Allow multiple instances of PowerPoint at the same time

[Guest]

Currently PowerPoint only allows one instance of itself to be open on the
desktop at any one time. This makes it impossible to compare two PowerPoint
presentations side by side. Opening a second PPT file puts it into the
instance already active, so the only way to compare two PPTs is by flipping
back and forth between two overlaid windows.

Would appreciate it if you would flip the switch and allow a new instance to
open, instead of searching for a previous active instance and bringing it to
the top, or loading a new file into it.

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http://www.microsoft.com/office/com...8-de8c66c74c4e&dg=microsoft.public.powerpoint

 

[Guest]

2007 allows side by side presos, pretty cool for comparison.

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

Currently PowerPoint only allows one instance of itself to be open on the
desktop at any one time. This makes it impossible to compare two PowerPoint
presentations side by side.

Open both, choose Window, Arrange All

 

[Guest]

No Steve- we want to open 2 ppt. files each in their own application of
powerpoint. This way, on my left-hand monitor I can have powerpoint open
with it's menus and toolbars, and on my right-hand monitor I can have another
ppt file open in its own powerpoint window with its own menus and toolbars.

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

No Steve- we want to open 2 ppt. files each in their own application of
powerpoint.

I understand why this would be ideal, but short of installing and using two
different versions of PPT, you can't do it.

 

[Guest]

Steve,
We all understand that what you are saying is true. Many many people think
that is should NOT be true.

How hard can it be to let people choose? I used to be able to have two
instances of powerpoint open - two separate windows with all the functions
and commands. I liked that. I can no longer do that. I looked online for
hours trying to find a way around this. One can have two instances of Excel
open, two instnaces of Word, etc. One used to be able to do so with
Powerpoint. (I dont 'remember when or which version, but it used to have
this functionality.)

So it seems of late, every Powerpoint person, like you, answers - "This is
not possible.", or gives some reply telling those of us that would strongly
prefer to have two instances to use the "arrange all" option which is NOT the
same thing. It's fine with me that "arrange all" and many windows (almost a
tabbed environment) with the same set of menus and toolboxes is an option in
Powerpoint for people that prefer that.

But I don't prefer that. I like multiple instances. I like a full set of
menus and toolboxes for my two files side by side. Powerpoint used to have
that.

Can you or the designers or whomever is involved in powerpoint change this?
Given that Word and Excel can both have the state I prefer as an option, and
given that Powerpoint used to have that as an option, to me it seems like it
can't be difficult ot reinstate this option for those of us that prefer it.

People like us are forced to open powerpoint as two different users at two
different levels. (I.e. log in as myself, open powerpoint, and then open an
instance as the administrator) This is a huge pain!

Or I have to use the "arrange all". I don't like this. It hampers my
productivity greatly.

I am either going to have to buy a mac next time or use LaTex for all my
presentations, because the current Powerpoint situation is not one I can use
for much longer.

So please - don't tell us that what we want isn't possible or that
Powerpoint is strictly a single instance application. Just make it one of
the options. Searching the internet on this issue shows MANY frustrated
people using the ad hoc inconvenient solution of opening Powerpoint as two
different users ) on the same computer.

Search for:
powerpoint "multiple instances"

You get MANY hits and most of us aren't happy. Why is this what PowerPoint
developers and designers want???

Alyson

 

[Austin Myers]

Sorry, but I believe you are wrong. I've been using PowerPoint for a few
days and I don't believe it ever allowed you to run two instances. Be that
as it may, there are some very good reasons this is not allowed. You may
not agree with them but that doesn't change it. <g>

The first thing that comes to mind is that PPT switches modes in the
graphics display depending on what you are doing and how it's being used.



Austin Myers
MS PowerPoint MVP Team

Provider of PFCMedia, PFCPro, PFCExpress
http://www.pfcmedia.com

 

[Bill Dilworth]

I've been using PowerPoint for a few days...



Austin,

I suspect you meant years, perhaps even decades?







Alyson,

Could you point us to any historical version of PowerPoint for Windows that
allowed multiple instances? It has always been a single instance program
from as far back as I remember, but I could be mistaken. Often memory does
that, what you think you remember is slightly different from what actually
was the case. If you could just show me a web link or even reference a
version number I could check on, I'd be very happy to revise my memory.



As far as how hard is it to change the program, you don't really want to
know. Imagine a small change -- It has to be tested on thousands and
thousands of machine hardware and firmware configurations. It has to be
tested in combinations with hundreds of other software packages. It has to
be tested to make sure it doesn't break some other part of the Office
package. It has to be written in such a way that it will still work with
the older file formats and operating systems. Often a change will be
written into the code at the beta level and then then have to be pulled out
before release because it doesn't play well with another part of the
machine. *Any* change in the software is a major expense and effort.





In the mean time, these are the only options I know of...



1) Submit the suggestion to MS. If this is a common request then the
PowerPoint design team will determine if they can allocate the resources
required to make this happen. All of the software design business is a
cost/benefit analysis -- if enough people would purchase PowerPoint because
of this feature, then the expense of re-designing the software would be
beneficial to MS. This will not help you today, or even tomorrow, but may
help steer the planning of Office 14.



2) The "Arrange all" method, which you said is flawed due to the single set
of command buttons.



3) The "open a second instance as another user" method, which you said is
flawed due to the time required to set this up.



4) Research, locate, and purchase a software package that does what you
want. PowerPoint is just one of the presentation software packages
available on the market. If it doesn't fit your needs, simply replace it.
Think of it like your wristwatch - if it doesn't have the features you need
to work, buy a different one.





Just as an FYI, no one on this newsgroup works for Microsoft or is in a
position to tell Microsoft what to do. We all, even the MVPs, make
suggestions. While MS hosts this site they probably do not actively
monitior its contents. In my dealings with people and corporations, I've
found that a few helpful suggestions often carry more weight than a thousand
upset letters.




--
Bill Dilworth
A proud member of the Microsoft PPT MVP Team
Users helping fellow users.
http://billdilworth.mvps.org
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

Steve,
We all understand that what you are saying is true. Many many people think
that is should NOT be true.

See my other reply, but the gist of it is that we're not MS. We're PPT users like
yourself. However much we may agree with you, we cannot change a thing. I completely
understand that Arrange All *isn't* the same as multiple instances. But it's what we
have, so that's what we work with. For some it's good enough, for some it's not.

We live with what it does or we find another program that gives us what we want.

 

[Guest]

Here is the method Craig explained. I was able to open two separate PP app
windows (PP 2003).

On XP, use 'runas' to run a second instance of Powerpoint.

1) Open the Start Menu->...>Powerpoint and holding the Shift key,
right-click the Powerpoint icon
2) Select 'Run as...'
2) Select a different user account (it could be a local account on your
computer)

Now you should be able to have 2 separate PP windows on each monitor.

Whoever suggested stretching the single instance window across the 2
monitors obviously never tried it. It is a totally non-optimal solution.

Whoever designed this "feature" ought to be beat with a wet noodle.

Craig

ref:
http://www.microsoft.com/office/com...a2e9&tid=a3a0d5ce-24a6-42c4-82e7-4f91f0a726fc

 

[Kazi]

HI Guys,

I have been researching the same issue of trying to open to instances of
Powerpoint and am surprised that we cant. But it seem our Friend Steve Jobs
machine can. My company designers have Macs and I went over to them to see if
it was the same issue or it was just on our machine and to my surprise after
they told me they never use office and hate it they could open three
instances.

So I guess us users of MS products have to go to MAC to use MS products what
a shame for Microsoft not to listen to their customers.

Kazi

 

[TAJ Simmons]

Kazi,

There is a workaround for this as stated in option 2 below.

see
http://www.pptalchemy.co.uk/mmmagic.html

cheers
TAJ Simmons
Microsoft Powerpoint MVP

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