Reducing number of slides does not reduce size of PowerPoint file.

[Guest]

We have a 17 MG file that we want to split in order to be able to e-mail it
as two smaller files. When we split the 18 slides, 9 and 9, each file is
still 17 MG!

The template used is only 700 KB. I have checked the slide master and there
are no embedded objects. I have ungrouped and regrouped each graphic to
remove any embedded OLE objects. All users have Office 2003 and Microsoft XP.

What can cause this? Your help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Marilyn

 

[David M. Marcovitz]

Check out "Why are my PowerPoint files so big? What can I do about it?"
from the PPT FAQ:

http://www.rdpslides.com/pptfaq/FAQ00062.htm

You'll probably need to turn Fast Saves off and save again.

--David

--
David M. Marcovitz
Microsoft PowerPoint MVP
Director of Graduate Programs in Educational Technology
Loyola College in Maryland
Author of _Powerful PowerPoint for Educators_
http://www.loyola.edu/education/PowerfulPowerPoint/

 

[Guest]

David,

Thanks, I forget to mention that I have already turned that feature off too
with no reduction in file size. I have already found a simliar page
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA011168821033.aspx by Steve
Rindsberg that has all the same suggetions as your FAQ that I have tried with
no results.

My more specific question is why the file size does not reduce when half the
slides are removed.

Marilyn

 

[Sonia]

Just turning the feature off won't reduce the file size. Now save the
presentation to a new name using File > Save As. Does that do the trick?
--

Sonia Coleman
Microsoft PowerPoint MVP Team
Autorun Software, Templates and Tutorials
http://www.soniacoleman.com

 

[David M. Marcovitz]

Since Steve maintains (and wrote much of) the FAQ, your article is
probably the same as the one I pointed you to. That has all the best
suggestions so anything else would be grasping at straws. But here are
some grasps:

You might try saving individual slides to see if you can pinpoint which
slides are larger than others.

You might try round-tripping the file (saving it as a Web page and
reading it back into PowerPoint).

You might try simply saving it as a Web page and looking at the files
created to see if any of them are unusually large.

I'm sure this is in the FAQ, but you might try Save As and saving it
under a different name (after you have double-checked that Fast Saves is
turned off).

If you have very large graphics that are on several slides, PowerPoint
might be maintaining one copy of the graphics. If you split the file in
two, it will have to put a copy in each file.

Those are all the straws I can grasp for now. Good luck.

--David

--
David M. Marcovitz
Microsoft PowerPoint MVP
Director of Graduate Programs in Educational Technology
Loyola College in Maryland
Author of _Powerful PowerPoint for Educators_
http://www.loyola.edu/education/PowerfulPowerPoint/

 

[TAJ Simmons]

Marilyn,

There could be one graphic/picture on the "slide master" (or any of the
masters) that is causing the the 17mb file size

Cheers
TAJ Simmons
microsoft powerpoint mvp

awesome - powerpoint backgrounds,
http://www.powerpointbackgrounds.com
free powerpoint templates, tutorials, hints and tips etc

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

David,

Thanks, I forget to mention that I have already turned that feature off too
with no reduction in file size. I have already found a simliar page
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA011168821033.aspx by Steve
Rindsberg that has all the same suggetions as your FAQ that I have tried with
no results.

I don't believe it has ALL the same info as the FAQ article. I wrote both and
have updated the FAQ several times in the interim. I'd particularly look at the
last bit of the FAQ article where it talks about Review and how that can bloat
file size. If you've already turned off fast saves AND resaved the individual
presentations after having done so, my money's on a review problem.

 

[Guest]

Dear Steve,

I was never able to figure out why this happened, but I was able to discover
a solution.

I opened a new PowerPoint template and deleted the three slides our company
requests we use. Then I used Insert, Slides from File and inserted the 17 MG
slides. When I saved the new file it was only 795 KB!

If someone has a similar problem, you may want to have them try this first.
It would have saved me al ot of time today if I had thought of it earlier.

Anyway, I am happy now, and I appreciate everyone who provided helpful
information.

Marilyn

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

Dear Steve,

I was never able to figure out why this happened, but I was able to discover
a solution.

I opened a new PowerPoint template and deleted the three slides our company
requests we use. Then I used Insert, Slides from File and inserted the 17 MG
slides. When I saved the new file it was only 795 KB!

Good one ...

It may well have been a review problem then. Moving the slides from the original
into a new presentation would have left the review info on the template behind.

A very nice, neat way to get the job done.

Thanks for letting us know.

I've updated this with your idea and a little giggle for you:

Why are my PowerPoint files so big? What can I do about it?
http://www.rdpslides.com/pptfaq/FAQ00062.htm