2007 File Size Issue

[BoomerM3]

I've just 'upgraded' to PPT 2007. In preparing a couple of simple
presentations, I noted that the file size seemed very large. So, I ran
a quick test.

I have a 5 slide (no graphics) presentation that I saved in
'compatibility mode' - because I need to show this on several
machines. The file size was 1.4 Mb

I re-saved the same presentation in 'normal' mode (pptx) and the file
size is 55 kb.

Is there something I need to know? Has anyone else noted this? What is
going on?

 

[Echo S]

The new 2007 XML-based file format is, quite simply, much more compact than
the old binary format. In other words, your PPTX (2007 format) files will
generally be smaller than the same file saved as PPT (97-2003 "binary"
format).

This is not a bug, it's expected behavior.

 

[Echo S]

Oh, and in addition to the actual file format differences, when you save a
file as 97-2003 PPT format, many objects with new formatting applied to them
will be converted to images.

For example, if you add a glow effect to text, that text becomes an image
when you save as PPT, and that also contributes to an enlarged file size.

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

I've just 'upgraded' to PPT 2007. In preparing a couple of simple
presentations, I noted that the file size seemed very large. So, I ran
a quick test.

I have a 5 slide (no graphics) presentation that I saved in
'compatibility mode' - because I need to show this on several
machines. The file size was 1.4 Mb

I re-saved the same presentation in 'normal' mode (pptx) and the file
size is 55 kb.

To add to what Echo said:

When you save your 2007 file for backwards compatibility, PPT retains all of
the original 2007 information and adds information that lets earlier versions
display the info.

For example, if you've got a soft-edged drop shadow, it probably represents no
more than a few bytes of data in 2007 because 2007 knows how to make these
shadows; it just needs to be told which kind to make.

Earlier versions can't do this type of drop shadow so PPT 2007 has to generate
and include a bitmap version of the shadow in the file. Bitmap graphics are
quite large. A few shadows or other similar effects could easily account for
the size difference, I'd expect.

 

[Guest]

Here's a PDF of a PPT'07 presentation

http://zircon.40th.com/zircon.pdf

from

1,508,297 zircon_work23.pptx
712,256 zircon.pdf

which is mostly (20 separate) graphic images.
The slideshow is nice, but I use a PDF. Why
is this still missing: slideshows can only be
"handed out" in a formt that anyone can hack
up. Since it is, I use PDF. PDF is smaller,
but the "quality" is subpar (though I'd say
acceptable for the web). The PDF was created
from the Save-as PDF output from PPT.

Anyway, I was VERY surprised that the ppt
wasn't, oh, 10 MB or more, instead of 1.5MB.
No image conversion to BMP is one reason, I
suppose, but there's more to it, I'm sure.

The pptx was done 1650x1080 (16:10), and the
Q is pretty good when viewed at that size
(had only a few, nicely-timed sound effects).

http://zircon.40th.com/

 

[Guest]

I think there may be more to this. One of my users was complaining today of
long save times in Powerpoint 2007. She had opened a 2003 ppt file that was
created in Powerpoint 2003 and was ~6mb in size and then saved it with a
different name "also" in 2003 compatible format. The file ballooned to 27mb
with no changes. Any ideas?

Oh, and in addition to the actual file format differences, when you save a
file as 97-2003 PPT format, many objects with new formatting applied to them
will be converted to images.

For example, if you add a glow effect to text, that text becomes an image
when you save as PPT, and that also contributes to an enlarged file size.

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP] http://www.echosvoice.com
What's new in PPT 2007? http://www.echosvoice.com/2007.htm
Fixing PowerPoint Annoyances http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/powerpointannoy/

I've just 'upgraded' to PPT 2007. In preparing a couple of simple
presentations, I noted that the file size seemed very large. So, I ran
a quick test.

I have a 5 slide (no graphics) presentation that I saved in
'compatibility mode' - because I need to show this on several
machines. The file size was 1.4 Mb

I re-saved the same presentation in 'normal' mode (pptx) and the file
size is 55 kb.

Is there something I need to know? Has anyone else noted this? What is
going on?

 

[Echo S]

She didn't make any changes before saving it in 2007 (as 2003 format)?
Bizarre.

If the file's only 6MB, email it to me and I'll take a look and see what
happens here. Please mail to echos at indy dot net and include a reminder of
why you're sending it.

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP] http://www.echosvoice.com
What's new in PPT 2007? http://www.echosvoice.com/2007.htm
Fixing PowerPoint Annoyances http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/powerpointannoy/

I think there may be more to this. One of my users was complaining today
of
long save times in Powerpoint 2007. She had opened a 2003 ppt file that
was
created in Powerpoint 2003 and was ~6mb in size and then saved it with a
different name "also" in 2003 compatible format. The file ballooned to
27mb
with no changes. Any ideas?

Oh, and in addition to the actual file format differences, when you save
a
file as 97-2003 PPT format, many objects with new formatting applied to
them
will be converted to images.

For example, if you add a glow effect to text, that text becomes an image
when you save as PPT, and that also contributes to an enlarged file size.

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP] http://www.echosvoice.com
What's new in PPT 2007? http://www.echosvoice.com/2007.htm
Fixing PowerPoint Annoyances
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/powerpointannoy/

I've just 'upgraded' to PPT 2007. In preparing a couple of simple
presentations, I noted that the file size seemed very large. So, I ran
a quick test.

I have a 5 slide (no graphics) presentation that I saved in
'compatibility mode' - because I need to show this on several
machines. The file size was 1.4 Mb

I re-saved the same presentation in 'normal' mode (pptx) and the file
size is 55 kb.

Is there something I need to know? Has anyone else noted this? What is
going on?