2007 PPT won't display slides that use enhanced metafile images

[Guest]

I'm attempting to run PPT presentations created in PPT 2005 using B2 of PPT
2007. When I do this, any slides that use MS's enhanced metafiles on the
slide won't display (blank preview; won't go to that slide). As I tend to use
this a lot to shrink down larger drawn diagrams for re-use on subsequent
pages and other formats tend to lose resolution, this is a royal pain that
2007 won't import these correctly. Any suggestions, other than having to redo
my entire library of 2005 PPT presentations (which would have to be redone in
the older version on a different machine)?

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

I'm attempting to run PPT presentations created in PPT 2005 using B2 of PPT
2007. When I do this, any slides that use MS's enhanced metafiles on the
slide won't display (blank preview; won't go to that slide). As I tend to use
this a lot to shrink down larger drawn diagrams for re-use on subsequent
pages and other formats tend to lose resolution, this is a royal pain that
2007 won't import these correctly. Any suggestions, other than having to redo
my entire library of 2005 PPT presentations (which would have to be redone in
the older version on a different machine)?

I'd bet that this will be fixed by the time 2007 is released.

While I certainly wouldn't embark on any major conversions until it does, you
might try ungrouping then regrouping the graphics in whatever current PPT
version you're using before opening it in 2007 Beta.

 

[Guest]

Thanks Steve. This brings up two related questions. First, is there an easy
way to find all of these (enhanced metafile images as distinct from other
types of images) in PPT 2005 (the version I use)? And, second, is there any
way to let MS know directly about these issues in the 2007 Beta? I couldn't
find any links to report problems, etc. to them.

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

Thanks Steve. This brings up two related questions. First, is there an easy
way to find all of these (enhanced metafile images as distinct from other
types of images) in PPT 2005 (the version I use)?

Let's clear that up first. There's no PPT 2005. Do you use 2003, maybe?

Metafiles, Enhanced Metafiles and OLE objects will ungroup in PowerPoint.
Other image types won't, so try ungrouping. If the option's grayed out, you
probably have one of those other image types.

And, second, is there any
way to let MS know directly about these issues in the 2007 Beta? I couldn't
find any links to report problems, etc. to them.

There used to be a thingie called the Send-A-Smile tool. There's a link to it
here:

Office 2007 / PowerPoint 2007 (aka Office 12 / PowerPoint 12)
http://www.pptfaq.com/FAQ00723.htm

 

[Patrick Schmid [MVP]]

You are using B2? I'd highly suggest you upgrade to B2TR before the
download becomes unavailable on Wednesday.

Patrick Schmid [OneNote MVP]
--------------
http://pschmid.net
***
Office 2007 Beta 2 Technical Refresh (B2TR):
http://pschmid.net/blog/2006/09/18/43
***
Customize Office 2007: http://pschmid.net/office2007/customize
OneNote 2007: http://pschmid.net/office2007/onenote
***
Subscribe to my Office 2007 blog: http://pschmid.net/blog/feed

 

[Patrick Schmid [MVP]]

Hi Steve,

Is your computer clock set wrong?
I received this post from you at 1:08 pm, but the OP's post on 2:01 pm.

Patrick

 

[Guest]

Yes, as noted in the original post, I'm using B2TR.
--
R Welke

You are using B2? I'd highly suggest you upgrade to B2TR before the
download becomes unavailable on Wednesday.

Patrick Schmid [OneNote MVP]
--------------
http://pschmid.net
***
Office 2007 Beta 2 Technical Refresh (B2TR):
http://pschmid.net/blog/2006/09/18/43
***
Customize Office 2007: http://pschmid.net/office2007/customize
OneNote 2007: http://pschmid.net/office2007/onenote
***
Subscribe to my Office 2007 blog: http://pschmid.net/blog/feed

 

[Guest]

Sorry; correct it's 2003. And yes, while it's true that metafiles of various
types will ungroup in 2003, I can't see the individual PPT pages containing
these in B2TR. So this effectively means that I have to load each one into
B2TR, find which ones don't display in B2TR, go back to the 2003 version,
attempt to find and correct these, then re-load into B2TR. As I teach courses
and have 30 or 40 PPT files, each with (average) 30 PPT pages, that's a *lot*
of work. Was hoping for a simpler solution (e.g. a download that corrects the
problem in B2TR

Thanks for the "send-a-smile" link -- I guess they should call it
"send-a-frown" or maybe something more communicative like: "Contact MS with
B2 release problems."

 

[Guest]

No. It's right on time (EDT that is). This posted at 21:07.

 

[Guest]

Just to let Steve and Patrick (and others who might read this thread) know
that ungrouping extended meta files (and similar) when importing into PPT
2007 from older versions (e.g. Office 2003) *does* work; i.e. the PPT slides
display correctly. Now, if there were only an easy way to find all these
grouped metafiles in an existing Office 2003 PPT file and do an ungroup on
all of them, that would be really nice I'm sure one can write a macro to
do this, but that's beyond my capabilities. Any short-cut suggestions?

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

Sorry; correct it's 2003. And yes, while it's true that metafiles of various
types will ungroup in 2003, I can't see the individual PPT pages containing
these in B2TR.

Even after you've ungrouped them in 2003 and saved?

So this effectively means that I have to load each one into
B2TR, find which ones don't display in B2TR, go back to the 2003 version,
attempt to find and correct these, then re-load into B2TR.

Or ungroup/regroup all of them in 2003 on general principles. Not a joyous
prospect if you have lots of them to do, but we might be able to help with a
macro or two, if this turns out to be a real problem in the released version of
2007. I can't see spending a lot of time chasing solutions to problems that may
only exist in the beta version of the software though.

and have 30 or 40 PPT files, each with (average) 30 PPT pages, that's a *lot*
of work. Was hoping for a simpler solution (e.g. a download that corrects the
problem in B2TR

Is there some reason why you *must* use unstable beta software for your work?

Thanks for the "send-a-smile" link -- I guess they should call it
"send-a-frown" or maybe something more communicative like: "Contact MS with
B2 release problems."

<g> More people would find it that way, that much is certain.

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

Hi Steve,

Is your computer clock set wrong?
I received this post from you at 1:08 pm, but the OP's post on 2:01 pm.

It might be off by a minute or two, but that's about it.

I'm not sure what time you see in the post, though, the time we hit Send or the
time the post actually hits the MS server (or perhaps the time it hits servers
along the way there).

I try to keep the clock set right and as to the rest, I'd rather spend my time
contemplating other mysteries.

"Where did I put my keys?" for example.

 

[Guest]

Hi Steve --

Missed your 10/24/06 12:22P post when I added something to the overall
thread about ungrouping working but finding the items to ungroup to be a bit
of a pain. The reason I'm having to work through this is the only computer I
could spare to try out the beta was my notebook computer. But, unfortunately,
I need it when I do road trip presentations. If possible, it would be nice to
have both the 2003 and 2007 versions on the same machine but I suspect that
won't work (haven't done a lot of research on that topic -- perhaps you know
whether or not both versions can co-exist on the same machine). Of course, a
more radical approach would be to put VMWare on the machine but right now, I
don't have the time to do that). Anyhow, thanks for your suggestions.

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

Hi Steve --

Missed your 10/24/06 12:22P post when I added something to the overall
thread about ungrouping working but finding the items to ungroup to be a bit
of a pain. The reason I'm having to work through this is the only computer I
could spare to try out the beta was my notebook computer.

Probably too late now, but for future reference, have a look here:

Using Virtual PC / VMWare virtual computers
http://www.pptfaq.com/FAQ00819.htm

But, unfortunately,
I need it when I do road trip presentations. If possible, it would be nice to
have both the 2003 and 2007 versions on the same machine but I suspect that
won't work (haven't done a lot of research on that topic -- perhaps you know
whether or not both versions can co-exist on the same machine).

It seems to have worked for some people, not for others. And again, it's still
beta, so what it does now doesn't mean much in terms of Life in the Real World.

Of course, a
more radical approach would be to put VMWare on the machine but right now, I
don't have the time to do that). Anyhow, thanks for your suggestions.

Ah. Nevermind the link above if you aleady know about VMWare.