Hello Rob,
PowerPoint does not have the specific capability that you are looking for.
While there are certain benefits (single-file distributable, no additional
software required to view presentation, etc.), there are disadvantages as
well.
However, if you (or anyone else reading this message) think that PowerPoint
should provide a way of distributing a presentation (with all it's
supporting content) as a single file which, can be viewed in it's full
fidelity, with an option to start as slide show, and without permanently
installing/copying any software on the destination computer (whew!!!),
without having to resort to 3rd party tools, don't forget to send your
feedback to Microsoft at:
http://register.microsoft.com/mswish/suggestion.asp
As with all product suggestions, it's important that you not just state
your wish but also WHY it is important to you that your product suggestion
be implemented by Microsoft. 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.
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