Severe problems with using Windows PPTs on PPT 2008

[thomas_b]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: Intel

Hi,

yesterday we had a talk here and the lecturer had prepared his talk on any PPT for Windows. Showing the PPT on PPT 2008 on a Mac was a complete desaster! The bugs showing up must all be well known - I had them with numerous PPTs I tried to open on Mac Powerpoint. What a piece of garbage - even after 7 updates... :-(

Problems in detail:

- most images are distorted (width/height ratio is wrong)
- some images do not show up at all
- after presenting some slides, hitting Enter will quickly cycle through the following slides rather than switching one slide further.

In the middle of the talk, we switched to PPT 2004, which was only slightly better (at least the last bug from the list above didn't appear).

Summary: PPT 2008 is simply unusable and the show yesterday was a complete anti-advertisement for the Mac. Maybe this is Microsoft's intention.

- thomas_b.

 

[Jeff Chapman]

What a piece of garbage - even after 7 updates... :-(

The cross-compatibility could be better, granted.

Did you come here for solutions, or just to complain?
If you by chance are interested in knowing why your
presentation didn't just look the same on both platforms
and what you can do to avoid it or minimize the issues next
time, then try posting some intelligent questions.
The people on this peer-to-peer forum will help you if
you've got actual questions or want to avoid making the same
mistakes next time.

 

[thomas_b]

Jeff,

well, sorry for my harsh posting. It was a very disappointing experience. These bugs are too important and too obvious that they can be still in a productivity software after 7 updates. They simply render overall usability of the software to nearly Zero.

So, here's the actual question: how can one avoid these bugs showing up (distorted/missing images, sudden skipping through slides) when a Windows PPT show is played on Powerpoint 2008 for Mac?

Thanks,

- thomas_b.

 

[Mungo]

I have had a number of presentations created on a windows machine using office 2003 and office 2007 and plated them on a mac, (office 2008 version 12.1.7, leopard os version 10.5.6) and have not had these problems.

 

[Jim Gordon MVP]

Hi Thomas,

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: Intel

Hi,

yesterday we had a talk here and the lecturer had prepared his talk on any PPT for Windows. Showing the PPT on PPT 2008 on a Mac was a complete desaster! The bugs showing up must all be well known - I had them with numerous PPTs I tried to open on Mac Powerpoint. What a piece of garbage - even after 7 updates... :-(

Problems in detail:

- most images are distorted (width/height ratio is wrong)

The aspect ration in PowerPoint is determined by File > Page Setup.
Since I doubt your lecturer would have changed that setting before
presenting, then the next most likely cause is the setting of the aspect
ratio on the projector. Possibly the screen resolution that was selected
in Mac System Preferences was not suitable. I'd say it's time to get out
the instruction manual for the projector and find out how to adjust the
aspect ratio; or head to the display preferences system control panel on
the Mac, although Macs usually figure out that a projector is connected
and adjust this automatically when restarted.

- some images do not show up at all

Most likely the awol pictures were linked. There's a feature in Windows
PowerPoint that, when used, prevents this problem from occurring. Please
point the lecturer to this link so that the person can learn how to save
a Presentation in Windows versions of PowerPoint.
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/powerpoint/HA100966961033.aspx

Of course, the Mac PowerPoint has Save As > PowerPoint Package, which
does the same thing. Come to think of it, the Mac version had this
feature 10 years before it was brought over to the Windows version.
Maybe the lecturer would have discovered this 10 years ago if they were
using Macs all along.

- after presenting some slides, hitting Enter will quickly cycle through the following slides rather than switching one slide further.

That's very odd, and it's not standard behavior for PowerPoint. There
must be something specific about the way the lecturer constructed the
slides for this to happen.

In the middle of the talk, we switched to PPT 2004, which was only slightly better (at least the last bug from the list above didn't appear).

Summary: PPT 2008 is simply unusable and the show yesterday was a complete anti-advertisement for the Mac. Maybe this is Microsoft's intention.

- thomas_b.

Summary: I have no way of knowing what Microsoft would think, but I
think the lecturer should learn the basics of saving presentations and
how to use projection equipment before standing in front of a large
audience. Sure, you can blame Microsoft, but I doubt there's anything
wrong with the Mac or Mac PowerPoint based on what you described.

A copy of Cutting Edge PowerPoint for Dummies by Geetesh Bajaj,
Microsoft PowerPoint MVP, would be an appropriate gift for the lecturer.
http://www.amazon.com/Cutting-Edge-...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242433502&sr=8-1

-Jim