I just released version 0.2 of the NoInk.ps1 Powershell script to remove ink annotations from your PowerPoint slide decks.

When I teach online, and sometimes in presence as well, I use a lot of my Wacom ONE graphic tablet to draw on my PowerPoint slides.
Generally, I save them so I do not lose the annotations during the breaks.

This tool helps you to remove all the ink annotations from all your slides decks automatically so they return clean and ready for the next training.

I wrote this tool in PowerShell and I tried it on  Windows 10, using PowerShell 5.1 and Microsoft Office 2019
It might still work on Windows 7 and Microsoft Office 2013 but I do not have such an old machine anymore.

This new version includes some nice improvements and fixes:

  • I added a couple of optional parameters:
    • ShowAll:  If specified all the objects found in every slide are enumerated but only the objects of type msoInk and msoInkComment are removed
    • DryRun:  If the parameter is specified no objects are deleted
  • Not all the ink annotation were always removed: the problem should be fixed now
  • More explanations are given from the script when it runs about what is doing

How to use it

The usage is really simple:

From the PowerShell command line:

.\NoInk.ps1

  • It removes the Ink Annotations from all the .pptx files found in the current directory.

.\NoInk.ps1 myPresentation.pptx

  • It removes the Ink Annotations from the specified file.

.\NoInk.ps1 C:\Users\mzuppone\Desktop

  • Removes the ink annotations from all the slide decks (.pptx files) found in C:\Users\mzuppone\Desktop

.\NoInk.ps1 C:\Users\mzuppone\Desktop -DryRun

  • All the slide decks (.pptx files) found in C:\Users\mzuppone\Desktop are processed but no shapes are deleted from them

.\NoInk.ps1 myPresentation.pptx -ShowAll

  • Removes the ink annotations from the file myPresentation.pptx and shows all the shapes type found in every slide

Where can I find the script?

You can find it on GitHub at this link: https://github.com/mszeu/RemovePPTXInk

On GitHub you can find as well a digitally signed and timestamped copy of the script.

The advantage of using the signed version of the script is that you can execute it without the need to modify the PowerShell execution policies.

Keep an eye on the Releases here: https://github.com/mszeu/RemovePPTXInk/releases

You can verify the signature using the following command:

Get-AuthenticodeSignature .\NoInk.ps1 | Format-List

check that the Subject and the Issuer fields are like the following:

[Subject]
E=msz@msz.eu, CN=”Open Source Developer, Marco Zuppone”, O=Open Source Developer, L=Reading, S=Berkshire, C=GB
[Issuer]
CN=Certum Code Signing CA SHA2, OU=Certum Certification Authority, O=Unizeto Technologies S.A., C=PL

I found a bug, I have a question or just a comment

For problems, improvement requests and suggestions you can leave a comment on the article or contact me at msz@msz.eu

DISCLAIMER

The tool is given AS IS. It’s open-source under the GNU AFFERO GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE Version 3

Thanks to Alex Litvin on Unsplash for the picture.