Powerpoint - Looking for workaround

[xlhelp]

With Powerpoint 2000 there is a problem with hyperlinks. Microsoft article Q249209 states:

"When you add or make a change to a hyperlink setting in a large PowerPoint presentation, save and close the file, and then reopen the file, the changes you made are not retained."

This is owing to the 64 KB limitation that stores document properties, custom properties, references, and other data including hyperlink info.

Does anyone know of a work-around to overcome this problem (other than going to XP)? I have a user with 75 slide presentation with jumps to different slides depending on where the person viewing the presentation clicks.

Thanks.

Indu

 

[Hasit]

Indu, the only thing I can think of is that the presentation is split into 2. Because you can "link" to another file from a hyperlink in one file, you should be able to link back and forth to the relevant slides in whichever file for this 75 slide presentation to work.

 

[xlhelp]

Hasit, thanks for your input. Yes, we tried that. But for some strange reason, the buffer seems to carry with the copied slides and will not let us make any changes.

Also tried taking it down a version to see if that would work. Well, it doesn't and in addtion, it really messes up the textboxes and such.

So, the only thing left to do is (reluctantly)use XP.

The only unknown is: will it be OK for distribution to PPT97, PPT2K etc?

Thanks.

Indu

 

[Hasit]

Indu, I am sure you know this (you seem to know an awful lot, and I'm jealous), but not all of the presentation capability translates backwards from XP to 2K etc. So unless the presentation (which you will need to create in XP) is pretty standard, not all the fancy stuff that you can add will come across, even to the viewer.

Good luck!

 

[dschomburg]

I have a file that is 1MB, with 60 slides. I have had no problem with the hyperlinks when I View Slide Show.
If I just launch the ppt the links are visable, but not functional. I have to be in a Slide Show.

Is this a related issue?

 

[leonardt]

I think it depends on what you what from powerpoint and how you intend to use your slide, I have files with over a 1000 slide written in Powerpoint 2002. Most contain a lot of animation.

If you need to send your file to other then there could be the problem of compatability, on the other hand if you present your file then XP is the only way to go.

as for links I have found no problems with XP and can dart in and out of file "slides" at will using to goto function on the mouse, That may be the annwer to your problem with the links.

You could write an intro on start up or a help page that is at the end of your show letting other know how to run the file I find it very useful when sending file to people.

I hope this helps

Leonard T. Roe

 

[JazzGeek]

There are a number of ways to get around this problem. First, run your PP show in .PPS show only, (not bringing up the PP program as you launch.) This helps Windows manage your mem limit and limits what goes in it. Also, when you max out on that mem limit, then simply instruct where links are by stating something like, "Slide 62" or similar. Because when they user knows the slide number the link is going to, then all they have to do press those number keys on the keyboard and hit "Enter" and bam, you are taken to that slide. So, in effect if you populate all your links with "slide #" then your mem limits won't matter. Perhaps you knew all this and I wasted my hands typing this, but just in case thought I would chime in.

 

[leonardt]

I dont think you have wasted your time. we all start some place. I never knew that work around, I am sure there are many others that do not know.

All to often the answer lies in simplicity and basic and some times we are too smart for our own good. Thanks for the tip

 

[JazzGeek]

Thanks. It's best to learn to walk before we try to run, (it makes it easier to overcome the obstacles ahead.)

By the way, for the earlier post, I have both Office 2000 AND Office XP/2002 installed on my machine, and everything I've ever done in a PP 2000 presentation had remained exactly intact when running it in the XP/2002 version. And 95% of the time vise-versa has been true. Just thought I'd chime in there for what it's worth.

 

[leonardt]

So have I, but my son dose not, he only has 2000. I test using his computer, Much of what is done in XP will not work on his computer.

You may be interested to know you can uninstall XP and still get the same efects as if you had XP installed.

Where XP fails is using the web to display some of your work it dose not convert as good as 2000.

Maybe you can answer a small question for me? is it posible to disable the Previous slide function? so as a student can not go back and check.

leonardt

 

[JazzGeek]

yes, you can actually. But you have to write a macro to disable all controls that enable going backwards in a presentation. I haven't written one myself that does exactl that, but I've done similar. You can find those sripts though all over the web. However, I'm not clear if you mean showing your presentation from the web? or an actual live presentation? (Meaning are you distrubing your presentation via email or disk for them to view on through THEIR powerpoint software.)

 

[leonardt]

I often convert a slide or two to HTML and install them on my websit for my visitors to comment on. I have noted that the convertion using 2002 xp looks very ragged and cheap.

I will look into the idea of the script. When you say script do you mean JavaScript. I attempted this once and and everything went haywire and was a complete ba**'s up.

How do you insert it into the slide I sure could do with some help on this point, most things are not a problem but inserting script seem to be my weak point.

Thanks for your help anyway

Leonardt.