PPT2000: How to Distribute Presentations on CD-ROM

• Microsoft PowerPoint 2000
• Microsoft PowerPoint Viewer 97 for Windows

SUMMARY

This article contains tips about how to prepare and distribute Microsoft PowerPoint presentations on a CD-ROM.

NOTE: Before you prepare a presentation for CD-ROM distribution, you should first understand the following limitations and procedures.

Limitations

• PowerPoint 2000 does not support the creation of self-running presentations.



• If you include multimedia with your presentation, PowerPoint does not support cross-platform or multiple-computer compatibility.



• If you intend to use PowerPoint Viewer 97, then you cannot include macros or ActiveX controls and components.

Procedures

• Using Pack and Go to "package" the presentation, and then unpacking it in the burn directory for the CD-ROM



• Placing the viewer installer on the CD-ROM
  
  For more information about this topic, please click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:




Q239815 PPT: How to include the PowerPoint 97 Viewer on a CD-ROM

• Creating a playlist from which to run a series of presentations

MORE INFORMATION

The Most Important Tip: Know Your Audience

• If your audience has PowerPoint 2000 or PowerPoint 97, then you do not need to include the viewer. If they have earlier versions, or do not have PowerPoint at all, include the PowerPoint Viewer 97 installer on your CD.

• If your audience has PowerPoint 2000 or 97, then you do not need to include the viewer. If they have earlier versions or do not have PowerPoint at all, include the PowerPoint Viewer 97 installer on your CD.



• Remember, your computer may have multimedia capabilities that exceed that of your target audience. Including the latest in audio and video compression schemes may limit your presentation to only a select few. Sometimes, using the lowest common denominator is the best course for multimedia presentations: use the Cinepack Codec for Audio-Video Interleaved files (AVIs) or MOVs, and use either the IMA ADPCM or PCM audio codec schemes, or do not compress your Wave (.wav) files.
  
  If some of your audience uses Macintosh computers, then only embedded sounds function correctly. AVIs and MOVs, while playable on the Macintosh, cannot be directly inserted into your presentation.
  
  For more information about this topic, please click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:




Q198202 PPT2000: Movies Do Not Play When Moved Cross-Platform

Q190397 PPT97: Movies Do Not Play When Moved Cross-Platform

Q188910 PPT98: Movies Do Not Play When Moved Cross-Platform

• If you are going to use VBA macros in your presentation, your audience needs to have PowerPoint 97 at the very least. When writing your macros, use PowerPoint 97 or at least test your macros on a computer with PowerPoint 97 first, to make sure they function correctly. If you want to be completely thorough, also test the macros with PowerPoint 98 Macintosh Edition.

• ActiveX controls can be tricky.
  
  First, you have to use the PowerPoint program to run the controls.
  
  Second, although PowerPoint can use many of the same ActiveX controls that Microsoft Internet Explorer can use, your audience may not have the same ActiveX controls installed on their computers.
  
  Finally, ActiveX controls only work under Microsoft Windows 95, Microsoft Windows 98, and Microsoft Windows NT. They do not work with PowerPoint 98 Macintosh Edition.
  
  So, already assuming that they are not using PowerPoint 98 Macintosh Edition, unless you know for certain what ActiveX controls your potential audience has, or unless you can provide an install point for the controls from your CD, do not use ActiveX controls.

Using Pack and Go to Prepare Your Presentation

1. Open the presentation that you want to pack.



2. On the File menu, click Pack and Go.



3. Follow the instructions in the Pack and Go Wizard.
   
   When prompted for what drive to copy to, click Select destination and browse to a temporary file location. This is where you pack your presentation and its associated files. Click Next.



4. Choose to include Linked Files. At this point, you may choose to embed TrueType fonts with your presentation. Click Next.



5. Do not include the viewer. Click Next, and then click Finish.

Unpacking a Presentation

1. In Windows Explorer, go to the location of the packed presentation, and then double-click Pngsetup.



2. Enter the location of the burn folder to which you want to copy the presentation.

Additional query words:

Keywords : kbdta
Version : WINDOWS:2000,97
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbhowto