Audio file troubles

[Guest]

I moved a powerpoint presentation over from an old computer, and now none of
the audio files will work. Powerpoint says it "cannot find the specified
file" when I click on the speaker icon on each slide, and no audio plays. Is
this perhaps because the audio file path is saved in full, rather than
relative to the location of the presentation? (The file structure was
otherwise preserved.) Can I reset this somehow, without having to re-add
every audio file?

Second question, in the event that I *do* have to re-add every file: I'm
having great trouble getting actions to work in the proper sequence. I want
something simple: images fade in and out while music plays in the background.
The music starts when the slide appears, then image fade actions start. The
image fade actions want to wait until the audio *stops*, though. I presently
have the actions set to "after previous." If I set the first action to "with
previous," it starts playing just fine, but then the next fade action (set to
"after previous") wants to wait until the end of the audio file, not the end
of the first fade. Is the only solution to set every action to "with
previous," then set precise for each action to time everything properly?
That seems a lot of unnecessary trouble.

Thanks for any help,
David

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

I moved a powerpoint presentation over from an old computer, and now none of
the audio files will work. Powerpoint says it "cannot find the specified
file" when I click on the speaker icon on each slide, and no audio plays. Is
this perhaps because the audio file path is saved in full, rather than
relative to the location of the presentation? (The file structure was
otherwise preserved.) Can I reset this somehow, without having to re-add
every audio file?

This will explain what's going on:

Sounds/Movies don't play, images disappear or links break when I move or email a
presentation
http://www.rdpslides.com/pptfaq/FAQ00155.htm

And this may help fix the problem
Show me the link and let me edit it
http://www.rdpslides.com/pptfaq/FAQ00433.htm

 

[Guest]

Thank you for the advice. Your links are helpful, but in the end, they give
me two choices: (i) redo all the links according to their methods to avoid
future problems; or (ii) purchase a $70 piece of software to fix my broken
links.

I'm going to opt for the former. (It is absurd that you need to pay a
third-party vendor for this basic fix, though I am grateful to them for
stepping in.)

That still leaves me with my second problem re: timing of audio files &
other actions.

Do I need to re-do all the actions too? They insist on waiting for the
audio file to complete before they begin. (See my original message.)

Thanks,
David

 

[Guest]

Nevermind. I believe I solved the problem.

For reference, the problem was not setting the intial sound file to "stop at
end of slide." No idea why that was the problem, but it was.

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

Thank you for the advice. Your links are helpful, but in the end, they give
me two choices: (i) redo all the links according to their methods to avoid
future problems; or (ii) purchase a $70 piece of software to fix my broken
links.

I'm going to opt for the former. (It is absurd that you need to pay a
third-party vendor for this basic fix, though I am grateful to them for
stepping in.)

Even speaking for the vendor in question (for he = me) I have to agree with you.
Linking + PowerPoint is a powerful incentive to strong drink.

Do have a look at the FixLinks site and grab the free demo. It'll fix image links
if any, and will give you a report of the problem links. It also includes a tool
that'll take you directly to the linked shapes more easily than you can find them
manually, as a rule. And on www.pptfaq.com there's a page called "Show me the
link and let me edit it" that contains a simple macro that'll let you edit links.

It's not automatic, but it's simpler than doing it all manually, IMO.