Runtime Powerpoint Presentations

[paulstar]

Hi Everyone,

I've been sent over to this group from microsoft.public.powerpoint. In
their thread "Runtime CD Powerpoint Presentations" a Windows PPT user
reported:

I have burned my ppt presentation to a cd. One slide is hyperlinked to
a number of word documents. When I link to the document I always get a
warning about potential virus problems when running hyperlinks or
macros. How do I get rid of this warning? Any help appreciated
Thanks

This is the same crazy behavior I'm seeing on my iBook. I get it
whenever I link to an (applet-running) .html file from a PPT slide
(from CD or hard drive - it doesn't matter which). The answer the
Windows user got was that this is a PPT 'feature'! It can be disabled
on Windows machines by fiddling with the Windows Registry -- see their
thread for scary details -- but what's a Mac-person to do?

This is the worst example of commercial software design I have ever
encountered:-- presentation software that endlessly presents an inane
warning -- that cannot be turned off!!!

Is there some clever Apple soul who might have a fix/workaround for my
trusty iBook? I'm trying to use MS Office 2004 with Mac OS 10.4.

Thanks a lot,

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

This is the same crazy behavior I'm seeing on my iBook. I get it
whenever I link to an (applet-running) .html file from a PPT slide
(from CD or hard drive - it doesn't matter which). The answer the
Windows user got was that this is a PPT 'feature'!

I'm curious ... in which reply was this called a "feature"?

I've yet to run into anyone, Mac or Windows, who thinks this is anything but a
manifestation of out-of-control lawyerly paranoia in Redmond.

Perhaps someone referred to it as "by design", which is true. MS did intend
for PPT to behave this way. I can't imagine anyone who has to USE it would
consider it anything but a grade-a nuisance. And that's being kind.

This is the worst example of commercial software design I have ever
encountered:-- presentation software that endlessly presents an inane
warning -- that cannot be turned off!!!

No argument there.

Here's hoping that somebody here has a solution for you.

A question, in the meanwhile: will you be using this only on your own computer
and under PPT or does it need to run on other computers and/or with the viewer?


================================================
Steve Rindsberg, PPT MVP
PPT FAQ: www.pptfaq.com
PPTools: www.pptools.com
================================================

 

[Jim Gordon MVP]

Hi,

If you choose the PowerPoint option to SAVE AS and choose type
POWERPOINT PACKAGE then PowerPoint will create a folder that has copies
of all the linked documents in it alont with a copy of the current
presentation.

When you open the presentation for the package all of the linked
documents should open without the annoying prompt. This works for linked
movies, sounds and pictures even if the objects are ONLY linked (not
embedded) within the presentation.

-Jim

 

[googmeister]

I have a related question about including hyperlinks to other
powerpoint presentations. Is there a recommended way to
do this? I currently use

Action Settings -> Hyperlink to -> Other PowerPoint presentations

I (and my colleagues) consistently experience two problems.
First, the presentation often only works on the computer where
the file was created (even if all the linked files are in the same
directory as the original). PowerPoint seems to hardwire the
filename

file://localhost/Users/username/Documents/linkedfile.ppt

and this file may not exist on the other computer.

Second, when PowerPoint is able to locate the file, it takes
a very long time (~ 20 seconds to open a 1MB file). I've tried
the Open -> Copy and Open -> Read Only options, but they
seem to have no effect.

I have the latest version of PowerPoint and OS X, and I've
run the permissions checking program. I don't think it's specific
to my computer since I've seen the same behavior on 4
different Mac's, ranging from old Powerbook G4 to new
Dual G5. Any thoughts?

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

Hi,

If you choose the PowerPoint option to SAVE AS and choose type
POWERPOINT PACKAGE then PowerPoint will create a folder that has copies
of all the linked documents in it alont with a copy of the current
presentation.

When you open the presentation for the package all of the linked
documents should open without the annoying prompt. This works for linked
movies, sounds and pictures even if the objects are ONLY linked (not
embedded) within the presentation.

More or less the same's true of the Win versions.

Problem here is with links to files other than media/pictures; things that
cause some other app to execute, which in turn leaves you at the mercy of
executible files/autorun macros/whatever.

================================================
Steve Rindsberg, PPT MVP
PPT FAQ: www.pptfaq.com
PPTools: www.pptools.com
================================================

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

I have a related question about including hyperlinks to other
powerpoint presentations. Is there a recommended way to
do this? I currently use

Action Settings -> Hyperlink to -> Other PowerPoint presentations

I (and my colleagues) consistently experience two problems.
First, the presentation often only works on the computer where
the file was created (even if all the linked files are in the same
directory as the original). PowerPoint seems to hardwire the
filename

file://localhost/Users/username/Documents/linkedfile.ppt

and this file may not exist on the other computer.

Try the macro here. Ignore all the stuff about FixLinks - it only works on
Windows PPT, but the macro should work on Mac:

Show me the link and let me edit it
http://www.rdpslides.com/pptfaq/FAQ00433.htm

Make sure there's a copy of the linked file in the same folder as the PPT's
been saved to, then use the macro to edit the link to just

linkedfile.ppt

IE, delete the whole path. See if that helps.

Second, when PowerPoint is able to locate the file, it takes
a very long time (~ 20 seconds to open a 1MB file). I've tried
the Open -> Copy and Open -> Read Only options, but they
seem to have no effect.

I have the latest version of PowerPoint and OS X, and I've
run the permissions checking program. I don't think it's specific
to my computer since I've seen the same behavior on 4
different Mac's, ranging from old Powerbook G4 to new
Dual G5. Any thoughts?

================================================
Steve Rindsberg, PPT MVP
PPT FAQ: www.pptfaq.com
PPTools: www.pptools.com
================================================

 

[paulstar]

Jim, Steve,

Thanks again for the help. I'll play around a bit more with the iBook
when I get home and will report back. I've also emailed Microsoft and
will pass on their response.

To answer Steve's terminology Q -- I guess we all use words slightly
differently. I tend to see everything as a bug or a feature, and if it
was intentional it's not what I'd call a bug! It sounds like
Microsoft have defended it as a 'security feature', in spite of the
ludicrous implimentation.

And to answer Steve's Q about use -- my current plan is to present
using PPT on my ibook.

Again, I'm most grateful for your time and help.

Cheers,

Paul.

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

To answer Steve's terminology Q -- I guess we all use words slightly

differently. I tend to see everything as a bug or a feature, and if it
was intentional it's not what I'd call a bug! It sounds like
Microsoft have defended it as a 'security feature', in spite of the
ludicrous implimentation.

I'll buy that, then.

And to answer Steve's Q about use -- my current plan is to present
using PPT on my ibook.

OK, in that case, you may be able to use macros rather than action
settings/hyperlinks to launch documents. I don't *think* macros are trapped
out the way links are.

You can have an action button launch a macro. I'm nowhere clueful enough about
AppleScript to show you how to launch an app or document with it, but I suspect
it's fairly simple.

Maybe Jim or Paul Berkowitz can fill in the needed bits for that.



================================================
Steve Rindsberg, PPT MVP
PPT FAQ: www.pptfaq.com
PPTools: www.pptools.com
================================================

 

[googmeister]

Try the macro here. Ignore all the stuff about FixLinks - it only works on
Windows PPT, but the macro should work on Mac:

Show me the link and let me edit it
http://www.rdpslides.com/pptfaq/FAQ00433.htm

Make sure there's a copy of the linked file in the same folder as the PPT's
been saved to, then use the macro to edit the link to just

linkedfile.ppt

Thanks for the reply. I tried to follow the instructions. (It's my
first
macro, so I could be doing something terribly stupid.) I followed the
instructions at

http://www.rdpslides.com/pptfaq/FAQ00033.htm

and copied the macro

http://www.rdpslides.com/pptfaq/FAQ00433.htm

into my presentation. Everything seemed to go OK
until I try to Run it (after selecting the object containing
the link to another ppt file). I received the error message

Run time error '-214718816 (-7FFB7DC0)'
LinkFormat (Unknown member): Invalid request. This operation
requres a linked object.

The highlighted object definitely contains a link to the
powerpoint file, and the linked file is in the same
directory as the base file. When I enter debug mode,
it highlight the line

sOriginalLinkSource = .LinkFormat.SourceFullName

Any advice on what I am doing wrong? Thanks in
advance.

-Googmeister

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

My semibad: that code will work with links to pictures, movies and such, but
not with hyperlinks; those are a different animal.

Have another look at the same page and try the new macro I just added, which'll
let you edit the hyperlink's address.

Thanks for the reply. I tried to follow the instructions. (It's my
first
macro, so I could be doing something terribly stupid.) I followed the
instructions at

http://www.rdpslides.com/pptfaq/FAQ00033.htm

and copied the macro

http://www.rdpslides.com/pptfaq/FAQ00433.htm

into my presentation. Everything seemed to go OK
until I try to Run it (after selecting the object containing
the link to another ppt file). I received the error message

Run time error '-214718816 (-7FFB7DC0)'
LinkFormat (Unknown member): Invalid request. This operation
requres a linked object.

The highlighted object definitely contains a link to the
powerpoint file, and the linked file is in the same
directory as the base file. When I enter debug mode,
it highlight the line

sOriginalLinkSource = .LinkFormat.SourceFullName

Any advice on what I am doing wrong? Thanks in
advance.

-Googmeister

================================================
Steve Rindsberg, PPT MVP
PPT FAQ: www.pptfaq.com
PPTools: www.pptools.com
================================================

 

[googmeister]

My semibad: that code will work with links to pictures, movies and such, but
not with hyperlinks; those are a different animal.

Have another look at the same page and try the new macro I just added, which'll
let you edit the hyperlink's address.

Thanks! The hyperlink version works exactly as advertised.

One typo - the "End Sub" from the EditLink() macro got
inadvertently moved to the end of the EditHyperLink() macro.

http://www.rdpslides.com/pptfaq/FAQ00433.htm

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

Thanks! The hyperlink version works exactly as advertised.

One typo - the "End Sub" from the EditLink() macro got
inadvertently moved to the end of the EditHyperLink() macro.

http://www.rdpslides.com/pptfaq/FAQ00433.htm

Oh rats! THANKS for letting me know. It's fixed now.