Trying to combine .pptx files using javascript

[TDIJohn]

I found this on google docs that will allow automated ppt combining.

http://code.google.com/p/powerpointjoin/

I combine over 50 ppt's daily, and I'd like to automate it so I can have a nice cup of coffee in the time I save...

The code posted to google supports .ppt files, but works with .pptx if you have a .ppt file open whenever you run the .js file that the .hta program uses.


What I need to learn how to do is 2 fold:

1. (Most Importantly) - modify the .js file to open each .ppt file using the 'source formatting' option like you'd have if you were manually pasting a copy. Each of my files has a different and important formatting that needs to remain in my combined file.

2. (Just an update) - modify the .js file to work properly with .pptx files like the original creator of this intended.

pptjoin.functions.js exact text [all within the .zip file on google docs]:
function $(id) {
return document.getElementById(id);
}
function init() {
window.resizeTo(500, 300);
$('step1').innerHTML = STRINGS.STEP1;
$('step2').innerHTML = STRINGS.STEP2;
$('total-slides').innerHTML = STRINGS.TOTAL_SLIDES;
document.title = STRINGS.APP_TITLE;
}
function validateFile(e) {
var filename = e.value;
debug("validating " + filename);
if(filename.substr(filename.length - 3) == "txt") {
debug("Selected Text file = " + filename);
} else if(filename.length == 0) {
debug("user hit cancel");
} else {
alert(sprintf(STRINGS.INVALID_FILE_CHOICE, filename));
}
}
function processFiles() {
var filename = $('filename').value;
debug("Reading from file " + filename);
var fso = new ActiveXObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject");
var objPpt;
var pptMain;
var all_is_well = true;
try {
objPpt = new ActiveXObject("Powerpoint.Application");
objPpt.Presentations.Add();
objPpt.Visible = true;
debug("PowerPoint.Application");
var iMainCharts = 0;
debug("NewPresentation");
if(fso.FileExists(filename)) {
var txt = fso.OpenTextFile(filename, 1);
debug("OpenTextFile");
var directory = fso.GetParentFolderName(filename);
var pptMainFilename = directory + "\\" + STRINGS.COMBINED_CHARTS_FILENAME;
debug("pptMainFilename = " + pptMainFilename);
var firstppt = txt.ReadLine();
debug("First ppt = " + firstppt);
if(! fso.FileExists(firstppt) ) {
firstppt = directory + "\\" + firstppt;
if( ! fso.FileExists(firstppt) ) {
alert("The first set of charts cannot be found");
return;
}
}
fso.CopyFile(firstppt, pptMainFilename);
pptMain = objPpt.Presentations.Open(pptMainFilename);
debug("Open");
//pptMain.SaveAs(pptMainFilename);
if(! fso.FileExists(pptMainFilename) ) {
debug("Did not save correctly");
all_is_well = false;
return;
} else {
debug("Saved");
}
while (! txt.AtEndOfStream) {
try {
var line = txt.ReadLine();
debug("Reading line " + line);
var ppt = line;
if(! fso.FileExists(ppt)) {
debug(" it ain't " + ppt);
if(! fso.FileExists(directory + "\\" + ppt) ) {
alert(sprintf(STRINGS.CHARTS_NOT_FOUND, ppt));
break;
} else {
ppt = directory + "\\" + ppt;
}
}
debug(" Found ppt '" + ppt + "'");
iMainCharts = pptMain.Slides.Count;
updateTotal(iMainCharts);
debug("iMainCharts = " + iMainCharts);
debug("Inserting " + ppt);
//pptMain.Slides.InsertFromFile(directory + "\\" + ppt, iMainCharts);
pptMain.Slides.InsertFromFile(ppt, iMainCharts);
debug("InsertFromFile");
} catch (e) {
debug("Oh No!\n" + e.description);
alert("Oh No!\n" + e.description);
all_is_well = false;
break;
}
}
if(all_is_well) {
$('step3').innerHTML = sprintf(STRINGS.STEP3, STRINGS.COMBINED_CHARTS_FILENAME);
}
updateTotal(pptMain.Slides.Count);
debug("Finished");
txt = null;
} else {
debug("Can't find this file: " + filename);
}
} catch (e) {
alert("OH NO! \n" + e.description + "\n" + sprintf(STRINGS.CLOSE_COMBINED, STRINGS.COMBINED_CHARTS_FILENAME));
}
try {
pptMain.Save();
pptMain.Close();
debug("closed");
objPpt.Quit();
} catch (e) {
debug("Error cleaning up: " + e.description);
} finally {
pptMain = null;
objPpt = null;
fso = null;
}
}
function openCharts() {
var txtfile = $('filename').value;
var pptcharts = STRINGS.COMBINED_CHARTS_FILENAME;
var fso = new ActiveXObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject");
var directory = fso.GetParentFolderName(txtfile);
var found_charts = false;
if(fso.FileExists(pptcharts)) {
found_charts = true;
} else {
pptcharts = directory + "\\" + pptcharts;
if(fso.FileExists(pptcharts) ) {
found_charts = true;
}
}
if(found_charts) {
debug("opening " + pptcharts);
var objPpt = new ActiveXObject("Powerpoint.Application");
objPpt.Presentations.Add();
objPpt.Visible = true;
objPpt.Presentations.Open(pptcharts);
} else {
debug("Still can't find " + pptcharts);
alert("Can't find " + pptcharts);
openFolder();
}
fso = null;
sh = null;
}
function openFolder() {
var txtfile = $('filename').value;
var fso = new ActiveXObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject");
var directory = fso.GetParentFolderName(txtfile);
fso = null;
var sh = new ActiveXObject("WScript.Shell");
var cmd = STRINGS.PATH_TO_EXPLORER + " " + directory;
debug("Running " + cmd);
sh.Run(cmd);
sh = null;
}
function debug(msg) {
$('debug').innerHTML = $('debug').innerHTML + "<BR>" + msg;
}
function showHelp(msg) {
$('help-message').innerHTML = msg;
$('help').style.display = "";
}
function hideHelp() {
$('help').style.display = 'none';
}
function updateTotal(n) {
$('total-charts').innerHTML = n;
}