Marking up PowerPoint slides slides is one of the best uses of the reMarkable 2. So the new addition of the “Read on reMarkable” addin for Powerpoint is great news. Unless you work for a company that has stringent IT policy, which won’t allow you to install add ins to MS Office. Let’s learn how to install the add-in as well as work arounds if your corporate IT policy will not allow 3rd party add ins for MS Office.
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What is the reMarkable PowerPoint addin?
The plug in’s official name is “Read on reMarkable” but I just refer to the functionality as the PowerPoint add in or Office add in (it also works for MS Word). The plug in creates a custom connection from Powerpoint through reMarkable Connect to deliver a copy of a presentation to your tablet. Honestly, this is a super slick took that makes sharing presentations quite easy.
To access any file shared through the Read On reMarkable functionality, you’ll need to have your reMarkable tablet connected to wifi.
How do I install the PowerPoint add in?
To install, you need to navigate to the Add In store through the toolbar (Insert >> Get Add Ins”)
Once in the Add In store, search for “reMarkable” and then click Add
Once the Add In is installed, you’ll need to log into your Connect account to begin sharing content.
Why would an IT department restrict MS Office add ins?
There are two main reasons for a company’s IT department to restrict access to installing Microsoft Office Add Ins:
- Cyber Security – In the current environment of CMMC compliance and perversive hacks, many corporations are choosing to lock down any potential attack vector. In cybersecurity speak, this is known as least privildege or least access and it is very effective at turning off potential vulnerabilities. Microsoft has publicly stated that Add Ins operate in a seperate runtime environment which does not have access to other parts of a computer. There is still some risk as cyber criminals are starting to use Add Ins for phishing attacks.
- Restrict export of documents to outside services – many companies worry about losing control of sensitive or confidential documents and therefore restrict access to file sharing or editing services. This may be just to protect proprietary information or it could be for a regulated purpose (e.g., medical / HIPPA data).
What should I do if my reMarkable add in isn’t working or I can’t install it?
If you are unable or unwilling to install the Powerpoint Read on reMarkable Add In, you can still sync presentations onto your tablet by exporting them to PDF. If you are unfamiliar with this technique – check out this how to article, which details all of the necessary steps. As IT departments close vulnerabilities in Office, this is unfortunately going to become more common.
