PPT97: Using Command-Line Switches with Playlist Files

ID: Q176678

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft PowerPoint 97 For Windows

SUMMARY

Playlist files are text files (with an .LST file name extension) that contain a list of PowerPoint presentations. These files allow the PowerPoint viewer to play multiple slide shows in order. This article describes the commmand-line switches that you can use within a playlist file.

NOTE: Microsoft PowerPoint Viewer 97 also supports command-line switches when started from the Run dialog box, or from a Microsoft Windows 95 shortcut link file.

MORE INFORMATION

Command lines should use the following format


   ppview32.exe [command-line switches] "<path\powerpnt file name>"

where <path\powerpnt file name> is the path and file name for the presentation you want to include in the playlist.

The following command-line switches are supported:


   Switch              Used for
   -------------------------------------------------------------------

   /A or /a            Automatic advance
   /R=n-m or /r=n-m    Slide range
   (where n<=m)
   /L or /l            Loop continuously
   /P or /p            Print, for printing file
   /K or /k            Kiosk password, for setting a kiosk mode for file
   /V or /v            For showing the macro virus dialog box

NOTE: The /v switch does not enable the use of macros, it simply enables a special dialog box to be displayed when opening other documents that might have macros enabled, such as a Word document.

Playlist files used with the Microsoft PowerPoint Viewer 97 do not recognize switches when opened at the command line. However, you can use command-line switches within the playlist file using the format below.

To apply a switch to individual files, use the following format:


   [switch] <path\filename>
   [switch] <path\filename>
   ...
   [switch] <path\filename>

The following example loops a presentation until ESC is pressed, and then moves to the next presentation and loops it:


   /L PRES1.PPT
   /L PRES2.PPT
   ...
   /L PRESx.PPT

To apply a switch across a group of files, use the following format:


   [switch] "<path\filename>" "<path\filename>" ... "<path\filename>"

The following example plays each presentation once, and then begins again after the last presentation has completed:


   /L "PRES1.PPT" "PRES2.PPT" ... "PRESx.PPT"

Not all command-line switches are available within playlist files. The following switches are supported within .LST files: /A, /R=N-M, /L, /K, and /V.

REFERENCES

For additional information on playlists, please click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q171681 PPT97: How to Create a Playlist that Loops Continuously

Q170801 PPT97: How to Obtain PowerPoint Viewer 97

Additional query words: lst 98 How do I set a switch want in looping secure automate automatic

Keywords : kbdta kbviewer
Version : WINDOWS:97
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbhowto