Hi TQ,
You didn't say which version of PowerPoint you are using so I will solve the
question as if you are using mine (PowerPoint 2003).
Portability becomes a major factor when using playlists in PowerPoint. If
....(wait, that isn't quiet right) ... **IF** ...(better)... the computer
that is doing the playback has all of the songs, in the exact same saved
folders as the presentation builder computer has them, then you may be able
to create a playlist and use that to insert your songs on a different
computer. However, this is extremely unlikely, since their username will
vary from yours and not all systems will grant access to their root folders.
On the other hand, if this will be used only on your own computer (both
building and playing back), it is very doable to use an inserted playlist as
a sound. It is also a pretty cool effect to use WindowsMediaPlayer's
visualizations on a 'kill time' slide.
To insert a playlist into a presentation...
1) Create your playlist in WMP.
2) Set the visualization you want to use before closing WMP
3) Open PowerPoint and your presentation
4) Click on Insert => Sounds and movies => Sounds from file
5) Change the filter to *.* (all files)
6) Navigate to your Playlist (*.wpl) and insert
7) Click 'Automatically', when asked.
8) If you want just the music, move the black box off the slide
boundaries --
If you want the visualization to show, drag it out to any size or
full screen (note it will play on top of everything it covers)
9) Change the sound's animation options to play for 999 slides (or
whatever)
Other key points...
-Near as I can tell, the randomization and repeat WMP functions do not carry
over.
-99.72% of the time, this presentation will not work correctly on any other
computer (or user) other than your own.
-There is a hesitation in the presentation between the first and second
songs on the playlist that can cause animations that are running to lock for
up to a few seconds. I'm guessing that WMP is sorting out what it will be
playing from that point on. This hiccup lock does not seem to happen again,
just between songs 1 & 2.
-The inserted WMP visualizations do not stop if PowerPoint losses focus,
unlike PowerPoint's animations.
-This does not fade in or out, it appears and disappears, so it ain't real
graceful like.
-WMP visualization changes do not take effect until PowerPoint is closed and
reopened.
Have fun playing with a new presentation toy.
--
Bill Dilworth
A proud member of the Microsoft PPT MVP Team
Users helping fellow users.
http://billdilworth.mvps.org
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vestprog2@ Please read the PowerPoint FAQ pages.
yahoo. They answer most of our questions.
com
www.pptfaq.com
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