Optimal AVI placement: all encompassing solution?

[Todd W. Roat]

Tried to review the trillion posts on this subject, but got too
confused the more I read. Here my deal ;^)

Have several AVI files placed in PPT. Click on an image and the AVI
plays. However, the people that take these presentations can usually
only take a CD with the ppt and videos on it. Depending on what
laptop or system they use at the venue, it may or may not work.
Scary, huh.

Camtasia Studio has a great option to "Package" video into an .EXE
file making it playable anywhere anytime. However, I cant seem to
place an exe into ppt.

Questions:

1) Is there a file format I can convert the avi to that will always
work in a windows environment (I know, I know, I think big)

2) Are there alternative "Packaging" options/software that can remove
any codec/filetype isuses?

3) Can I put an executable file into powerpoint?

Many, many thanks.
Todd

 

[Troy @ TLC]

Hello Todd,

These are issues we all deal with. So here is some answers to your
questions, but not answers to the issue...

Read Austin Myers in-depth info on multimedia files and PPT, it is about as
detailed and comprehensive as anything:
http://www.rdpslides.com/pptfaq/FAQ00099.htm

(1)
A .avi is for the most part the lowest quality and largest file size format.
It is also the only format universally supported by Windows MCI - and as a
side note as of Windows XP it is not endorsed by MS anymore.

I for the most part use MPEG1 files. They are much smaller and work on at
least 95% of the Windows machines out there (my guess, just from the number
of problems reported back to me from corporate wide distribution of
presentations I have worked on).

The one other format you can experiment with is to convert your movie file
to a Flash (.swf) file (which is possible in Flash MX and up) and embed the
flash file into the presentation. This eliminates the need for linked files,
but adds the need to test and provide a flash player installer.

(2) I am not an expert on CODECS and how they work, someone else may provide
better info.

(3) Do not link to an .exe file from PPT. Windows has a default virus
warning that will pop up. It is a good thing in general, and it is also
something you cannot control/suppress.

 

[Todd W. Roat]

Thansk for thorough response Troy. Was afraid there would be no
magical "package" fix. Can you elaborate on your flash pointer "the
need to test and provide a flash player installer. Is there a default
plsyer that can be easily attached to/associated with/packed to go
with a ppt presentation?

We are typically sending the presenter, in this case a physician, off
to a conference where they show up and put it in an unknown system.

Todd

 

[Troy @ TLC]

Hello Todd,

First, http://www.flashgeek.com/ has lots of info on using Flash in PPT -
there are also some inherent problems with it (continuous looping, does not
always "rewind," etc.).

I distribute my presentations with an upfront user interface that leads the
end user in determining how they want to run the presentation, "installs"
the presentation onto the computer (copies all files into a new folder and
adds shortcuts), and with flash has a small flash file running with
instruction on what to do if they do not see the animation.

So the solution involves resources outside of PPT. I have a few samples of
user interfaces that can be downloaded and previewed.
http://www.tlccreative.com/cd_interface.htm

Best of luck on working through the best solution for your needs,
Best Regards,
Troy Chollar
TLC Creative Services, inc.
troy at tlccreative dot com

 

[Media Man]

I agree for the most part with what has been said here. However, .AVI files
are not "the lowest quality and the largest size". It completely depends on
how you encode them. In fact, many .AVI files created by traditional
non-linear video editing software are near-lossless. So the quality is
excellent.
However, high-resolution video is usually not needed in Powerpoint. Thus,
many use MPEG1 instead which traditionally creates smaller files and has
good compatibility across platforms and generations of desktop computers.
Encode to MPEG1 and keep the files in the same directory as your .PPT file.
Thats the best way to do it.

KK.
*** http://FootageShack.com - Buy and Sell Stock Video for PowerPoint ***