Choke point for jumbo quicktime movies in PPT

[David Shenk]

I'm putting together a PPT presentation with several large quicktime
movies (the largest is 1.25 gig). I had hoped to play it on my 600 mhz
ibook with 256 RAM, and it almost works. There's just a little
mis-synching at the beginning of some of the movies, and occasionally
a glitch or two in the middle.

My question is, what do I need to increase in order to make this more
seamless? Is it RAM in my ibook? Do I need a new powerbook with a
certain amount of video processing? What's the choke point here?

Thanks,

David Shenk

 

[Jim Gordon MVP]

Hi David,

A couple thoughts...

When you insert the movies, try using the "Link to file" option. That might
reduce load on the processor a tad. Do the movies play OK in QuickTime
without PowerPoint running?

QuickTime movies have a sych frame every so often depending upon the
settings used when the movie was created. More synch frames means more
processing. The synching problem could be:
* in the movie right from the start
* a result of not enough processor speed
* insufficient video RAM or video processing power
* not enough synch frames
* too many synch frames

Check QuickTime help and the web site for more details.

-Jim

 

[David Shenk]

Thanks Jim. The movies play fine in Quicktime -- they get choppy only
when I put them in a slide show. I think the "link to file" option
only exists when your inserting still pictures. I don't see it when
I'm inserting movies.

Anything else I can do to make them play better in ppt when they're
already playing well in Quicktime?

David

 

[Jim Gordon MVP]

Hi David,

You're right about the link to file. I think PPT always links to file for
movies. That only leaves: you need more RAM, and/or a faster processor,
and/or a faster video card.

-Jim

 

[Mickey Stevens]

If you're using PowerPoint 98 or 2001 (you didn't specify), you might need
to increase the memory allocated to PowerPoint. Select the PowerPoint icon
in the Finder, and then go to File -> Get Info -> Memory. Set the Preferred
size to a high amount, maybe 100000K for your purposes. See if that helps.

 

[Ed]

I did remove Office v.X when I installed 2004 and I am having the same
problem. I can not use video of any size without it lagging. The audio seems
to be fine but the video is skipping. This is only when I am running the
show. Previewing the video when not in the show seems fine. THESE ARE
ONES THAT RAN FINE IN vX
I'm running OS 10.3.4
Dual 867
Dual 450
15" G4 powerbook 550

 

[GregPins]

This is absolutely not a question of processor speed, RAM, or Video
RAM for any of the machines in question here. PPT 2004 chokes on
video. It happens to me on a 1.25 GHZ AlBook with 512 of RAM.

I suggest using either PPT X or import it into Keynote to present.

 

[Jim Gordon MVP]

Hi

Please note Nancy Cho's reply to this same problem in the thread titled
"Slow PowerPoint in 2004."

Nancy works for Microsoft and is requesting example documents for testing.

-Jim
--
Jim Gordon
Mac MVP

MVPs are not Microsoft Employees
MVP info

I did remove Office v.X when I installed 2004 and I am having the same
problem. I can not use video of any size without it lagging. The audio seems
to be fine but the video is skipping. This is only when I am running the
show. Previewing the video when not in the show seems fine. THESE ARE
ONES THAT RAN FINE IN vX
I'm running OS 10.3.4
Dual 867
Dual 450
15" G4 powerbook 550

--
Jim Gordon
Mac MVP

MVPs are not Microsoft Employees
MVP info