Mark as Final Option in PowerPoint 2007 for Windows

Once you create a presentation, you may need to share it. PowerPoint 2007 provides the Mark as Final option that makes your file read-only. For a PowerPoint 2010 specific article on Mark as Final, go here. We 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 can be easily reversed.

Follow these steps to learn how to use the Mark as Final option in PowerPoint 2007 for Windows:

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. Click on the Office Button to bring up the resultant menu, as shown in Figure 1, below.
3. 
   Figure 1: Office Button menu options
3. From the menu, choose Prepare | Mark as Final, as shown in Figure 2, below.
4. 
   Figure 2: Mark as Final
4. This action summons the message window, as shown in Figure 3, below. Click OK to mark the open presentation as final. Remember that this action marks and saves the open presentation as final, and no new copies are created.
5. 
   Figure 3: Message Window to confirm Mark as Final action
5. Doing so brings up another message window, as shown in Figure 4, below, that informs you that this presentation is 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 Don't show this message again option.
6. 
   Figure 4: Confirmation of marked as final
6. Back in Normal view, you will see there's a Mark as Final icon in the Status Bar at the bottom left corner, as shown highlighted in red within Figure 5, below.
7. 
   Figure 5: Presentation marked as final
7. 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 6, below, shows the Home tab of the Ribbon with all options greyed out.
8. 
   Figure 6: Home tab with all options greyed out