Removing Embedded WAV Files from Action Settings - Play sound

[joel]

In Action Settings - Play sound, you can import a sound from a wav file
(the function SoundEffect.ImportFrom File also does it).

I would like to be able to substitute a new wav file with the same name
and have the sound change.

However, these wav files seem to be embedded, and the embedding does
not seem to be sensitive to the file limit that controls embedding in
Insert Sound from File.

Any idea how i can

1. Delete a wav file from Action Settings - Play sound

2. Overwrite a wav file with the same name

3. Link the wav files in Action Settings - Play sound.

Thanks, Joel

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

However, these wav files seem to be embedded, and the embedding does

not seem to be sensitive to the file limit that controls embedding in
Insert Sound from File.

That's correct.

Any idea how i can

1. Delete a wav file from Action Settings - Play sound

Let's say you've assigned SoundA to a shape.
When you assign SoundB instead, A disappears.
If you copy SoundB to SoundA (ie, put the SoundB sound in a file called
SoundA), it won't "take" since the original sound from A is embedded. However,
if you reassign SoundA.WAV (which now contains SoundB) as the sound file,
that's what you'll get in the file.

2. Overwrite a wav file with the same name

3. Link the wav files in Action Settings - Play sound.

You can't. They're embedded.
You could experiment with linking directly to the sound file (ie, make
Hyperlink To: your action setting)

 

[joel]

Hi Steve,

Thanks for your reply.

You said: Let's say you've assigned SoundA to a shape.
When you assign SoundB instead, A disappears.

Question: According to my experience, when you assign B, A doesn't
actually disappear, but remains in the Play sound list and can be
reassigned at a later time. That is also true if you assign two files
with the same file name. You see two entries with the same file name in
the Play sound list. I assume that means that both files are embedded.
Thus, if you load different sounds with the same file name many times,
the presentation will eventually get very big due to the accumulation
of embedded files. Is that right?

Thanks, Joel

 

[joel]

Hi Steve:

you suggested: You could experiment with linking directly to the sound
file (ie, make
Hyperlink To: your action setting)

I tried that and it worked like a charm. Only thing is, I get a
security message:
Opening filename.
Hyperlinks can be harmful... Do you want to continue?

Is there a setting can can prevent this message occurring?

Thanks, joel

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

Hi Joel,

Which version of PPT are you seeing this with? I was checking it with 2003 but
can try others.

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

you suggested: You could experiment with linking directly to the sound
file (ie, make
Hyperlink To: your action setting)

I tried that and it worked like a charm. Only thing is, I get a
security message:
Opening filename.
Hyperlinks can be harmful... Do you want to continue?

Is there a setting can can prevent this message occurring?

On your own PC, yes ... have a look here for a couple of little utilities that
set and unset the needed registry entries:

"Some files can contain viruses ..." message when clicking a hyperlink
http://www.rdpslides.com/pptfaq/FAQ00406.htm

 

[joel]

Hi Steve,

I am seeing it with PPT 2003 on my XP. I checked it again.

1. Right-click on clipart, Action Settings/Play sound/Other sound and
select A.wav from directory.
2. A.wav shows on Play sound list and plays during slide show
3. copy B.wav to A.wav in directory where B.wav is a different sound
from A.wav
4. repeat step 1
5 A.wav appears twice now on Play sound list. The one assigned in step
3 plays the new sound (the one copied from B) and the one assigned in
step 1 plays the original sound that was in A

Joel

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

Joel,

OK, I see the problem ... my embed level settings were allowing the files to be
linked instead of embedded. With embedding forced, I'm seeing the same as
you're seeing.

BUT

if you delete the shapes with sounds and save the presentation, the sounds
disappear from the list. PPT only cleans out the un-necessary stuff on save
(and you may need to have Fast Saves disabled in order for that to happen, but
you shouldn't enable Fast Saves in any case.)

 

[joel]

I see this in ppt 2003 on an xp

 

[joel]

Hi Steve,

You said: OK, I see the problem ... my embed level settings were
allowing the files to be
linked instead of embedded. With embedding forced, I'm seeing the same
as
you're seeing.

How did you get those files to link? I tried to adjust the
Tools/Options/General/Link sounds... option but I couldn't get the
files to link. That is what I really wanted to do!


You said: BUT
if you delete the shapes with sounds and save the presentation, the
sounds
disappear from the list. PPT only cleans out the un-necessary stuff on
save
(and you may need to have Fast Saves disabled in order for that to
happen, but
you shouldn't enable Fast Saves in any case.)

I would think that deleting the shapes to get rid of the sounds would
be like throwing the baby out with the wash!


Thanks, Joel

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

How did you get those files to link?

Skip that ... I was off exploring a side issue and apparently left my head back
on the main path. PowerPoint won't allow us to link action sounds. My bad.

You said: BUT
if you delete the shapes with sounds and save the presentation, the
sounds
disappear from the list. PPT only cleans out the un-necessary stuff on
save
(and you may need to have Fast Saves disabled in order for that to
happen, but
you shouldn't enable Fast Saves in any case.)

I would think that deleting the shapes to get rid of the sounds would
be like throwing the baby out with the wash!

The point was more that once you save, the extra sound disappears off the list.

Ex:

Draw a rectangle, assign it Play Sound: A.WAV
Save
Now assign the rectangle Play Sound: B.WAV
Look at the list of sounds under Play Sound. Both A and B are there.
Save the presentation.
Check the list again ... here, A is now gone.

 

[joel]

HI Steve,

I see that now, the save gets rid of the wav file not selected. I
guess that means you can have at most one additional sound based on a
wav file in the Play Sound list.

Thanks a lot for for your help.

Regards, Joel

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

I see that now, the save gets rid of the wav file not selected. I
guess that means you can have at most one additional sound based on a
wav file in the Play Sound list.

Or if you do want to retain the sounds, I'd bet you could draw a little
rectangle off slide someplace and assign the sound to it. Since it's not
visible to be clicked or moused over, it shouldn't "fire" but would hang onto
the sound and keep it available for you.

 

[joel]

HI Steve,

Ok, I understand. Perhaps that idea could also be used for storing
sounds in a PowerPoint macro or add-in.

Thanks, joel