How do I get a Video in v.2000 to work?

C

Cristy

I am going thru "insert", "movies and sound", "movie from file" and trying to
insert a video that came free with my "Cutting Edge PowerPoint for Dummies"
book. When I try to add the video to a slide, the "Object Action" selection
under the multimedia tab is grayed so that I cannot click on it to tell the
video to play. Any ideas on what I'm doing wrong? (Also, the video plays
just fine with my Windows Media Player - it is a Windows Media Audio/Video
file.

Help, please!
 
J

John Wilson

That's because a movie file is not an "object" (in the powerpoint sense). You
need to click the "play using animation order" and either pause / continue
show and then in order and timing set "on click" or "auto"
--

Did that answer the question / help?
_____________________________
John Wilson
Microsoft Certified Office Specialist
http://www.technologytrish.co.uk/ppttipshome.html
 
C

Cristy

Thanks for your suggestion. I tried those things but it still didn't play.

In the text I am using to go by(CEPPFD), it instructs me to "change the
Object Action to Play" under the multimedia tab. This option is grayed and I
can't. Any idea, anyone, on how to get this to not be grayed and unavailable
to me?
 
J

John Wilson

Hi Christy

Are you on page 226? The instructions for 2000 there refer to videos added
by the object method as described on pg 224 NOT the method that you have
used. My instructions should have worked so my guess is the link path to the
video is too long to work. Copy the video to the same folder as the
presentation and try to insert again (pg 228). Get back if it doesn't work
--

Did that answer the question / help?
_____________________________
John Wilson
Microsoft Certified Office Specialist
http://www.technologytrish.co.uk/ppttipshome.html
 
C

Cristy

You're right - I was on page 226. Since it is not working for me to get the
video to play once inserted as an object (and I did move the file to the
folder where my presentation is), and I can't get it to play if inserted as a
movie file, how do you suggest I insert it? I feel like I could pull my hair
out -- I'm not usually this thick! Could you walk me through the process
from the beginning?

Cheers-
Cristy
 
C

Cristy

Thanks, Austin. I went to the site, but it was over my head. I guess what I
really need is a simple instruction guide, i.e., 1-click on "x", 2 choose
"y", etc. Do you think it's possible that the videos that came on my free
"bonus" CD aren't supposed to be used by the consumer in a presentation
afterall?

Cristy
 
A

Austin Myers

Ok, lets take it a step at a time.

1. Copy the video file you wish to use to the same folder your presentation
is in. (This folder must have a short path. IE: C:\test)

2. In the PowerPoint menu Click Insert > Movies and Sounds > Movie from
File. This opens the Windows Explore window. Navigate to the file you
just copied into the presentation folder and select it.

3. PowerPoint will ask you if you want to play it automatically, answer yes.


That's it. If PowerPoint can play the video it will play when the slide
opens in the presentation. If it fails to play then there are other issues
as outlined in the tutorial and I would suggest giving PFCMedia a try. This
is the very situation it was created to resolve. Won't cost you a thing to
try it. <g>

Austin Myers
MS PowerPoint MVP Team

Provider of PFCMedia http://www.pfcmedia.com
 
C

Cristy

I went back and chose a different video from the CD to use and it inserted as
a movie file just fine. I have no idea what's different between that one and
the one I tried to use before -- but now, at least, I have experience in
inserting a video. Thanks for your help, John and Austin!

Cristy
 

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