Powerpoint does not show the first frame of a mpg in window

[Guest]

When I place a mpg in a presentation using Powerpoint 2000, the static image
before the mpg plays is not the first frame. It is some frame further into
the mpg (maybe 4 or 5 frames in). When the mpg starts to play, it starts
from the correct first frame. This results in a jog where the action does
not take up smoothly from the static image. Is there any fix for this? Has
it been corrected in later version? Thanks for any input.

 

[Austin Myers]

Marty,

This is the nature of an mpg file and isn't a PPT issue. An mpg file is
compressed by looking looking at previous frames and determining what in the
frame has changed and then updating only that part in the next frame.
Obviously this greatly reduces the amount of data needed for each frame.

The down side is that in order to display a given frame the player needs to
look at several frames. (A key frame, the previous frame, the current frame
and in some cases the next frame to be played.)

Normallly this isn't an issue because you don't start and stop the media,
but when used in a presentation it can be an issue for the very reasons you
mentioned. There are some tricks that can used during the encoding
(designation the I and P key frames) of the file, but again it's not
something PPT can do. PPT simply calls the media player to play the file
and little else.

Austin Myers
MS PowerPoint MVP Team

 

[Troy @ TLC Creative]

As Austin mentions, PPT cannot handle specific key frame needs. But the
easiest solution to this problem is to do a screen capture of the first
frame, insert it into the presentation - sized to the movie - place the
movie under the static image. Movies always play ON TOP so when the movie
animation is called it will jump to the top of the static image, giving a
much smoother start.

--
Best Regards,
Troy Chollar
TLC Creative Services, Inc.
troy at tlc creative dot com
www dot tlccreative dot com
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A Microsoft PowerPoint MVP
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