PowerPoint 2007 and Dynamic Links not working

[Guest]

We have a number of PPT files originally created using Office-2003 that have
dynamically linked images (PNG files that are dynamically updated by another
software application). We use Fixlinks (from PPTools) to convert the
absolute reference links (MS default) over to relative links. This setup has
worked very well with both Office 2003 as well as Office 2000.

But now, with Office 2007, our users are reporting the error described in
http://support.microsoft.com/Default.aspx?kbid=927284
"Try to restore the links by clicking the Microsoft Office button, pointing
to Prepare, and then clicking Edit Links to Files."

They've reported that they sometimes get this error, and sometimes do NOT -
net, sometimes they dynamic links appear to work and sometimes they do not
(this is a mystery)

If I interepret the suggested workaround correctly, I believe it is saying
to delete and rebuild all of the links again in all of the PPT files... This
is just not a practical solution for us given the shear # of dynamic links in
all the PPT files we have.

Does anybody have any suggestions beyond what Microsoft is suggesting to get
around this new bug in Office 2007? My confidence that Microsoft will fix
this particular issue themselves with some sort of service pack for Office
2007 in a timely manner isn't really high.

Any and all suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!!!

 

[Guest]

I guess Steve will be along himself soon but I don't think that Fix links is
recommended with 2007.

See http://www.pptools.com/FAQ00132.htm

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

I guess Steve will be along himself soon but I don't think that Fix links is
recommended with 2007.

See http://www.pptools.com/FAQ00132.htm

More that PPT2007 isn't recommended with FixLinks.
PPT 2007 is broken, not FixLinks <g>.

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

We have a number of PPT files originally created using Office-2003 that have
dynamically linked images (PNG files that are dynamically updated by another
software application). We use Fixlinks (from PPTools) to convert the
absolute reference links (MS default) over to relative links. This setup has
worked very well with both Office 2003 as well as Office 2000.

But now, with Office 2007, our users are reporting the error described in
http://support.microsoft.com/Default.aspx?kbid=927284
"Try to restore the links by clicking the Microsoft Office button, pointing
to Prepare, and then clicking Edit Links to Files."

They've reported that they sometimes get this error, and sometimes do NOT -
net, sometimes they dynamic links appear to work and sometimes they do not
(this is a mystery)

See what you can do to pin down when it works and when it doesn't.
If you can give me repro steps and even files that make the problem recur, I'd
be *very* happy to have a look at them to see what's going on.

As John mentions, though, due to link bugs in PPT 2007, I can't really recommend
using it and FixLinks together, at least not until we learn whether a service
pack fixes the problem or not.

If I interepret the suggested workaround correctly, I believe it is saying
to delete and rebuild all of the links again in all of the PPT files... This
is just not a practical solution for us given the shear # of dynamic links in
all the PPT files we have.

That seems to be what MS is suggesting. I wouldn't consider this much of a
workaround. It really boils down to "If it hurts when you do that, stop doing
that" doesn't it?