Sanity check on ppt linked files availability

[Mitch Gallant]

Does ppt 2003 have an option to do a "sanity check" to ensure that linked
(say music) files are actually available in the folder (or specified url)
with linked item?
I noticed that when a ppt document with linked in music file is run, and the
music file is not available, the presentation silently ignores the
unavailable linked file. In cases, it would be nice to do a scan/check
without having to actually execute the slide show to check linked
availability (locally or otherwise).

- Mitch

 

[Echo S]

No, but you can use File|Package for CD and package to a folder on your
harddrive. This will resolve all the links and give you a folder with the
PPT file and the collateral linked files, and the links should then work as
expected.

 

[Mitch Gallant]

Perfect. Thanks,
- Mitch

No, but you can use File|Package for CD and package to a folder on your
harddrive. This will resolve all the links and give you a folder with the
PPT file and the collateral linked files, and the links should then work
as expected.

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP] http://www.echosvoice.com
Fixing PowerPoint Annoyances
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/powerpointannoy/
PPTLive! Sept 17-20, 2006 http://www.pptlive.com

Does ppt 2003 have an option to do a "sanity check" to ensure that linked
(say music) files are actually available in the folder (or specified url)
with linked item?
I noticed that when a ppt document with linked in music file is run, and
the music file is not available, the presentation silently ignores the
unavailable linked file. In cases, it would be nice to do a scan/check
without having to actually execute the slide show to check linked
availability (locally or otherwise).

- Mitch

 

[Troy @ TLC Creative]

There is no reporting feature native in PPT. But you can use the Fix Links
Pro add-in (http://www.rdpslides.com/pptools/fixlinks/index.html) to not
only generate a report of all multimedia files, but also eliminate many
linking problems. I believe just the reporting feature is part of the FREE
Starter-Set add-in (http://www.rdpslides.com/pptools/starterset/index.html).

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

There is no reporting feature native in PPT. But you can use the Fix Links
Pro add-in (http://www.rdpslides.com/pptools/fixlinks/index.html) to not
only generate a report of all multimedia files, but also eliminate many
linking problems. I believe just the reporting feature is part of the FREE
Starter-Set add-in (http://www.rdpslides.com/pptools/starterset/index.html).

The reporting is part of the free FixLinks demo. Other than that, right on
target, sir.

 

[Mitch Gallant]

This is quite cool! By default, with ppt 2003, it also bundles the ppt
viewer (which version??) along with linked files ... for nice bootstrapping
for clients without ppt. Nice thinking.
- Mitch

No, but you can use File|Package for CD and package to a folder on your
harddrive. This will resolve all the links and give you a folder with the
PPT file and the collateral linked files, and the links should then work
as expected.

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP] http://www.echosvoice.com
Fixing PowerPoint Annoyances
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/powerpointannoy/
PPTLive! Sept 17-20, 2006 http://www.pptlive.com

Does ppt 2003 have an option to do a "sanity check" to ensure that linked
(say music) files are actually available in the folder (or specified url)
with linked item?
I noticed that when a ppt document with linked in music file is run, and
the music file is not available, the presentation silently ignores the
unavailable linked file. In cases, it would be nice to do a scan/check
without having to actually execute the slide show to check linked
availability (locally or otherwise).

- Mitch

 

[Echo S]

This is quite cool! By default, with ppt 2003, it also bundles the ppt
viewer (which version??) along with linked files ... for nice
bootstrapping for clients without ppt. Nice thinking.

PPT 2003 uses the PPT 2003 Viewer in Package for CD.

And I agree, it is quite cool! I still wish it would bundle up an EXE, but
at least the Package for CD is much much better than the old Pack and Go
was.

 

[Mitch Gallant]

Well that would be trivial to do with WinZip self-extracting/execute on open
exe layout .. an opportunity perhaps.
I'd packaged a lot of items in the past with that approach and it works
nicely.
Maybe MS could use their cab architecture to do something similar.. which
also
adds a bit of extra compression too .. hmmm ...
- Mitch

This is quite cool! By default, with ppt 2003, it also bundles the ppt
viewer (which version??) along with linked files ... for nice
bootstrapping for clients without ppt. Nice thinking.

PPT 2003 uses the PPT 2003 Viewer in Package for CD.

And I agree, it is quite cool! I still wish it would bundle up an EXE, but
at least the Package for CD is much much better than the old Pack and Go
was.

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP] http://www.echosvoice.com
Fixing PowerPoint Annoyances
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/powerpointannoy/
PPTLive! Sept 17-20, 2006 http://www.pptlive.com

 

[Echo S]

Sure. Geetesh has instructions at indezine.com for how to create an EXE from
the Pack and Go. He uses something different than WinZip, though. IExpress
or something maybe? I can't remember the name of it off the top of my head.

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP] http://www.echosvoice.com
Fixing PowerPoint Annoyances http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/powerpointannoy/
PPTLive! Sept 17-20, 2006 http://www.pptlive.com

Well that would be trivial to do with WinZip self-extracting/execute on
open
exe layout .. an opportunity perhaps.
I'd packaged a lot of items in the past with that approach and it works
nicely.
Maybe MS could use their cab architecture to do something similar.. which
also
adds a bit of extra compression too .. hmmm ...
- Mitch

This is quite cool! By default, with ppt 2003, it also bundles the ppt
viewer (which version??) along with linked files ... for nice
bootstrapping for clients without ppt. Nice thinking.

PPT 2003 uses the PPT 2003 Viewer in Package for CD.

And I agree, it is quite cool! I still wish it would bundle up an EXE,
but at least the Package for CD is much much better than the old Pack and
Go was.

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP] http://www.echosvoice.com
Fixing PowerPoint Annoyances
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/powerpointannoy/
PPTLive! Sept 17-20, 2006 http://www.pptlive.com