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Automatically add QR codes for Forms to PowerPoint slides

Written by Andy

You can automatically insert QR codes for SessionLab Forms into a PowerPoint presentation when downloading it from a session.

This is useful when running workshops, training sessions, or events where participants need quick access to feedback Forms or surveys, directly from presentation slides.

This feature is available for users on Enterprise plans.

Please note: this feature currently only works with Microsoft PowerPoint and not with Apple's Keynote application

How it works

SessionLab can replace placeholder images in your PowerPoint presentation with QR codes that link to Forms in your session.

To do this:

  1. Add a placeholder image to your PowerPoint slide.

  2. Assign a unique key to a Form in SessionLab.

  3. Add that key to the placeholder image's Alt Text.

  4. Upload the PowerPoint to your session.

  5. Download the presentation with up-to-date QR codes.

When downloaded, SessionLab will automatically replace each placeholder image with the corresponding QR code.

Please note, in order to first activate this feature, you will need to ask our support team to turn it on for you. Please email support@sessionlab.com and we'll be happy to activate this.

Step 1: Create and configure your Forms

After we've activated this feature for you, create the Forms you want participants to access from your presentation.

For each Form:

  1. Open the Form settings by clicking on the three dots

  2. Find the Set Key field.

  3. Enter a unique key.

For example:

  • feedback-a

  • feedback-b

  • workshop-survey

Keys can contain lowercase letters and dashes. The Form name and key are independent. You can rename the Form later without affecting the QR code replacement.

Step 2: Add placeholder images to your PowerPoint

Open your PowerPoint presentation and add an image wherever you want a QR code to appear.

The placeholder image can be any size and can be positioned anywhere on the slide, but you might like to save and use this QR code placeholder image:

Step 3: Add the Form key to the image Alt Text

For each placeholder image:

  1. Right-click the image and open Alt Text (the exact location may vary depending on your version of PowerPoint).

  2. Enter the following format in the description field:

SessionLab:qr:<form-key>

So, for our example above, you would enter:

SessionLab:qr:feedback-a

Each placeholder should reference the key of the Form whose QR code you want to display.

Step 4: Upload the PowerPoint to your session

Attach the PowerPoint file to any block in your session. Once uploaded, SessionLab will detect any QR code placeholders in the presentation.

Step 5: Download the presentation

With your attachment open in the right side-panel, click on Download with up-to-date QR codes:

SessionLab will:

  • Generate QR codes for the matching Forms.

  • Replace the placeholder images.

  • Preserve the original size and position of each placeholder.

The downloaded presentation will contain working QR codes ready to use in your session.

Missing Form keys

If a presentation contains QR code placeholders that do not match any Form keys in the session, SessionLab will display a warning:

The warning will identify which keys could not be found, helping you verify that all required Forms have been configured correctly.

Automatic Form publishing

Forms used for QR code replacement are automatically published when you first download the PowerPoint with QR codes.

This ensures that participants can access the Forms immediately after scanning the QR codes.

Download the original presentation

If needed, you can always download the original PowerPoint file from the download menu.

This provides a fallback option in case you want to manually manage QR codes or troubleshoot a presentation.

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