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Once you create a presentation, you may need to share it. PowerPoint 2010 (and PowerPoint 2007) provide the Mark as Final option that makes your file read-only. I need to add that this is just a deterrent and nothing as restrictive as password protecting a PowerPoint presentation. Mark as Final tries to prevent users from typing, editing commands, and proofing -- all editing options are disabled or turned off. However, do remember that Mark as Final is not a security feature and it can be easily reversed.

Follow these steps to use the Mark as Final option in PowerPoint 2010:

1. Open an existing presentation. If you want to apply Mark as Final to a copy of the presentation, it is a good idea to choose the Save As command and work on a copy of the file.
   
   
2. Access the File menu, and choose the Info option to open Backstage view with the Info panel (see Figure 1).
   
   
   Figure 1: Info Panel
   
   
3. In the Permissions area, click the Protect Presentation button to bring up the menu you see in Figure 2. Choose the Mark as Final option.
   
   
   Figure 2: Mark as Final
   
   
4. This summons the message window that you see in Figure 3. Click OK to mark the open presentation as final. Remember that this saves the same presentation that you have open.
   
   
   Figure 3: Mark as Final
   
   
5. This brings up another message window (see Figure 4) that informs you that this presentation has marked as final. All you need to do now is click OK. If you don't want to see this message again, remember to check the option that says "Don't show this message again".
   
   
   Figure 4: Confirmation of marked as final
   
   
6. Within the Info panel shown in Figure 5, you'll see that the Permissions area mentions that the presentation has been marked as final (the yellow box). Also note that the title bar of the application that says Read-Only. Click the File tab again to go back to the default PowerPoint interface.
   
   
   Figure 5: Presentation marked as final
   
   
7. Back in Normal view, you will see two indications that the file has been marked as final:
   
   
   1. There's a Mark as Final icon in the status bar at the bottom left corner (highlighted in red in Figure 6).
   2. A yellow strip right above the slide area (highlighted in red in Figure 6) indicates that this presentation discourages editing.
      
      
      Figure 6: Presentation marked as final
      
8. To further confirm the Mark as Final state, click any of the tabs of the Ribbon, and you'll find that almost all options are grayed out. This means you can no longer edit the presentation. Figure 7 shows the Home tab of the Ribbon with several options grayed out.
   
   
   Figure 7: Home tab
   

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