In the fullness of time, it might make sense to incorporate some AppleScript steps into the acceptance tests, to make sure that PowerPoint isn't barfing after changes. I've collected some resources here that I discovered during some preliminary resource discovery.

• Outlook archive message shortcut
• AppleScript Essentials
• AppleScript Essentials: Introduction to Scripting Microsoft PowerPoint
• Applescript Microsoft 2011 PowerPoint
• Converting VBA Macros to AppleScript in Microsoft Office
• How can I use AppleScript to check if PowerPoint is playing a presentation?
• AppleScript on Wikipedia