Using a picture as background

[Joe Fisher]

Powerpoint XP, Pentium 4, 512 Megs Ram

We have *one* computer in the lab for which the normal procedure won't work.
The other 19 computers in the lab (same office configuration), work fine.
i.e., right click on blank slide, choose background, click on arrow on
bottom->Fill Effects->Picture Tab->Browse to Picture->click OK-Apply.

After I click OK, the picture appears in the little box. When I click Apply
(or Apply All), the slide just stays blank.

When I click Apply, nothing happens..the slide still stays blank. I can
*Insert* a picture just fine, but cannot use one as a background.
Any ideas?

My ISP mustn't archive messages for very long. I first did a search in this
NG for "background", but when I click on any header that seemed like it
might apply to me, "the message is no longer on the server"..

 

[Joe Fisher]

Update:
Apparently, it *was* saving the picture as a background, we just couldn't
see it. I'm not exactly sure, it was at the end of the period, but Jake told
me that the pictures were on the background, however he had already
stretched pictures over the background pictures (which we couldn't see)
I didn't have a chance to ask him exactly how he found out.
Does this sound at all like something I can do something about? I tried
reinstalling Office X)

 

[Echo S]

I don't know who Jake is, but I bet he went to Format/Background and removed
the checkmark from "omit background graphics."

And why are you reinstalling Office X if this is a PPT 2002 (PPT XP)
problem?

 

[Joe Fisher]

Jake is the student. for whom the background picture wasn't working..
I'll check the checkmark, thanks!
I mistyped...I was typing too fast to put the P on the end of the X...*G*
Joe

I don't know who Jake is, but I bet he went to Format/Background and
removed
the checkmark from "omit background graphics."

And why are you reinstalling Office X if this is a PPT 2002 (PPT XP)
problem?

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP]
http://www.echosvoice.com

Update:
Apparently, it *was* saving the picture as a background, we just couldn't
see it. I'm not exactly sure, it was at the end of the period, but Jake told
me that the pictures were on the background, however he had already
stretched pictures over the background pictures (which we couldn't see)
I didn't have a chance to ask him exactly how he found out.
Does this sound at all like something I can do something about? I tried
reinstalling Office X)

 

[Joe Fisher]

I have Office XP at home, I just did an experiment. I made sure the
checkmark was *removed* from Format/Background, the background picture
showed up just fine.

I tried both ways, with the box checked, and with the box unchecked. It
didn't seem to do anything in terms of preventing the background picture
showing up. It worked fine no matter if the box was checked or unchecked.

I'll still try it at school though, you never know.

--
Joe Fisher
Teacher, K-8
Marion, MT

I bet he went to Format/Background and removed
the checkmark from "omit background graphics."

And why are you reinstalling Office X if this is a PPT 2002 (PPT XP)
problem?

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP]
http://www.echosvoice.com

Update:
Apparently, it *was* saving the picture as a background, we just couldn't
see it. I'm not exactly sure, it was at the end of the period, but Jake told
me that the pictures were on the background, however he had already
stretched pictures over the background pictures (which we couldn't see)
I didn't have a chance to ask him exactly how he found out.
Does this sound at all like something I can do something about? I tried
reinstalling Office X)

 

[Echo S]

Hm. Now that you mention it, that checkmark might not affect background
pictures. I can't remember for sure, though. Since you've just tested there,
I tend to believe what you're saying!

I can't think of anything else, really -- other than maybe just a basic
display issue. Perhaps others will pop in with some ideas. (I'm sure I'll be
slapping my forehead when they do, though!)

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP]
http://www.echosvoice.com

I have Office XP at home, I just did an experiment. I made sure the
checkmark was *removed* from Format/Background, the background picture
showed up just fine.

I tried both ways, with the box checked, and with the box unchecked. It
didn't seem to do anything in terms of preventing the background picture
showing up. It worked fine no matter if the box was checked or unchecked.

I'll still try it at school though, you never know.

--
Joe Fisher
Teacher, K-8
Marion, MT

I bet he went to Format/Background and removed
the checkmark from "omit background graphics."

And why are you reinstalling Office X if this is a PPT 2002 (PPT XP)
problem?

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP]
http://www.echosvoice.com

Update:
Apparently, it *was* saving the picture as a background, we just couldn't
see it. I'm not exactly sure, it was at the end of the period, but Jake told
me that the pictures were on the background, however he had already
stretched pictures over the background pictures (which we couldn't see)
I didn't have a chance to ask him exactly how he found out.
Does this sound at all like something I can do something about? I tried
reinstalling Office X)

Powerpoint XP, Pentium 4, 512 Megs Ram

We have *one* computer in the lab for which the normal procedure won't
work. The other 19 computers in the lab (same office configuration), work
fine.
i.e., right click on blank slide, choose background, click on arrow on
bottom->Fill Effects->Picture Tab->Browse to Picture->click OK-Apply.

After I click OK, the picture appears in the little box. When I click
Apply (or Apply All), the slide just stays blank.

 

[Joe Fisher]

Additional information.
The Background pictures shows up when I run the slide show. But it *does
not* show up in slide sorter or normal view.

It's weird. I have to all intents and purposes a blank slide sitting in
front of me, even though I went through all the steps to insert a background
image. I just on a whim looked at in slide show, the background image
showed. But it doesn't do me much good since I can't edit it.


--
Joe Fisher
Teacher, K-8
Marion, MT

I can't think of anything else, really -- other than maybe just a basic
display issue. Perhaps others will pop in with some ideas. (I'm sure I'll
be
slapping my forehead when they do, though!)

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP]
http://www.echosvoice.com

I have Office XP at home, I just did an experiment. I made sure the
checkmark was *removed* from Format/Background, the background picture
showed up just fine.

I tried both ways, with the box checked, and with the box unchecked. It
didn't seem to do anything in terms of preventing the background picture
showing up. It worked fine no matter if the box was checked or unchecked.

I'll still try it at school though, you never know.

--
Joe Fisher
Teacher, K-8
Marion, MT

I bet he went to Format/Background and removed
the checkmark from "omit background graphics."

And why are you reinstalling Office X if this is a PPT 2002 (PPT XP)
problem?

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP]
http://www.echosvoice.com


Update:
Apparently, it *was* saving the picture as a background, we just couldn't
see it. I'm not exactly sure, it was at the end of the period, but
Jake
told
me that the pictures were on the background, however he had already
stretched pictures over the background pictures (which we couldn't see)
I didn't have a chance to ask him exactly how he found out.
Does this sound at all like something I can do something about? I
tried
reinstalling Office X)

Powerpoint XP, Pentium 4, 512 Megs Ram

We have *one* computer in the lab for which the normal procedure won't
work. The other 19 computers in the lab (same office configuration),
work
fine.
i.e., right click on blank slide, choose background, click on arrow on
bottom->Fill Effects->Picture Tab->Browse to Picture->click
OK-Apply.

After I click OK, the picture appears in the little box. When I
click
Apply (or Apply All), the slide just stays blank.

 

[Sonia]

Try lowering hardware acceleration all of the way. If that doesn't correct the
problem, check for an update to the video driver.

How to set graphics hardware acceleration back
http://www.rdpslides.com/pptfaq/FAQ00129.htm

Drivers and such?
http://www.rdpslides.com/pptfaq/FAQ00029.htm
--

Sonia Coleman
Microsoft PowerPoint MVP Team
Autorun Software, Templates and Tutorials
http://www.soniacoleman.com

Additional information.
The Background pictures shows up when I run the slide show. But it *does not*
show up in slide sorter or normal view.

It's weird. I have to all intents and purposes a blank slide sitting in front
of me, even though I went through all the steps to insert a background image.
I just on a whim looked at in slide show, the background image showed. But it
doesn't do me much good since I can't edit it.


--
Joe Fisher
Teacher, K-8
Marion, MT

I can't think of anything else, really -- other than maybe just a basic
display issue. Perhaps others will pop in with some ideas. (I'm sure I'll be
slapping my forehead when they do, though!)

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP]
http://www.echosvoice.com

I have Office XP at home, I just did an experiment. I made sure the
checkmark was *removed* from Format/Background, the background picture
showed up just fine.

I tried both ways, with the box checked, and with the box unchecked. It
didn't seem to do anything in terms of preventing the background picture
showing up. It worked fine no matter if the box was checked or unchecked.

I'll still try it at school though, you never know.

--
Joe Fisher
Teacher, K-8
Marion, MT

I bet he went to Format/Background and removed
the checkmark from "omit background graphics."

And why are you reinstalling Office X if this is a PPT 2002 (PPT XP)
problem?

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP]
http://www.echosvoice.com


Update:
Apparently, it *was* saving the picture as a background, we just couldn't
see it. I'm not exactly sure, it was at the end of the period, but Jake
told
me that the pictures were on the background, however he had already
stretched pictures over the background pictures (which we couldn't see)
I didn't have a chance to ask him exactly how he found out.
Does this sound at all like something I can do something about? I tried
reinstalling Office X)

Powerpoint XP, Pentium 4, 512 Megs Ram

We have *one* computer in the lab for which the normal procedure won't
work. The other 19 computers in the lab (same office configuration),
work
fine.
i.e., right click on blank slide, choose background, click on arrow on
bottom->Fill Effects->Picture Tab->Browse to Picture->click OK-Apply.

After I click OK, the picture appears in the little box. When I click
Apply (or Apply All), the slide just stays blank.

 

[Joe Fisher]

New driver-No joy

I then set the hardware acceleration back.-Still no luck

I can see the background picture if I view the slide show, but I cannot see
the picture in slide sorter or normal view.


--
Joe Fisher
Teacher, K-8
Marion, MT

Try lowering hardware acceleration all of the way. If that doesn't
correct the problem, check for an update to the video driver.

How to set graphics hardware acceleration back
http://www.rdpslides.com/pptfaq/FAQ00129.htm

Drivers and such?
http://www.rdpslides.com/pptfaq/FAQ00029.htm
--

Sonia Coleman
Microsoft PowerPoint MVP Team
Autorun Software, Templates and Tutorials
http://www.soniacoleman.com

Additional information.
The Background pictures shows up when I run the slide show. But it *does
not* show up in slide sorter or normal view.

It's weird. I have to all intents and purposes a blank slide sitting in
front of me, even though I went through all the steps to insert a
background image. I just on a whim looked at in slide show, the
background image showed. But it doesn't do me much good since I can't
edit it.


--
Joe Fisher
Teacher, K-8
Marion, MT

I can't think of anything else, really -- other than maybe just a basic
display issue. Perhaps others will pop in with some ideas. (I'm sure
I'll be
slapping my forehead when they do, though!)

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP]
http://www.echosvoice.com

I have Office XP at home, I just did an experiment. I made sure the
checkmark was *removed* from Format/Background, the background picture
showed up just fine.

I tried both ways, with the box checked, and with the box unchecked. It
didn't seem to do anything in terms of preventing the background
picture
showing up. It worked fine no matter if the box was checked or
unchecked.

I'll still try it at school though, you never know.

--
Joe Fisher
Teacher, K-8
Marion, MT

I bet he went to Format/Background and removed
the checkmark from "omit background graphics."

And why are you reinstalling Office X if this is a PPT 2002 (PPT XP)
problem?

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP]
http://www.echosvoice.com


Update:
Apparently, it *was* saving the picture as a background, we just
couldn't
see it. I'm not exactly sure, it was at the end of the period, but
Jake
told
me that the pictures were on the background, however he had already
stretched pictures over the background pictures (which we couldn't
see)
I didn't have a chance to ask him exactly how he found out.
Does this sound at all like something I can do something about? I
tried
reinstalling Office X)

Powerpoint XP, Pentium 4, 512 Megs Ram

We have *one* computer in the lab for which the normal procedure
won't
work. The other 19 computers in the lab (same office
configuration),
work
fine.
i.e., right click on blank slide, choose background, click on
arrow
on
bottom->Fill Effects->Picture Tab->Browse to Picture->click
OK-Apply.

After I click OK, the picture appears in the little box. When I
click
Apply (or Apply All), the slide just stays blank.

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

Additional information.
The Background pictures shows up when I run the slide show. But it *does
not* show up in slide sorter or normal view.

If ppt2003, choose View, Color/Grayscale and make sure Color is selected.

 

[Joe Fisher]

That was it Steve, Thank you.
It's PPT2002, but it worked.

 

[Joe Fisher]

However, it won't "stick"
I have to go to View->Color/Grayscale and select color every time I open
Powerpoint. It will "stay stuck" during one Powerpoint session, but it's not
the default when I reopen PP.
Any more ideas?

 

[Joe Fisher]

I uninstalled Office XP, then reinstalled Office XP. I reinstalled using a
different Office distribution but the problem still remains.
The workaround will still work, but it seems ridiculous to have to do it
every time.

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

That was it Steve, Thank you.
It's PPT2002, but it worked.
Great!

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

However, it won't "stick"
I have to go to View->Color/Grayscale and select color every time I open
Powerpoint. It will "stay stuck" during one Powerpoint session, but it's not
the default when I reopen PP.

If you haven't tried this already, power the computer down completely the
restart. See if that fixes it.

If not, try Help, Detect and Repair.

If that doesn't work ... um. Let's hope that works.

 

[Joe Fisher]

I know when I finally figure it out, it'll most likely be a "DUH, slap my
forehead" moment.
But for the time being, the issue is still there.
i.e., when I add a picture, (or anything for that matter) as a background,
it doesn't show up.
The workaround is still as you suggested, View->Color Grayscale----Select
Color

Note: This happens for anything I put in as background...textures, colors,
anything. I have to View-Color to see them.

The pictures as background will be visible for *that session only*, but when
I close and reopen powerpoint, I have to jump through the hoops all over
again.

I have to do this everytime I start a new powerpoint.
*I reinstalled, rebooted, did a repair/install, then rebooted again.
Still no change.

I just found out an interesting thing. That being, I did a test
presentation. I set the background as picture, using the workaround you told
me about. I then saved the the presentation, closed powerpoint, then opened
the test presentation.
When I closed it, the pictures were there as background, but when I opened
it, I had to go to View/Grayscale-Color/Color to see the background
pictures.
Weird huh?

 

[Sonia]

This is a wild stab in the dark, but have you tried locating the PCB file and
deleting it and then opening PowerPoint? You will probably find it at:
C:\Documents and Settings\**user**\Application
Data\Microsoft\PowerPoint\PPT10.pcb
--

Sonia Coleman
Microsoft PowerPoint MVP Team
Autorun Software, Templates and Tutorials
http://www.soniacoleman.com

 

[Echo S]

This is strange. You shouldn't have to select color more than once,
especially if you save the file when you're in color view.

You might want to make sure you don't have High Contrast turned on. It's in
your Windows Control Panel. Go to Start/Control Panel, then select
Accessibility Options. High Contrast is set on the Display tab.

 

[Joe Fisher]

I"ll try that when I"m at school tomorrow. Some of the kids were screwing
around with the accessibility settings (one of my students is near blind,
but kids will be kids. *All* of them thought that high contrast stuff was
pretty cool
I wouldn't be at all surprised if something like that is messing it up,
although the desktop looks fine (no high contrast)
Hmmm...worth a try.
Joe

This is strange. You shouldn't have to select color more than once,
especially if you save the file when you're in color view.

You might want to make sure you don't have High Contrast turned on. It's
in
your Windows Control Panel. Go to Start/Control Panel, then select
Accessibility Options. High Contrast is set on the Display tab.

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP]
http://www.echosvoice.com

I uninstalled Office XP, then reinstalled Office XP. I reinstalled using
a
different Office distribution but the problem still remains.
The workaround will still work, but it seems ridiculous to have to do it
every time.

 

[Joe Fisher]

At this point, I'll take wild stabs, wild a** guesses, anything...