Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to know how to code?

No, you definitely don’t need to be a coder. Markdown is a very simple way of formatting text, which is used by millions of people without knowing how to code. We think you’ll be able to jump straight in, but if you want to familiarise yourself a little bit more and have ten minutes to spare, here’s a great intro to Markdown.

Can I tweak or re-order my slides in Deckset?

No. Deckset formats and presents your files. You can easily alter them in your Markdown file. You work directly in text. Deckset does the rest for you.

Why does Deckset for macOS not have a built-in editor?

It doesn’t need one — there are plenty of great text editors out there, and everybody has their favourite anyway. We want you to be able to work with what you’re used to and what you enjoy the most.

What editors work well with Deckset?

Use a text editor that saves plain Markdown files. On macOS 15 or later, open Deckset > Settings > Editor to see the current default and choose an installed editor from Available Editors. The list shows a loading indicator while Deckset finds compatible apps. Press Command-E to edit the presentation in the selected editor.

Why doesn’t my duplicated theme file appear as a new theme?

Deckset identifies themes using an internal identifier, not their filename or visible name. A copied or renamed .dstheme file therefore still represents the original theme. Use Save as New Theme in the customization panel to create an independent copy. The new theme appears in the gallery immediately; you do not need to export and reimport it.

See Create and share custom themes for the complete workflow, including exporting themes and replacing an existing theme during import.

Can Deckset highlight my code?

Yes! Simply wrap your code in three backticks (```). To add syntax highlighting, just add an optional language identifier. For example, to syntax-highlight Javascript code:

function myFunction(){
    alert(“Hello World!”)
};

See Code Blocks for language identifiers and highlighting options, including Robot Framework and Terraform.

What’s the best way to work with images in Deckset?

We recommend you use web images in your presentations. You can simply paste the image’s URL into the standard Markdown syntax, or even easier, drag the image from the web onto the Deckset window. The Markdown is automatically created and copied to your clipboard.

Images from the web will be downloaded to your computer and cached locally, so you don’t have to worry about having an Internet connection when you present.

Using web images comes with one big advantage — you can easily share your files (your deck!) with other people, without having to worry about sending them the images as well.

Tools like Dropbox or other storage services are easy ways to bring your local images to the web and guarantee a smooth workflow with Deckset.

Want to find out more about how to work with images in Deckset? Please refer to the “Working with Images” example presentation within Deckset.

Why can’t Deckset find my image?

Check the filename, extension, and path relative to the presentation. For Text Bundles, keep local media in the bundle’s assets folder. When a similarly named local image or SVG exists, the warning may suggest its filename with “Did you mean…?”. Correct the Markdown path to use that file; Deckset does not change it automatically.

For Obsidian links, use a resolvable path and the full extension. See Obsidian Media Embeds for the supported lookup behavior.

Can I create an accessible PDF?

Yes. Choose a PDF format and leave Create accessible PDF (PDF/UA-2) turned on. On both macOS and iOS, PDF exports can place 1, 2, or 4 slides on each page. You can also include presenter notes; in an accessible PDF, Deckset keeps those notes and the links in them available to assistive technology. See Accessible PDF Export for authoring and export guidance.

What happens if Deckset can’t create an accessible PDF?

Deckset shows what went wrong and, when possible, takes you back to the affected slide. You can fix the issue and try again, export a regular PDF instead, or cancel. A failed attempt won’t create or replace the destination file. See Accessible PDF Export for details.

Can I export a presentation for the web?

Yes. Deckset for macOS can export an accessible HTML document together with its local assets. See HTML Export for presenter-note privacy, browser navigation, diagnostics, and hosting considerations.