What codec do I use 4 a video file from a MAC to a PC Powerpoint?

[Guest]

From a MAC computer, I can export a video file to different file formats
(such as .avi. .mpeg, .mov) and different codecs. What is the best file and
codec for a video file that will eventually go into Powerpoint on a PC. The
PC runs XP and has MS Office 2003. I've tried searching through MS office
help screens and trainning, but the most I can find are what file types can
be inseted into Powerpoint. What I can't find is any suggestions for codecs.
In a MAC, it's not enough to convert a video to, let's say an .avi file - I
must also indicate the codec, frame size, etc. Becasue I have a variety of
codecs, I am confused on which is best.

And, in Powerpoint, does the file size matter? If I export to an .avi file,
choose a 720 x 420 screen size (DV resoulution), 100% picture quality, a 3-5
minute file could easily be over a gig. Will the size of the file affect the
way Powerpoint handles it, or does it have nothing to do with Powerpoint, but
the PC hardwar capabilities?

Any help would greatly be appreciated. I look forward to a response.
Thank You,
Gary

 

[Austin Myers]

The best format for a Windows PC is WMV. However I don't think your Mac can
do it. (I may be wrong, I'm not a Mac guy.) I suppose the second best
alternative is to use Mpeg but I CAUTION, it MUST meet the mpeg standards
(Data rate, resolution, color depth, etc.) to work in PowerPoint. (FYI
Mpeg-4 is NOT supported.)

As an alternative (if you have a Windows machine handy) is to export the
file as an uncompressed avi and use PFCMedia to insert it in the
presentation on a Windows Machine. You can get a free trail copy from
www.pfcmedia.com

Don't worry if you decide not to buy it, it is fully functioning for a two
week period from the install date and should get you out of the pinch. (The
presentation created has no time limit once created.)


Austin Myers
MS PowerPoint MVP Team

Provider of PFCMedia http://www.pfcmedia.com

 

[Jim Gordon]

Hi Gary,

Sorensen squeeze can help you convert file formats and keep the result
both high quality and small.
http://www.sorensonmedia.com/

This product and its support areas will be of assistance to you I pretty
sure.

-Jim Gordon
Mac MVP

 

[Guest]

Thanks. It appears that the best thing to do is purchase another application.