerpointFile = found
End Function
'finds every shape in the entire document and attempts to reset its LanguageID
Sub ResetLanguage(objCurrentPresentation)
Dim objShape
'change shapes from presentation-wide masters
If objCurrentPresentation.HasHandoutMaster Then
For Each objShape in objCurrentPresentation.HandoutMaster.Shapes
ChangeLanguage objShape
Next
End If
If objCurrentPresentation.HasNotesMaster Then
For Each objShape in objCurrentPresentation.NotesMaster.Shapes
ChangeLanguage objShape
Next
End If
If objCurrentPresentation.HasTitleMaster = msoTrue Then
For Each objShape in objCurrentPresentation.TitleMaster.Shapes
ChangeLanguage objShape
Next
End If
'change shapes from each design's master
Dim tempDesign
For Each tempDesign in objCurrentPresentation.Designs
For Each objShape in tempDesign.SlideMaster.Shapes
ChangeLanguage objShape
Next
Next
'change shapes from each slide
Dim tempSlide
For Each tempSlide in objCurrentPresentation.Slides
For Each objShape in tempSlide.Shapes
ChangeLanguage objShape
Next
If tempSlide.hasNotesPage Then
For Each objShape in tempSlide.NotesPage.Shapes
ChangeLanguage objShape
Next
End If
Next
End Sub
'if the given shape contains a text element, it checks and corrects the LanguageID
'if the given shape is a group, it iterates through each element in the group
Sub ChangeLanguage(objShape)
If objShape.Type = msoGroup Then
Dim objShapeGroup : Set objShapeGroup = objShape.GroupItems
Dim objShapeChild
For Each objShapeChild in objShapeGroup
ChangeLanguage objShapeChild
Next
Else
If objShape.HasTextFrame Then
Dim intOrigLanguage : intOrigLanguage = objShape.TextFrame.TextRange.LanguageID
If Not intOrigLanguage = DESIRED_LANGUAGE Then
If objShape.TextFrame.TextRange.Length = 0 Then
objShape.TextFrame.TextRange.Text = "[PLACEHOLDER_TEXT_TO_DELETE]"
End If
objShape.TextFrame.TextRange.LanguageID = DESIRED_LANGUAGE
If objShape.TextFrame.TextRange.Text = "[PLACEHOLDER_TEXT_TO_DELETE]" Then
objShape.TextFrame.TextRange.Text = ""
End If
End If
End If
End If
End Sub
To run it, just copy and paste the code into a text editor and save it as "script_name.vbs" in the directory with your powerpoint files. Run it by double clicking the script and waiting.

Answer 3

To load a macro every time PowerPoint is opened, you will want to create a PowerPoint AddIn. Microsoft has provided step-by-step guide for Office XP. For Office 2007 and newer, AFAIK the following steps will do that:
Save file as *.ppam into the directory it suggests (%APPDATA%\Microsoft\AddIns)
Open the Settings (click the office button in the top left corner and select "PowerPoint Options"), select the "Add-Ins" page, choose "PowerPoint Add-Ins" in the drop-down behind "Manage" and click the "Go" button. A dialog opens. Selecting "Add New" brings up a file picker dialog. You should be able to select the file there.
You can also use the Office Custom UI Editor to create ribbons.
However, I have already created such a Language Fixer Add-In for current versions of PowerPoint, and I have put it up for free download for personal use: PowerPoint Language Fixer by Jan Schejbal