PowerPoint custom animation autopreview doesn't work

[Developer in TX]

In PowerPoint 2003, the "Play" button in the custom animation window would
actually play the slide and you could watch the advanced timeline. In
PowerPoint 2007, with the AutoPreview selected, clicking play doesn't do
anything but show the slide without the animation. To see the animation you
have to click slideshow and of course, you don't get to see the timeline.

Why was this VERY useful feature was disabled?

 

[John Wilson]

"Why was this VERY useful feature was disabled?"

I don't think it has been!

Try checking that in Slide Show >Set Up Show that "Use hardware graphics
accelleration" isn't ticked. If it is - untick.

 

[Developer in TX]

That's really odd - Microsoft recommends using hardware acceleration to
improve PowerPoint slideshow performance and it works fine with it in 2003:

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/help/HA102107301033.aspx

Thanks!