How can I make a drop down menu to navigate in a PowerPoint kiosk.

[Guest]

I'm making a Kiosk presentation and I want to make navigation as easy as
possible. I've currently got buttons set up, but as I'm adding more
components, I'm trying to streamline the menu slide. I want to make a drop
down menu, because they're familiar to anyone who uses the internet. I've
been trying to do that through ActiveX controls, but I can't get more than
one line of type onto a ComboBox, and I don't really understand how to make
the interface work so that when someone highlighted the option they wanted,
they would be taken to that page. I would be willing to have a Go button
instead of just having the user highlight their option. I'm working on
PowerPoint 2003 on a PC with XP.
Thanks for your help,
Rachel

 

[Sonia]

Do you plan to distribute the presentation to end users? If so, will they all
have PowerPoint?

 

[Guest]

Do you plan to distribute the presentation to end users? Yes.
If so, will they all have PowerPoint?

I am planning to burn the presentation to a CD with the viewer. I would
like it to seem as self sufficient as possible (ie, they don't have to open
up PowerPoint to open up the presentation, they can't modify the
presentation, the presenation ends and closes when they click "end show," and
the icon is my own.) But that's probably more info than you needed...

R

 

[Sonia]

Not too much info. That's exactly why I asked the question. The Viewer does
not support ActiveX controls, macros, or VBA. Therefore, I would recommend that
you stick with linked buttons or text for your navigation. Since you plan to
distribute the presentation on CD with the Viewer, I also recommend that you
test it in the Viewer as you develop the presentation. That way you won't have
any surprised at the end.

BTW, your presentation can still be copied from the CD and modified, so you'll
want to assign a "Modify" password to prevent this. The Viewer will open the
file normally, but if the end user attempts to open the presentation in
PowerPoint it will only open as Read Only.

 

[Guest]

Thanks Sonia,
I had a sinking sensation you might say that when you asked the question.
Oh well, it'll be a great way for me to creatively design buttons!
R

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

If so, will they all have PowerPoint?

I am planning to burn the presentation to a CD with the viewer. I would
like it to seem as self sufficient as possible (ie, they don't have to open
up PowerPoint to open up the presentation

Then there's a wee little problem:

ActiveX controls and the VBA needed to make them do anything aren't supported in
the Viewer, only in full PowerPoint (and then only if security settings don't
get in the way).

You may want to create a menu slide with buttons that are action settings that
take the viewer to the appropriate spots instead.

, they can't modify the

 

[Shyam Pillai]

Rachel,
You can create dropdown navigation menus, using triggers provided you are
using PPT 2002 or later.

I'll post a sample a little later.

 

[Shyam Pillai]

Rachel,
Here is the proof of concept of creating drop down menus in PPT :
Click the 'Goto' button to bring up the menu. The menu is timed out and
disappears if you do not click on it.
http://skp.mvps.org/downloads/dropdownmenu.zip

 

[Guest]

Hi,

Dynamic PowerPoint-Using PowerPoint’s Interactivity Features to Create
Games, Quizzes, Menus, Tutorials and More:
http://www.powerpointmagician.0catch.com/articles/dynamicppt.htm
should help with some ideas.

 

[Guest]

Hey Shyam,

Wouldn't want to leave that up so I can link to it from my Dynamic
PowerPoint tutorial, would ya? I link to Chirag's show on mouseovers and my
tutorial on mouseovers, but I don't have anything specific to illustrate drop
down menus.

See: Dynamic PowerPoint
Using PowerPoint’s Interactivity Features to Create Games, Quizzes, Menus,
Tutorials and More.
http://www.powerpointmagician.0catch.com/articles/dynamicppt.htm

Thanks,
Glenna

 

[Shyam Pillai]

Hey Glenna,
Go ahead. I'll add a few more examples in the PPT and put a page to explain
how it's been set up.

 

[Guest]

done

Hey Glenna,
Go ahead. I'll add a few more examples in the PPT and put a page to explain
how it's been set up.

--
Regards,
Shyam Pillai

http://skp.mvps.org/