The document discusses the structure and contents of comments in PowerPoint presentations. Comments can only be added to slides and include simple text with no formatting. A single Comment Author List (CAL) stored separately lists all comment authors with IDs, names, initials, and other metadata. Individual comments are stored in separate parts named for each slide, and include the author ID, timestamp, index, position, and text.

1. Slide Content
Comments

2. Comments
• Can only be added to slides ( not masters
or layouts )
• They are simple text – no formatting
• There are special shapes – no formatting

3. Comment Author List
• There is a single Comment Author List (
“CAL” ) per presentation.
• The CAL is stored in a separate part within
the package
– Part name = ./ppt/commentAuthors.xml

4. CAL Contents
• ID
• Author Name
• Author Initials
• Last Index
• Color Index

5. Comment Author Uniqueness
• Authors are the same, iff
– They have the same name ( ST_Name ), and
– They have the same initials ( ST_Initials )

6. Comments
• Comments are stored per slide in a
separate part within the package
– Part name = ./ppt/comments/comment#.xml

7. Comment Contents
• Author ID
• Date / Time
• Index
• Position
• “Text”

8. Disclaimer
This presentation is for informational purposes only, and should
not be relied upon as a substitute or replacement for Microsoft
formal file format documentation, which is available at the
following website: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-
us/library/cc313118(v=office.12).aspx. Any views or opinions
presented in this material are solely those of the author and do
not necessarily represent those of Microsoft. Microsoft
disclaims all liability for mistakes or inaccuracies in this
presentation.