How to insert .wmv files at the correct dimensions in PowerPoint20

[Horsepower]

I tried to insert a .wmv as a " video file ".
It have strange behavior: it is not inserted at original dimensions
(320x240pixels) but it is inserted at 96% of the original dimensions:
RightClick over the video:ImageFormat>Dimensions>Proportions:
Height:96%
Width:96%
Lock Proportions:ON(checked)
Original Dimensions:ON(checked)

I have clicked the button "Reset" and the video become 100% of the original
dimensions. OK.
But surprise: in Presentation Mode of PowerPoint 2003, the video is at 200%
of the original dimensions !
I tried to open the video file with WindowsMediaPlayer11 standalone, and at
Zoom of 200%, it appears as the same dimesnions of PowerPoint Presentation
video file!

But also by scaling the video at 50% in PowerPoint, the dimensions aren't
the same as the source file, but little small !

Another behavior happens if I insert the video as embedded "Object" instead
of a video file.

Insert>Object>Create NewObject>WindowsMediaPlayer...click and drag to insert
the object. Right Click over the object>Properties.
The video have the same dimensions of the source file. OK.
But the issues are:

1) What are the units used in the fields "Height" and "Width" of embedded
WindowsMediaPlayer?
I tried to type 320 for Width and 240 for Height, but the player window
appear too large, compared to the source video dimensions !
What are the units used by this fields?
Aren't they pixels?
They appears as 215,25 x 238,125 !

2) I have set in Properties>Custom>[...] or in the field "stretchToFit"=True.
At the firts time, when I run the Presentation, the player display correctly
the video stretched to the player dimensions. OK.
But the second time, and for all the other times, if I run the PowerPoint
Presentation, the video is displayed at the source video dimensions, not
stretched to the player dimensions ! Why?
How can I do to lock this function value (command "stretchToFit"=True)?

 

[Austin Myers]

This sounds like a "home made" video file that isn't quite what you expect
it to be. Many video editing apps have a first frame that is at the
specified dimensions (320x240) but the following frames are a bit smaller
with a small border around them.

If you require an exact size, you might want to give PFCPro a try as it
allows you to set the exact dimensions you want before processing and
inserting it in PowerPoint. (There is a two free trial so after making your
presentation you can delete it and the presentations will continue to work.
In other words, won't cost you a thing to fix your presentation.)
http://www.playsforcertain.com


Austin Myers
MS PowerPoint MVP Team

Provider of PFCPro, PFCMedia and PFCExpress
www.playsforcertain.com