Powerpoint License implications

[Abhishek Bagga]

I want to create an application that will process Powerpoint files.
The user will keep the PPT file on the server where i will process it and
send the info back to the user.
What i want to know is that if i install my application on the server, do i
need to install PowerPoint on the server as well or just copying the the
office dlls and interops will be sufficient to execute the program.
I need to open the PPT file and read the info in it. I am using vb.net.

Another issue, if I definitely have to install office/Powerpoint on the
server which seems the case to me, what are the license implications.

Any information shared will be appreciated

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

I want to create an application that will process Powerpoint files.

The user will keep the PPT file on the server where i will process it and
send the info back to the user.
What i want to know is that if i install my application on the server, do i
need to install PowerPoint on the server as well or just copying the the
office dlls and interops will be sufficient to execute the program.
I need to open the PPT file and read the info in it. I am using vb.net.

You'd need PowerPoint on the server and would need a licensed copy of it there.

Another issue, if I definitely have to install office/Powerpoint on the
server which seems the case to me, what are the license implications.

Other than a licensed copy for the server, there should be no licensing issues.
You couldn't legally allow other users to run PPT but running PPT to process
other users' files likely to upset MS.

--
Steve Rindsberg, PPT MVP
PPT FAQ: www.pptfaq.com
PPTools: www.pptools.com
================================================
Apologies for the delayed response.
Just back from PowerPoint Live 2004
Had a great time, learned a lot
================================================

 

[Abhishek Bagga]

Do I need to have the server edition licensed copy or a simple office
licensed version will be good enough

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

Do I need to have the server edition licensed copy or a simple office
licensed version will be good enough

I'd read the EULAs for each carefully.

But my guess is that unless you're allowing multiple users to run PowerPoint (as
opposed to running a server process under the control of a single user that just
happens to be an automatic process) you should be ok with the single user version.

As I understand it, you're not letting anyone else USE your copy of PPT. You're
using it to process files they've sent you. If you need a multiple user license for
that, then I suppose we need multi user licenses to print a few pages of a friend's
presentation on our color printers and such. Nah.

Remember that I'm just some guy on the net. I'm not an MS representative, not a
lawyer.

--
Steve Rindsberg, PPT MVP
PPT FAQ: www.pptfaq.com
PPTools: www.pptools.com
================================================
Apologies for the delayed response.
Just back from PowerPoint Live 2004
Had a great time, learned a lot
================================================