Convert PowerPoint 2003 (and earlier) to Flash or video format

  • Thread starter Thread starter Warrick Wilson
  • Start date Start date
W

Warrick Wilson

I'm looking for recommendations on programs that can convert PowerPoint 2003
presentations (auto-running slideshows) to a single Flash or video file
(AVI/ WMV, MPEG, MOV).

It needs to be high-quality. It must support the full range of effects and
transitions available in the PPT 2003. If the slideshow input does not have
automatic timings enabled, then default timings must be applied.

There's bonus marks for a product if it can be run standalone, particularly
if it can be passed parameters to allow for "batch conversions" - i.e. if I
have a folder with a dozen slideshows to convert, I'd like to be able to
create a batch file that indicates the files to convert, where to put them,
and the settings to be used on them.

If the output is Flash, it would be really useful if the resulting Flash
file allows for programmatic monitoring of playback progress thru
framecount, etc. I've run into some products that create a SWF file that
says it has 12 frames, but the resulting playback is 2 minutes long and
consists of a lot more content than the 12 frames. I need that progress
monitoring to control playback in a Javascript-enabled browser that will act
like a kiosk.

I've looked at the PPT FAQ page and followed some of the links, and I have
the demos for a few products. What I'd really like to hear are comments from
people who are using some of the products about why they chose what they
use.

Thanks.
 
I use Camtasia Studio, www.techsmith.com, for that sort of task. The results
are of great quality, but as far as I know, it does not have a batch
processing option.

Best regards,
Ute
 
Ute Simon said:
I use Camtasia Studio, www.techsmith.com, for that sort of task. The
results are of great quality, but as far as I know, it does not have a
batch processing option.

Best regards,
Ute
Click to expand...

I tried their demo version yesterday, based on a FAQ link and an article in
indezine.com. Worked OK for a couple of presentations, and not so well for a
few others. I suspect that there is a certain amount of "expectation
setting" that wil be needed if and when I find something. For example, there
were problems with Camtasia on some slides that had text animations that ran
throughout the entire slide. On the last slide in the resulting output file,
the animation was never recorded when it finished, so I ended up with a few
italics-looking characters.
 
Samantha said:
Ok.
PowerPoint to flash:http://www6.sameshow.com/
PowerPoint to DVD:http://www.ppt-to-dvd.com/
PowerPoint FAQ:
http://www6.sameshow.com/forum/index.php?c=1&sid=125555e8443fe50f1361f2970c8c15a8
Free PowerPoint
template:http://www6.sameshow.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=12
Hopes it help!
Click to expand...

Thanks! These look VERY promising. In fact, they have an SDK that sounds
like it wraps their functionality, and that might be even better for my
needs. I hadn't seen these guys before - I really appreciate the tip!
 
Creo via OfficeKB.com said:
i can advise to you this program to do it -
http://www.geovid.com/Presentation_to_Video_Converter/. hope you like it
(simple but featured one)
Click to expand...

Thanks. I'd looked at that program. It did an acceptable job on the test
shows I had, but not as good as some other programs. It's become obvious to
me that some of the transitions and animations that look OK in PowerPoint
don't translate reallly well to Flash. I'm going to have to recommend that
certain things be avoided, no matter what solution I end up with.
 
Creo via OfficeKB.com said:
i can advise to you this program to do it -
http://www.geovid.com/Presentation_to_Video_Converter/. hope you like it
(simple but featured one)
Click to expand...



Your problem have to be answered in two points because it needs two
different solutions.

1.converter your presentations to a single flash
It is easy. There are a lot conversion softwares on the net.They can
canverter presentations to flash or other file formats for different
publishing modes.

Here some softwares and you can have look at them. Most of them have demos,
that's, the trial versions, so that you can make comparision yourself.

PPT to Flash Studio
PPT to Flash Standard http://www5.sameshow.com/
FlashPoint PowerPointto Flash Converter
www.FlashDemo.net


2.converter your presentations to a video file
You have to use a new softwarelike PPT2DVD to get a video file.Once you
converte the file you can burn it to a DVD.

PPT2DVD
http://www5.ppt-to-dvd.com/
 
Catherine said:
Your problem have to be answered in two points because it needs two
different solutions.

1.converter your presentations to a single flash

PPT to Flash Studio
PPT to Flash Standard http://www5.sameshow.com/
Click to expand...

I've been playing with these for a week or so - these work very well. Text
isn't a nice as PresentationPro's converter, but file size is smaller, and
the resulting file fits into our project better.
2.converter your presentations to a video file
Click to expand...

I've played with a few of these programs, partly as an alternative to
finding an acceptable Flash conversion. So far, the Flash conversion option
looks preferable for my needs.

Thanks for the reply...
 
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