Compression tools for PowerPoint files?

[Guest]

Just wondering if there are any compression methods that are particularly
effective for PowerPoint files.

I make sure that my images are the proper resolution when put into my
presentations, and I also use PowerPoint's picture compression tool. When
I've finished a presentation, I usually .zip it, but that only reduces file
size by about 5-10% if I'm lucky.

Just wondering if there are any other compression tools that can help me
reduce file sizes by ~50%.

I've seen what Stuffit can do for JPEG's.. I've had it blow up 60MB files
into 600MB's. Amazing compression. Can I get results like that for
PowerPoint files??

 

[Bill Dilworth]

Yes and No.

It depends on where you are spending the filesize. JPG file formats for the
images is best, if filesize is your main concern. PowerPoint can further
optimize JPGs (sometimes) by using the Format Picture, Compress, select Web
and all, OK. Native PowerPoint does not compress or optimize PNG image
files and many of the other image file formats.

JPG compression is (IMHO) as good as ZIP compression, that is why you do not
see huge results in ZIPing a correctly optimized PPT file.

A quick way to see where the file size is spent (in many cases) is to save
the PPT file as an HTML. This creates a folder with many components. Check
the sizes here for a picture or object that may be adding bulk without
adding additional detail. There is a certain point at which resolution
begins to suffer.

For instance: If you have a presentation made up of 15 JPG images. My file
size without optimization was 2.11 MB. By compressing the images (reducing
them to the correct resolution for the screen), it dropped to just under 1
MB. If I change the slide size to 1.33 inches by 1 inch and reoptimize, the
file size drops to under 100 KB, however the pictures are barely
discernible.

You will also want to investigate some websites and tools.
**Why are my PowerPoint files so big? What can I do about it?
http://www.pptfaq.com/FAQ00062.htm

** PPTools Optimizer
http://www.rdpslides.com/pptools/optimizer/

** NxPowerlite
http://www.nxpowerlite.com

to name a few.


If you are interested in finding out more about how the presentation is
using the filesize, please email me at the address in my signature.


--
Bill Dilworth
A proud member of the Microsoft PPT MVP Team
Users helping fellow users.
http://billdilworth.mvps.org
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
vestprog2@ Please read the PowerPoint FAQ pages.
yahoo. They answer most of our questions.
com www.pptfaq.com
..

 

[Guest]

You can use the compression tool in your picture tool bar. If that isn't
sufficient try this add in: http://www.nxpowerlite.com

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the reply.

NxPowerlite worked well. I get about a 20% reduction on my files.. and the
quality is still okay.

I tried the PPTools Optomizer, but after installing it, I could not find the
toolbar in PowerPoint. It didn't show up anywhere even after several
reinstalls.

So.. I'll work with NxPowerlite for now. I guess that's as good as it gets.

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

I tried the PPTools Optomizer, but after installing it, I could not find the
toolbar in PowerPoint. It didn't show up anywhere even after several
reinstalls.

That's usually because you haven't set macro security (temporarily) to low or
medium or because you're logged in with insufficient rights.

Email me at support at-sign pptools dot com if you like. Be happy to work
through that one with you.