Video format for maximum compatability between versions

[Chris Watts]

I have Powerpoint 97 at home and 2000 at work. I have to give a talk
overseas where I cannot guarantee which version will be avaialable - this
has not been a problem in the past with presentations that I have used, but
none have included video clips. I do not wish to use "pack and go" as that
has always given me grief in the past!

Now I want to want to include a short clip taken from a dvd (video plus
sound). At the moment it is in VOB format. What format should I convert it
to, and what encoding, to ensure, or maximise the possibility, that it will
run on an "unknown" version of Powerpoint?

When I have tried to embed clips the link seems to be real not relative and
no obvious may to control this. If I keep the PPT file and the video clip
in the same directory will the link betwen them remain true?

TIA
Chris

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Chris Watts
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[Steve Rindsberg]

When I have tried to embed clips the link seems to be real not relative and
no obvious may to control this. If I keep the PPT file and the video clip
in the same directory will the link betwen them remain true?

In answer to the first, you can't embed video, only link, and you've worked out
the kicker; that the link is a full path. UNLESS ...

If you put the video in the same folder as the PPT file and only then insert
it, PPT will remember only the name of the video file, not the full path to it.

If you keep the two together on other PCs, PPT will (almost always) look in the
same folder as the PPT file for the video.

 

[Guest]

Actually you could save it as a web page and then all the video and links
will embedd themselves. When you get overseas put in the cd with the ppt
presentation open the web browser go to file and open and navigate to your
ppt and it will play as a web page complete with links and embedded video
that way you don't have to worry about what power point they have. Go to
File-Save as Web page. Click on the Publish button under Publish what select
complete presentation an under Browser support select All browsers listed
above it creates a larger file but will ensure if they have IE3.0 or 4.0 and
later or Netscape (as you said you can't be sure of what will be on the
computer overseas.) 3.0 or later. Under Publish copy as put it on your
desktop and then burn it onto the cd and when you get overseas open their web
browser go to file-open and navigate to your cd and the presentation with a
little web icon should be there click and play, you may have to select full
screen on the web browser.

Deborah Jean
MOS Master Instructor-6 years

 

[Chris Watts]

I have Powerpoint 97 at home and 2000 at work. I have to give a talk
overseas where I cannot guarantee which version will be avaialable - this
has not been a problem in the past with presentations that I have used, but
none have included video clips. I do not wish to use "pack and go" as that
has always given me grief in the past!

Now I want to want to include a short clip taken from a dvd (video plus
sound). At the moment it is in VOB format. What format should I convert it
to, and what encoding, to ensure, or maximise the possibility, that it will
run on an "unknown" version of Powerpoint?

When I have tried to embed clips the link seems to be real not relative and
no obvious may to control this. If I keep the PPT file and the video clip
in the same directory will the link betwen them remain true?

Thanks Steve and Deborah Jean for your most useful replies - I will follow
up what you suggest - I have time to play before I go to the overseas
conference.

But what about file format (e.g. avi) and codec for the clip?
I moving things between my home (PPT97) and work (PPT2000) I have
experienced problems. Only one likes mp2 files, the other ignores them and
won't even link to them. One happily runs a WMF9 encoded clip, the other,
in its default configuration, doesn't have the decoder loaded. What comes
in the default PPT versions or does it depend on the OS?

Chris

 

[Echo S]

But what about file format (e.g. avi) and codec for the clip?
I moving things between my home (PPT97) and work (PPT2000) I have
experienced problems. Only one likes mp2 files, the other ignores them
and
won't even link to them. One happily runs a WMF9 encoded clip, the other,
in its default configuration, doesn't have the decoder loaded. What comes
in the default PPT versions or does it depend on the OS?

Video in PPT is really touchy. I'd stay away from MPEG2. AVI with Cinepak
codec seems to play on most systems, but the file size is usually HUGE.

I would rip the VOB to whatever the ripping software will create -- usually
MPEG. Then I would create a WMV out of the MPEG. Windows Movie Maker can do
that conversion. Or check into PFCMedia. http://www.pfcmedia.com There's a
fully functional trial version available.

 

[Austin Myers]

For Windows PCs, wmv 7 should do the trick.

Austin Myers
MS PowerPoint MVP Team

PowerPoint Video and PowerPoint Sound Solutions www.pfcmedia.com

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

Not a bad idea, subject to a few caveats:

Actually you could save it as a web page and then all the video and links
will embedd themselves.

Not exactly embed, but they'll be part of the folder full of support files PPT
creates. And you have to be sure to take all the support files with you, not
just the main .htm file

This won't work with PowerPoint 97 though; only 2000 and later.

When you get overseas put in the cd with the ppt
presentation

which is now an html file, not a PPT presentation ...

open the web browser go to file and open and navigate to your
ppt

your html file ;-) Yeah, I know. Fussy fussy fussy. But when you don't know
your audience, you have to be very specific. Little details can make all the
difference.

and it will play as a web page complete with links and embedded video
that way you don't have to worry about what power point they have. Go to
File-Save as Web page. Click on the Publish button under Publish what select
complete presentation an under Browser support select All browsers listed
above it creates a larger file but will ensure if they have IE3.0 or 4.0 and
later or Netscape (as you said you can't be sure of what will be on the
computer overseas.) 3.0 or later. Under Publish copy as put it on your
desktop and then burn it onto the cd

along with the folder full of supporting files; otherwise, you've got nothing.

and when you get overseas open their web
browser go to file-open and navigate to your cd and the presentation with a
little web icon should be there click and play, you may have to select full
screen on the web browser.

Deborah Jean
MOS Master Instructor-6 years

I have Powerpoint 97 at home and 2000 at work. I have to give a talk
overseas where I cannot guarantee which version will be avaialable - this
has not been a problem in the past with presentations that I have used, but
none have included video clips. I do not wish to use "pack and go" as that
has always given me grief in the past!

Now I want to want to include a short clip taken from a dvd (video plus
sound). At the moment it is in VOB format. What format should I convert it
to, and what encoding, to ensure, or maximise the possibility, that it will
run on an "unknown" version of Powerpoint?

When I have tried to embed clips the link seems to be real not relative and
no obvious may to control this. If I keep the PPT file and the video clip
in the same directory will the link betwen them remain true?

TIA
Chris

--
Chris Watts
Please reply via the newsgroup/mailing list - that way we all benefit from
the discussion.
Private, or personal, messages should begin the Subject line with [NEWS] to
ensure that they pass my spam trap.

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

But what about file format (e.g. avi) and codec for the clip?

I moving things between my home (PPT97) and work (PPT2000) I have
experienced problems. Only one likes mp2 files, the other ignores them and
won't even link to them. One happily runs a WMF9 encoded clip, the other,
in its default configuration, doesn't have the decoder loaded. What comes
in the default PPT versions or does it depend on the OS?

Your instincts are all in the right place, Chris. Good questions.

See Echo's reply also but to answer the last, nothing at all comes with
PowerPoint. It passes virtually everything off to the MCI media player (not
Windows Media Player) to do the heavy lifting.

Lots of good info from our resident multimedia wizard here:

The Myers Multimedia FAQ by Austin Myers (PowerPoint MVP)
http://www.rdpslides.com/pptfaq/FAQ00099.htm