Linked files not accessed once updated

[CDS_ICT]

We have a repeating Powerpoint presentation for multiple screens that links
to two other PowerPoint presentations on a network drive. This is so that
what is displayed can be updated by administration staff but the system
running the multiple screens can be secure.

If the updated files are copied to the network drive at the moment the
'calling' presentation tries to access them, the previous version seems to be
held in memory and used therafter. Even re-starting the presentation and
updating the links doesn't access the updated files. The only way then to
access the updated files is to re-boot the computer (clearing the memory?).

Is there a way to force Powerpoint (probably a similar situation for any
Office application) to go to the actual files every cycle of the presentation?

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

We have a repeating Powerpoint presentation for multiple screens that links
to two other PowerPoint presentations on a network drive. This is so that
what is displayed can be updated by administration staff but the system
running the multiple screens can be secure.

If the updated files are copied to the network drive at the moment the
'calling' presentation tries to access them, the previous version seems to be
held in memory and used therafter. Even re-starting the presentation and
updating the links doesn't access the updated files. The only way then to
access the updated files is to re-boot the computer (clearing the memory?).

Is there a way to force Powerpoint (probably a similar situation for any
Office application) to go to the actual files every cycle of the presentation?

"Re-starting" the presentation can mean different things. It's not clear
whether you closed the files and quit PowerPoint, then restarted the
presentation. Normally that should be enough to force it to refresh links to
external files.

Are these manually operated presentations or do they auto-run?

 

[CDS_ICT]

Neither closing the file from within PowerPoint and re-opening, nor closing
PowerPoint down and opening it up again will clear the use of "old" slides
The only way to get PowerPoint to access the updated files is to re-boot the
computer. Not even deleting the links from the slides and re-creating them
accesses the updated files. I am unsure whether it's really an
Office/powerPoint or an operating system (XP Pro) issue.

The presentation runs in a continuous loop, with three slides. Each slide
has a link which once the slide displays, automatically shows a presentation
which is a PowerPoint file on a network drive. The three files (I lie! -
first and third files are actually one and the same file) get updated by
admin staff and we retain control of the system.

 

[Jim Gordon MVP]

Neither closing the file from within PowerPoint and re-opening, nor closing
PowerPoint down and opening it up again will clear the use of "old" slides
The only way to get PowerPoint to access the updated files is to re-boot the
computer. Not even deleting the links from the slides and re-creating them
accesses the updated files. I am unsure whether it's really an
Office/powerPoint or an operating system (XP Pro) issue.

The presentation runs in a continuous loop, with three slides. Each slide
has a link which once the slide displays, automatically shows a presentation
which is a PowerPoint file on a network drive. The three files (I lie! -
first and third files are actually one and the same file) get updated by
admin staff and we retain control of the system.

Hi

Please be sure to report this to Microsoft here:
http://www.microsoft.com/mac/suggestions.mspx?product=powerpoint

Include hardware details, OS version, and your contact information in
case Microsoft would like to contact you.

-Jim

--
Jim Gordon
Mac MVP



Please take just a moment to help fellow Mac users. Your efforts will be
appreciated greatly - especially by those you help.

 

[CDS_ICT]

I'm not sure how I posted this into a Mac thread (nothing against Mac's -
honest). As I think the problem may well be OS-related, I've posted a tidied
up version in the general PowerPoint area.