Print Files with PowerPoint

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T

tosime

Has anyone ever effectively used print to file with PowerPoint?

I tried printing to file hoping to email my print file for a course I am to
deliver. The print file is much smaller than my ppt file and I maintain some
control over my slides. I wanted to test the printfile on my PC first but
found no easy way to print it in Windows.

How would I print a PowerPoint printfile?

....Thanks Tony
 
Has anyone ever effectively used print to file with PowerPoint?
Click to expand...

My business used to depend on it, so I guess I'd have to say "Yes". ;-)
I tried printing to file hoping to email my print file for a course I am to
deliver. The print file is much smaller than my ppt file and I maintain some
control over my slides. I wanted to test the printfile on my PC first but
found no easy way to print it in Windows.

How would I print a PowerPoint printfile?
Click to expand...

First off, let's figure out whether it's even a good idea.

When PPT or any other program or driver makes a print file, it's just taking
the data that'd go to your printer and saving it into a file on your HDD
instead.

For anyone else to use the file, they have to have the same printer as you or
one that's highly compatible. Otherwise, they're useless.

Then the person at the other end needs to know what to DO with a print file.
Before you (or I) can answer that, we'd need to know:

- That it's the correct printer model for the file
- How the printer is connected (parallel port, USB)
- Is it local or on a network
- Will the person at the other end utterly freak if they have to enter a DOS
command

And also, consider what happens if there's a paper jam on the last slide of a
50-slide print file. You won't be at all popular when they have to reprint the
whole job just to get that last page.

You've worked out by now that on the whole, I figure it for a bad idea, yes?
,-)

If possible, make a PDF of just the range of slides you want, apply appropriate
security settings (open, print but not edit/copy) and send them that.

Or if both of you have a version of Office that supports the MS Office Document
Imaging printer, try printing to that and see if they can deal with it.
 
If you don't both have the same printer be sure you do the following:
Install their printer drivers on your computer and select that printer
before printing to file. (Click on "Start | Settings | Printers" and
double-click on "Add New Printer") It doesn't hurt to install as many
printers on your computer as you wish, even if you don't have the printer
connected - Just don't try to print unless it is to a file.

Navigate to the folder in which the PRN file has been saved.
1. Click on "Start | Run" - This opens the "Run" dialog box.
2. Type the following, and press the "OK" button: command.
This opens a "DOS" window.
In the DOS window type the following:
copy (Name of file.prn) /b lpt1
"copy" is a DOS command that sends a copy of a file from one place to
another.
"Name of File" is the name you gave your file. (be sure to include ".prn")
There should be a "space" between the filename and the "/b", and between the
"/b" and "LPT1"
The "/b" tells the computer this is a "binary" file.
"LPT1" is the printer port. You are sending a copy of this file from your
computer to the printer.
If your printer is turned on it should print the document as soon as you
press the [Enter] key.

--
<>Please post all follow-up questions/replies to the newsgroup<>
<><>Email unless specifically requested will not be opened<><>
<><><>Do Provide The Version Of PowerPoint You Are Using<><><>
<><><>Do Not Post Attachments In This Newsgroup<><><>
Michael Koerner [MS PPT MVP]


| Has anyone ever effectively used print to file with PowerPoint?
|
| I tried printing to file hoping to email my print file for a course I am
to
| deliver. The print file is much smaller than my ppt file and I maintain
some
| control over my slides. I wanted to test the printfile on my PC first but
| found no easy way to print it in Windows.
|
| How would I print a PowerPoint printfile?
|
| ...Thanks Tony
|
|
 
Thanks Steve, this has been very helpful.

How do I create a PDF file from the slides I want? My print file was based
on printing handouts, 3 per page with lines to the right of the slide for
making notes.

....Tony
 
Thanks Michael,

There is so much to learn! I thought Microsoft should have provided an easy
solution to this.

....Tony
 
It was easy when there was just DOS <g>

--
<>Please post all follow-up questions/replies to the newsgroup<>
<><>Email unless specifically requested will not be opened<><>
<><><>Do Provide The Version Of PowerPoint You Are Using<><><>
<><><>Do Not Post Attachments In This Newsgroup<><><>
Michael Koerner [MS PPT MVP]


| Thanks Michael,
|
| There is so much to learn! I thought Microsoft should have provided an
easy
| solution to this.
|
| ...Tony
| | > If you don't both have the same printer be sure you do the following:
| > Install their printer drivers on your computer and select that printer
| > before printing to file. (Click on "Start | Settings | Printers" and
| > double-click on "Add New Printer") It doesn't hurt to install as many
| > printers on your computer as you wish, even if you don't have the
printer
| > connected - Just don't try to print unless it is to a file.
| >
| > Navigate to the folder in which the PRN file has been saved.
| > 1. Click on "Start | Run" - This opens the "Run" dialog box.
| > 2. Type the following, and press the "OK" button: command.
| > This opens a "DOS" window.
| > In the DOS window type the following:
| > copy (Name of file.prn) /b lpt1
| > "copy" is a DOS command that sends a copy of a file from one place to
| > another.
| > "Name of File" is the name you gave your file. (be sure to include
".prn")
| > There should be a "space" between the filename and the "/b", and between
| > the
| > "/b" and "LPT1"
| > The "/b" tells the computer this is a "binary" file.
| > "LPT1" is the printer port. You are sending a copy of this file from
your
| > computer to the printer.
| > If your printer is turned on it should print the document as soon as you
| > press the [Enter] key.
| >
| > --
| > <>Please post all follow-up questions/replies to the newsgroup<>
| > <><>Email unless specifically requested will not be opened<><>
| > <><><>Do Provide The Version Of PowerPoint You Are Using<><><>
| > <><><>Do Not Post Attachments In This Newsgroup<><><>
| > Michael Koerner [MS PPT MVP]
| >
| >
| > | > | Has anyone ever effectively used print to file with PowerPoint?
| > |
| > | I tried printing to file hoping to email my print file for a course I
am
| > to
| > | deliver. The print file is much smaller than my ppt file and I
maintain
| > some
| > | control over my slides. I wanted to test the printfile on my PC first
| > but
| > | found no easy way to print it in Windows.
| > |
| > | How would I print a PowerPoint printfile?
| > |
| > | ...Thanks Tony
| > |
| > |
| >
| >
|
|
 
Thanks Steve, this has been very helpful.

How do I create a PDF file from the slides I want? My print file was based
on printing handouts, 3 per page with lines to the right of the slide for
making notes.
Click to expand...

If you have Acrobat or any other product that creates PDFs, piece of cake.
Choose File, Print
Select the PDF printer driver you want to use (for Acrobat it'd be Adobe PDF or
Distiller, depending on version)
Select the correct handouts options and print.
 
It was easy when there was just DOS <g>
Click to expand...

And when there weren't so darn many different printers and all of them at least
could deal with a plain text file.

And all of them hooked to either a parallel or serial port and none of yer USB
guff.

And Bluetooth. What's with that? Sounds like a relative of one of the
offscreen characters on the Soupy Sales show. Whitefang's smarter brother or
something ...
 
Tis the truth. You were correct when you said that it was a bad idea. I did
a couple of test runs with different presentations and received nothing but
blank pages (which of course are reusable). After reading the initial post I
get the idea that when he emails the presentation to himself he would want
to reopen it in PowerPoint rather than just printing it. Maybe I'm reading
to much into it.

--
<>Please post all follow-up questions/replies to the newsgroup<>
<><>Email unless specifically requested will not be opened<><>
<><><>Do Provide The Version Of PowerPoint You Are Using<><><>
<><><>Do Not Post Attachments In This Newsgroup<><><>
Michael Koerner [MS PPT MVP]


| > It was easy when there was just DOS <g>
| >
|
| And when there weren't so darn many different printers and all of them at
least
| could deal with a plain text file.
|
| And all of them hooked to either a parallel or serial port and none of yer
USB
| guff.
|
| And Bluetooth. What's with that? Sounds like a relative of one of the
| offscreen characters on the Soupy Sales show. Whitefang's smarter brother
or
| something ...
|
| -----------------------------------------
| Steve Rindsberg, PPT MVP
| PPT FAQ: www.pptfaq.com
| PPTools: www.pptools.com
| ================================================
|
|
 
Thanks Steve,

I checked my system and did not see Acrobat or an application that creates
pdf files. I looked for Acrobat on the internet and cannot afford the
application given the infrequent usage I would put it to.

Is there an alternative for me?

I think I had the option to create PDF files as a print option but that was
many years and two or three PC ago.
 
Thanks Steve,

I checked my system and did not see Acrobat or an application that creates
pdf files. I looked for Acrobat on the internet and cannot afford the
application given the infrequent usage I would put it to.

Is there an alternative for me?
Click to expand...

Quite a few, from free to inexpensive to full-up Acrobat:

How can I make Acrobat PDFs from PowerPoint?
http://www.rdpslides.com/pptfaq/FAQ00517.htm
 
Tis the truth. You were correct when you said that it was a bad idea. I did
a couple of test runs with different presentations and received nothing but
blank pages (which of course are reusable). After reading the initial post I
get the idea that when he emails the presentation to himself he would want
to reopen it in PowerPoint rather than just printing it. Maybe I'm reading
to much into it.
Click to expand...

My take was:

I want to be able to send a digital file to XXX so they can print it as needed,
but I want to retain some control over the content (ie, allow only handouts
pages to print and only the slides I want printed).

If it weren't for all the other issues, print files would be reasonable.
PDF's the way to go in this case, I figure.
 
Totally agree with PDF. At least you can see what your getting (LOL)

--
<>Please post all follow-up questions/replies to the newsgroup<>
<><>Email unless specifically requested will not be opened<><>
<><><>Do Provide The Version Of PowerPoint You Are Using<><><>
<><><>Do Not Post Attachments In This Newsgroup<><><>
Michael Koerner [MS PPT MVP]


| > Tis the truth. You were correct when you said that it was a bad idea. I
did
| > a couple of test runs with different presentations and received nothing
but
| > blank pages (which of course are reusable). After reading the initial
post I
| > get the idea that when he emails the presentation to himself he would
want
| > to reopen it in PowerPoint rather than just printing it. Maybe I'm
reading
| > to much into it.
|
| My take was:
|
| I want to be able to send a digital file to XXX so they can print it as
needed,
| but I want to retain some control over the content (ie, allow only
handouts
| pages to print and only the slides I want printed).
|
| If it weren't for all the other issues, print files would be reasonable.
| PDF's the way to go in this case, I figure.
|
| -----------------------------------------
| Steve Rindsberg, PPT MVP
| PPT FAQ: www.pptfaq.com
| PPTools: www.pptools.com
| ================================================
|
|
 
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