I have resolved part of this. It requires a mac user to one-time go to System Preferences >> Keyboard >> Shortcuts >> and Check the "Use Keyboard Navigation" box to enable tab, arrow scrolling in dialog boxes.
There is an issue. If the Compress Pictures dialog box is already open, and this code is then run from Apple Script Editor, it works. However, if it is ALL done in vba (open the compress pictures dialog box via CommandBars.ExecuteMso ("PicturesCompress"), then run this macscript, the macscript will not execute until the dialog box has been closed.
If there is a solution, it is appending this code to open the compress pictures dialog box using macscript, instead of commandbars.executemso("PicturesCompress"). Still investigating, will update if I figure it out.
If anyone has macscript that succeafully interacts with/clicks on things from the ribbon, any help would still be appreciated!
MacScript version. (this code would run after some arbitrary picture in the deck was clicked on. Does NOT work because the macscript will not execute until the dialog box is closed.
The raw apple script is below that. If you run that from script editor after opening the compress pictures dialog box, it works.
Dim MacCompressionExec As String
MacCompressionExec = "tell application ""System Events""" & vbNewLine & _
"tell process ""Microsoft PowerPoint""" & vbNewLine & _
"set frontmost to true" & vbNewLine & _
"key code 125 #Down Arrow - Open Picture Qualiy Dropdown " & vbNewLine & _
"key code 14 #E - Email, in case Print (P) and Use Original Quality (U) Are Unavailable" & vbNewLine & _
"delay 1 #Can't select again for half a sec or so" & vbNewLine & _
"key code 35 #P - Print, in case Use Original Quality is Unavailable" & vbNewLine & _
"delay 1" & vbNewLine & _
"key code 32 #U - Use Original Quality" & vbNewLine & _
"key code 36 #Enter - Select option from Picture Quality dropdown" & vbNewLine & _
"key code 48 #tab" & vbNewLine & _
"key code 48 #tab - tab twice to radio buttons" & vbNewLine & _
"delay 1" & vbNewLine & _
"key code 126 #Up Arrow - All Pictures is always the top option, does not cycle back once at top" & vbNewLine & _
"delay 1" & vbNewLine & _
"#key code 36 #Enter to run" & vbNewLine & _
"#return ""Done""" & vbNewLine & _
"end tell" & vbNewLine & _
"end tell"
CommandBars.ExecuteMso ("PicturesCompress")
MacScript (MacCompressionExec) 'Doesn't work because you have to close dialog box before it will run••••ˇˇˇˇ
'AppleScript
tell application "System Events"
tell process "Microsoft PowerPoint"
set frontmost to true
key code 125 #Down Arrow - Open Picture Qualiy Dropdown
key code 14 #E - Email, in case Print (P) and Use Original Quality (U) Are Unavailable
delay 1 #Can't select again for half a sec or so
key code 35 #P - Print, in case Use Original Quality is Unavailable
delay 1
key code 32 #U - Use Original Quality
key code 36 #Enter - Select option from Picture Quality dropdown
key code 48 #tab
key code 48 #tab - tab twice to radio buttons
delay 1
key code 126 #Up Arrow - 'All Pictures' is always the top option, does not cycle back once at top
delay 1
key code 36 #Enter to run
end tell
#end tell
end tell