Creating files that will play on a computer without the player?

[Dave Leer]

1.) Is "Package for CD" the right option to create a file that can be played
without the player installed on the computer even if I simply want to email
the file to someone and not put it on a CD?



2.) Can the file still be opened in PowerPoint after it is packaged this
way?



3.) Are there any disadvantages of doing this when distributing files?



Thanks!!

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

1.) Is "Package for CD" the right option to create a file that can be played
without the player installed on the computer even if I simply want to email
the file to someone and not put it on a CD?

It may help in some situations. If you have just a PPT presentation with no
sounds, movies or other *linked* content, you may prefer just to email the
presentation and include a url for the recipient to follow if they need to
download and install the viewer.

Emailing the packaged version with the viewer intact is more complicated.
You'd need, I think, to package to a folder, zip up the contents of the folder
and send the user the zip with instructions to unzip everything to a single
folder on their computer. They'd also need to be told to doubleclick PLAY.BAT
(it may appear as just PLAY) to start the show. A CD can be made to autostart,
but a folder full of files can't.

2.) Can the file still be opened in PowerPoint after it is packaged this
way?

Yes. The PPT file itself isn't changed in any way other than having some of
the links adjusted.

3.) Are there any disadvantages of doing this when distributing files?

I can't think of any offhand. It mostly simplifies what would turn into a
rather fiddly task if you had to do it manually.