Strange printing problem - macro needed

[Michael]

Short version:
I have a client that wants his PowerPoint presentations to change background
graphics on the title slide as well as the other slides when sent to the
printer. I'm think a macro would do this. Anyone have any ideas?

Long version:
My client wants to display one logo when a user views his PowerPoint
presentations on a monitor, but wants the log to change if they send the
same presentation to the printer. I think I can set up a macro to detect if
the presentation is currently being sent to the printer and if so then print
hidden slides, but wouldn't that mean having 1/2 of the slides visible and
duplicating them and hiding them? (Or something like that) I'd rather swap
out the image used for the background of both the title slide and the other
slides.

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

Long version:

My client wants to display one logo when a user views his PowerPoint
presentations on a monitor, but wants the log to change if they send the
same presentation to the printer. I think I can set up a macro to detect if
the presentation is currently being sent to the printer and if so then print
hidden slides, but wouldn't that mean having 1/2 of the slides visible and
duplicating them and hiding them? (Or something like that) I'd rather swap
out the image used for the background of both the title slide and the other
slides.

A macro could swap the images (make one visible, the other invisible, for
example) quite easily.

But (ah, you knew there'd be one of them, right?) ... how are you going to make
sure that the macro runs on my computer when I print?

Unless you can get me to install an addin, it's not going to happen.

Could the client live with the PPT printing one image to b/w printers and
displaying another when printed to or displayed in color?

 

[John Langhans [MSFT]]

[CRITICAL UPDATE - Anyone using Office 2003 should install the critical
update as soon as possible. From PowerPoint, choose "Help -> Check for
Updates".]
[TOP ISSUE - Are you having difficulty opening presentations in PowerPoint
that you just created (you can save, but not open)? -
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=329820]

Hello Michael,

I tried this trick in PowerPoint 2003 and it worked.

Basically, if your "PrintLogo" can fit completely behind your "ShowLogo" so
that, during a slide show you would only see the "ShowLogo" you can do the
following:

1) Insert and position the "PrintLogo" on your slide master so that it is
behind and completely hidden by your "ShowLogo"
2) View -> Color/Grayscale -> Grayscale
3) Alt+Click on "ShowLogo" and from the contextual menu choose "Grayscale
Setting -> Don't Show"
4) View -> Color/Grayscale -> Color

Now, if you print to a printer using the Grayscale option (default for
non-color printers) the "ShowLogo" won't print and, instead, the
"PrintLogo" will print.

If you (or anyone else reading this message) have suggestions for how to
make this easier to do in PowerPoint, don't forget to send your feedback
(in YOUR OWN WORDS, please) to Microsoft at:

http://register.microsoft.com/mswish/suggestion.asp

It's VERY important that, for EACH wish, you describe in detail, WHY it is
important TO YOU that your product suggestion be implemented. A good wish
submssion includes WHAT scenario, work-flow, or end-result is blocked by
not having a specific feature, HOW MUCH time and effort ($$$) is spent
working around a specific limitation of the current product, etc. Remember
that Microsoft receives THOUSANDS of product suggestions every day and we
read each one but, in any given product development cycle, there are ONLY
sufficient resources to address the ones that are MOST IMPORTANT to our
customers so take the extra time to state your case as CLEARLY and
COMPLETELY as possible so that we can FEEL YOUR PAIN.

IMPORTANT: Each submission should be a single suggestion (not a list of
suggestions).

John Langhans
Microsoft Corporation
Supportability Program Manager
Microsoft Office PowerPoint for Windows
Microsoft Office Picture Manager for Windows

For FAQ's, highlights and top issues, visit the Microsoft PowerPoint
support center at: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=ppt
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base at:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=kbhowto

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
Use of any included script samples are subject to the terms specified at
http://www.microsoft.com/info/cpyright.htm

 

[Guest]

You could have a macro that hides and shows pictures (makes one picture visible and another invisible). I picture a printing button right on one of the slides that runs a macro to make the printing picture visible, the screen picture invisible, print the slideshow, and make the printing picture invisible, and the screen picture invisible. Since it's all done from a button, it is pretty easy to do. Example 6.4 from my web site does some hiding and showing of pictures, and example 7.9 does some printing

http://www.loyola.edu/education/PowerfulPowerPoint

--Davi

David M. Marcovit
Author of _Powerful PowerPoint for Educators
http://www.loyola.edu/education/PowerfulPowerPoint

----- Michael wrote: ----

Short version
I have a client that wants his PowerPoint presentations to change backgroun
graphics on the title slide as well as the other slides when sent to th
printer. I'm think a macro would do this. Anyone have any ideas

Long version
My client wants to display one logo when a user views his PowerPoin
presentations on a monitor, but wants the log to change if they send th
same presentation to the printer. I think I can set up a macro to detect i
the presentation is currently being sent to the printer and if so then prin
hidden slides, but wouldn't that mean having 1/2 of the slides visible an
duplicating them and hiding them? (Or something like that) I'd rather swa
out the image used for the background of both the title slide and the othe
slides

 

[Michael]

Thanks for the responses.

Unfortunately the client used PowerPoint 2000 for all (200) of these and has
assured us that the userbase minimum is PowerPoint 2000, so I can't use the
PowerPoint 2003 idea. He also assures me that everyone has a color printer
as that is the one piece of equipment they insist everyone have.

I also can't use the print button idea because of something I failed to tell
you. This is a CD (authored in Macromedia Director) that introduces these
PPT files to sales reps. The sales reps need to be able to 'view'
(slideshow), 'edit' (PPT editor) or 'save' (copy from the CD to their hard
drive) each PPT file. Since they have the opportunity to open these in the
editor he wants me to determine if they are sending the file to the printer
from the menu 'print' choice.

I don't know that much about PowerPoint (and neither does he) but I thought
that maybe a macro could do something. It sounds like it's not going to
happen.

Thanks again for helping.

You could have a macro that hides and shows pictures (makes one picture

visible and another invisible). I picture a printing button right on one of
the slides that runs a macro to make the printing picture visible, the
screen picture invisible, print the slideshow, and make the printing picture
invisible, and the screen picture invisible. Since it's all done from a
button, it is pretty easy to do. Example 6.4 from my web site does some
hiding and showing of pictures, and example 7.9 does some printing: