Business-Powerpoint.com

PowerPoint convert zone: PPT to CD ROM

For the last few years, the functionality of ‘package for CD’ has been bundled into the PowerPoint application. It is rarely used in my experience, but is a useful tool, as people still like to burn presentations to disk.

Why don’t you just copy the file to a disc and burn it?

Good question.

Simple answer is that you could - but it wouldn’t be the best way of doing it. The package for CD feature makes a much better job of it from within the application - let me show Business PowerPoint users how and why:

Package to CD

Select the “Package to CD” option (shown here in PowerPoint 2007. The following dialogue box appears:

Package to CD

Fill in the name of the CD with the presentation name.

Then click the “Add Files” button if you would like to package more than one presentation.

The “Options” button is useful too:

Options dialogue

Here is the power of the packager (versus simply copying the single file on to the disc) - in the “Viewer Packager” drop down, you can select for the presentation to play automatically. In addition, it will package onto the CD the PowerPoint 2007 viewer - which means that even people with lower versions of the application will be able to view it.

Make sure you include any linked files such as video or audio and add a password if the information is sensitive. Then press OK.

Insert a blank CD and then press “Copy to CD”.

Perfect for sending your latest masterpiece to those not online (yes there are still some people) and with older versions of PowerPoint.

PowerPoint 97, PowerPoint 2000

PPPCD is a FREE system that will let you turn any PowerPoint compatible presentation into an autorun compact disc. Simply add your PowerPoint 97/2000 (or compatible) presentation files to the specified directory, rename the main file and burn the system to a CD.

The CD will play your presentation when the user loads it into a CD player. If the user does not have PowerPoint, or the PowerPoint Viewer installed he, or she will prompted to install the viewer.

PPPCD is compatible with ANY presentation that will run in PowerPoint 97/2000, including presentation created using 3rd party tools such as StarOffice. This system does not require an uninstaller and makes no changes to the user’s system. Visual Basic 6.0 Run-Time is included in the package and MUST be included on each CD, but does not have to be installed on the machine for PPPCD to function.

To download the software click here.

Share me with the world!

September 3rd, 2008 | Tags: Business Powerpoint, PowerPoint convert | Category: Business Powerpoint, PowerPoint convert | Leave a comment

Skipping to a specific slide when presenting

So you’ve finished your Business PowerPoint presentation. Everyone’s enjoyed what you’ve had to say - and it’s now time for questions.

“Would you mind going back to the slide with the pretty graph on” a member of the audience asks.

So you hit escape, reveal the photo of your daughter with jam on her face on your desktop, amongst the 35 other icons of stuff, including a link to one of your audience’s competitors who you’re pitching to later in the day…

How about you get organised and professional!?

Step 1

Always end you presentation with a Q&A / Thank you slide - as opposed to you being surprised it was the last slide.

Step 2

Always ensure that you have a print out of handouts with you.

Step3

When someone asks you to go back to a particular slide - you will still be in “Full Screen mode” because you are on your holding last slide. Refer to your hand out to see which slide number you need to go to and then…

Type the slide number on the keyboard followed by “Enter” and PowerPoint will automatically jump to that slide.

If you want to divert the audience’s attention away from the screen to focus on you… either press “W” for a blank white screen or (surprise, surprise) “B” for a blank black screen.

Genius!

Share me with the world!

September 3rd, 2008 | Tags: Business Powerpoint, PowerPoint tips | Category: Business Powerpoint, PowerPoint tips | Leave a comment

PowerPoint convert zone: PPT 2007 to earlier versions

So then, you’re one of the lucky/unlucky ones (delete as applicable) and have a shiny new copy of Office 2007 on your desktop - the envy of the office no doubt… until you try to send them a PPT file. Of course they can’t open it - nor can the client you’ve just sent it to either. Two phone calls / emails (delete as applicable) in the space of 5 mins as they anxiously try to get into your fine presentation work.

You could of course send them to the PowerPoint convert zone right here on this site… or you could get smart and set your application up correctly… just like this in fact:

For Word 2007, Excel 2007 and PowerPoint 2007, if you use the following technique as soon as you install the Office 2007 software, you will ensure you never get that frustrated colleague on the phone.

Step 1: Click on ‘POWERPOINT OPTIONS’

PowerPoint 2007 options screen

Step 2: Select ‘SAVE’ from the sidebar.

Step 3: Select the top drop down - ‘Save files in this format’ and select ‘PowerPoint Presentation 97-2003′.

Being smarter by saving down

As an optional extra - another really useful box to check is the ‘Embed fonts in the file’ box. In Office 2007 there are a number of extra fonts included - Calibri being one, which are not included in Office 2003 and earlier. If you have been building a presentation in Office 2007 using Calibri and send it on to a colleague with Office 2003, it will not look as expected, as they do not have the font. Selecting this box will make the file a little larger, however it will ensure the presentation reads correctly.

Step 4: Select OK.

Point to note - when saving PowerPoint 2007 files (.pptx) down to PowerPoint 2003 (.ppt) there would be a minor loss of fidelity if you’ve used advanced features in the file - for example Smart Art. The file will look correct, however users of PowerPoint 2003 will not be able to edit that particular slide using the Smart Art functionality.

I’ve used this ’save down’ feature for about 18 months now - and it’s never caused a problem yet! Compare that with the number of times around the office have I heard frustrated Business PowerPoint colleagues with file version problems!

Being Smarter - it’s the name of the game.

Share me with the world!

September 2nd, 2008 | Tags: Business Powerpoint, Powerpoint 2007, PowerPoint convert, PowerPoint tips | Category: Business Powerpoint, PowerPoint convert | Leave a comment

PowerPoint convert zone: PPT to PDF - method 2

The first method of conversion from PowerPoint 97,2000,2003 (.ppt) or PowerPoint 2007 (.pptx) in our PowerPoint convert zone is aimed more at users who are likely to save PowerPoint files (or any other Office document types for that matter) as .PDFs on a regular basis.

It’s not well known or publicised (like so many things in life) that PowerPoint can save files as PDFs from inside the program, using FILE > SAVE AS. Unfortunately, unless you download the add-in (plug-in), it isn’t a piece of functionality which comes as standard (unhelpful or what?!)

This method will only work for Office 2007. Once the add-in has been installed, it will provide this conversion functionality in Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Firstly, click http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word/HA101675271033.aspx

It will take you to this office online page:

Office Online

Select the Microsoft Save as PDF or XPS Add-in for 2007 Microsoft Office programs link (don’t you just love Microsoft’s brevity in their product naming!)

It will then take you to a validation page to ensure that you are using a genuine version of Microsoft Office. If yours is not - then I suggest you leave here and go and buy a legitimate copy…

Click the ‘continue’ button. You may have to install a small piece of software if using Internet Explorer. You will then get a validation code to paste into the Step 2 box.

Press the download button and then I would suggest you select ‘RUN’ as opposed to ‘SAVE’ when the download box appears. The application will then download. Follow the simple wizard and it will install.

If you then open PowerPoint 2007, at first glance it’s not obvious that anything’s happened. Go to the ‘SAVE AS’ drop down… and lo and behold, you can now save to PDF, like any other file. Excellent - a really easy way to protect and distribute those Business PowerPoint presentations.

PDF add-in - simple, free and convenient

Share me with the world!

September 2nd, 2008 | Tags: Business Powerpoint, Powerpoint 2007, PowerPoint convert, PowerPoint tips | Category: Business Powerpoint, PowerPoint convert | Leave a comment

PowerPoint convert zone: PPT to PDF method 1

The first method of conversion from PowerPoint 97,2000,2003 (.ppt) or PowerPoint 2007 (.pptx) in our PowerPoint convert zone doesn’t involve any installed software - always handy in the corporate environment or for when you’re using someone else’s PC. The wonders of cloud computing now extend into the world of file conversion and providing you have access to an email address can get hold of conversions in seconds, for free (always a good thing!).

www.zamzar.com is a free online file converter (in beta - obviously - but don’t let that put you off - most things are.) I’m not overly sure about the chameleons, however the important thing is that it works! It really is as simple as following Steps 1>4:

: Zamzar - online file conversion

There’s no need to login, and sadly for Zamzar - I’m really struggling to understand why you’d pay for any of the upgraded editions - so don’t be tempted to upgrade at this moment unless you see yourself becoming a power user.

In our example, we are converting a PPT or PPTX file into a pdf.

Step 1: Click the browse button and select the PowerPoint file you would like to convert. Depending on the size of the file, you will then see it uploading. Don’t navigate away from the page - or it will stop the upload.

Step 2: As soon as you select the file in step 1, the drop down in Step 2 changes to provide the ’sensible’ options for conversion. Select .PDF in our case.

Step 3: Enter your email address. I’ve had no cause to worry about spam - however if you’re worried - be careful with the address you use.

Step 4: Click ‘convert’. Not difficult really!

In my testing experience, the notification mail comes through almost immediately, although I suspect for larger files, it will maybe take a few minutes, depending on server load.

The email will look something like:

Simple as 1,2,3,4...

Simply click the long link at the bottom of the mail and hey preso - you’ve a nicely formatted PDF for distribution.

Simply. Easy. Free - the way I like it Business PowerPoint users will hopefully think the same.

Method #2 in the Powerpoint convert zone looks at installing software to do the same job…

Share me with the world!

September 2nd, 2008 | Tags: Business Powerpoint, Powerpoint 2003, Powerpoint 2007, PowerPoint convert | Category: PowerPoint convert | Leave a comment

Denise Then: Holiday Cards with PowerPoint

I meet Denise Then at PowerPoint Live each year, and we talk about “snow” — the fact that she sees snow all around her in Canada, and that I have never seen snow ever — yes, it does snow in parts of India where I live — just that I’ve never seen it yet.

This year, Denise created a simple and personal holiday card using PowerPoint, and she emailed it to me. The card shows all the snow scenes that she can see all the time — and I requested her permission to share it with all of you. Thanks Denise!

Uploaded on authorSTREAM by indezine_powerpoint

Categories: case_studies, powerpoint

Share me with the world!