Can't get a .wmv file to play in slide show mode

[david.f.jenkins]

I've been given three .wmv files which are to play, in order, when a
specific slide is shown. The slide already has a picture on it, that
some previous developer inserted there. They want the current picture
to fade out, and the movies to show in the same rectangle previously
occupied by the picture.

Here's what's happening: if I create a Playlist in WMP consisting of
all three files, I can insert that file in PPT slide, and it will play
all three files, in the order in which they were put in the play list.
However, if I insert the files individually, when I show that slide in
slide show mode, nothing shows up (Excpet the original inserted
picture). In Explorer, I can click on the individual files, and WMP
will fire up and play the video (as will Nero, if I change the
association of .wmv to Nero).

So my question is: why can't I get the individual file to play in Slide
Show, but I can get the Playlist to play? And what can I do to be able
to deal with automation for each of the files individually?

 

[Mike_M]

Need some more info.
1. What version of PowerPoint?
2. I assume you are inserting the 3 seperate wmv files into the slide
individually. When it asks do you want to start automatically what do you
answer?
3. You don't want all 3 to start at the same time so you will have to set
each to start after the previous.
4. As a test, what happens if you just put one on a slide? Have you tried
each individually?

 

[david.f.jenkins]

1. PowerPoint 2003 (11.8024.6568) SP2
2/3. Yes, individually. All are inserted specifying start
automatically. The first automation step is to fade the static picture
that's on the slide, then each .WMV gets started automatically,
specifying After Previous.
4. After the original picture fades, a placeholder for the video opens
up, and it's all white-filled. Nothing ever shows up in there. If I'm
in the Editor, and click the Custom Animation "Play" button, the same
thing happens.

 

[Austin Myers]

David,

Try moving the presentation and media files to a folder with a shoter path.
(c:\test)

Delete and then reinsert the media files.



Austin Myers
MS PowerPoint MVP Team

Provider of PFCMedia http://www.pfcmedia.com

 

[david.f.jenkins]

Hey, Austin: Thanks - it worked!

I only had to move the .wmv files - the .ppt got to stay where it was
(which was pretty far down a directory tree). What's up with that?
I've got to say, that was not an intuitively obvious solution. To me,
at least.

Also, if it had to go way down the tree to find the .wpl file, and the
playlist pointed to files way down the tree, how come *that* worked?

 

[Austin Myers]

Hey, Austin: Thanks - it worked!

I only had to move the .wmv files - the .ppt got to stay where it was
(which was pretty far down a directory tree).

Bad idea, you always want to keep the media file in the same folder as the
presentation so that if you move it the links aren't broken.

What's up with that?

Also, if it had to go way down the tree to find the .wpl file, and the
playlist pointed to files way down the tree, how come *that* worked?

Becasue a .wpl file is always plaed by the windows media player and not the
MCI player used natively in PowerPoint.

Anyhow, glad you got it sorted! You might want to look at a tutorial I put
together that explains media in PowerPoint and some of the "gotchas".

http://www.pfcmedia.com/Tutorial.htm


Austin Myers
MS PowerPoint MVP Team

Provider of PFCMedia http://www.pfcmedia.com

 

[david.f.jenkins]

Thanks, Austin. I'll visit the tutorial, for sure. File placement is
going to be a pain - this .PPT file and the associated .WMVs are going
to be placed on a laptop that's used at a conference, and I have little
or no control over how the files get loaded. Sure glad I learned about
this now, though, instead of at the last minute at 3 in the mroning in
some hotel conference room!