'Presenter View' SNAFU's

[Blackthorne]

I've been using Powerpoint for a ferw years now - I really like the
improvements of PP2003 - especially the Presenter View. Seeing the upcoming
slides along the left-hand side allows me to segue seamlessly. I don't
really use the Notes at the bottom of the page unless I am presenting a slide
developed by someone else.

Here's my problem.

A few months ago I switched to a tablet computer for presentations (Fujitsu
ST). There's a few nuances with tablets that are different fromnotebooks,
but I worked those out.

However, twice now I've had a presentation lock-up - this is not good in a
room of 300-400 people!

The main thing seems to be connected with Presentation View, but I can't be
sure.
The only way to get two monsitors working (on my computer) is in Presenation
Mode. Sometimes the Presentation Mode works flawlessly and other times it
doesn't. But in Presentation Mode, my wireless mouse doesn't work, so I'm
still leashed to the computer (using the stylus) instead of working the
conference room.

I also can't seem to just use normal 'Slide Show' - I can't have a
full-display screen at both my tablet and up on the overhead.

The only 'work-around' thatI've been able to come up with is set the
overhead as the Primary Screen - this allows me to NOT use Presentation Mode
and DOES allow me to use the wireless mouse. So I can walk around the room
and still control what the audience sees. THe downside is that the computer
screen doesn't change - it doesn't keep up with the overhead slide show.

Is this a PowerPoint Presentation Mode issue or is this an OS problem with
my tablet (Windows XP) and/or display settings? I've tried every playing
with every variable I can think of but I don't get any better results.

This last time it crashed seems to have had something to do with the
screensaver mode activating just seconds before the presentation started - It
made the overhead monitor turn to gibberish and the tablet screen was locked.
Neither one would come out of it by re-booting. I never did figure out what
that problem was specifically, but I reset all the screensaver stuff to
1-hour, so I hope that resolves it.

Help!

Peter Drenan
(e-mail address removed)

 

[Blackthorne]

I'd also get into the habit of restarting the computer as soon before your
presentation as you feel comfortable with.

Good point.

Also, look for updated tablet drivers. Some of the original ones that
came with the Fooj STs were awful ... leaked memory like a buckshot sieve.
The restart will at least buy back any lost memory. Note that we're not
talking about huge losses per minute, but if you leave the computer in
standby or hibernate between uses rather than restarting, this'll creep up
on ya.

After last week's episode, I came home (tail between my legs...) I
immediately did all the driver updates and such, from the WindowsXP site. Is
there something *else* that's like a driver or upgrade from the Powerpoint
site?

Just as a FWIW, I'm pretty sure there are gadgets you plug into the projector
and your PC that let you wander around the room *with* your tablet; it sends
the video back to the projector by magic electron x-ray proton beams or
something. ;-)

You're right , of course. I just don't want to be hindered by carrying it
around with me.

"Can't" covers a lot of ground. Why not? What happens when you try? Details
... Error messages? Rude comments about that guy in the front row with the
really really UGLY tie? Smoke? Flames? Or ...

Do you see the icon for the slide show in the task bar but nothing on screen?
If so, the show's set to use the second monitor. Choose Slide Show, Set Up and
set it back to the primary monitor.

What I see is...a blank, blue screen. But I just realized something that
makes me think this might be more about Windows than Powerpoint - On the
Control Panel - Display - Settings I have the two montior icons
side-by-side...so the '2' monitor is to the right of the '1' monitor.

When I have the overhead connected, the 'blank' screen up on the overhead is
actually to the right of the screen that I am seeing on the computer screen.
(For instance, I can click & drag a box and pull it off the right side edge
of the computer screen, and I can see it ease onto the overhead screen, on
the left side. It's as though the two 'monitors' were really side-by-side on
a really wide screen.


Doesn't that sould more like a Windows issue?