Embedding .MID audio file as an OBJECT in PowerPoint

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I've searched 'high and low' to find how to make the "insert, object, midi
sequence" work in PowerPoint.
The process seems simple enough and when selecting the object to be "from a
file" rather than "new" one can navigate to where the desired .MID file is
and 'instert' it on the slide space (in edit mode).
if you invoke the object icon in the edit mode, the file will actually be
played...
But when completing the process of editing the presentation and 'packaging'
it for use (re as a .ppt or .pps), the sound object will not play at all. It
may play on the originating machine (where the original .mid file resides),
suggesting that there is really no embedding process going on (even if the
application tells you that it does...).
Anyone with a clue on what is going on?
Thanks,
Sam
 
It
may play on the originating machine (where the original .mid file resides),
suggesting that there is really no embedding process going on (even if the
application tells you that it does...).
Anyone with a clue on what is going on?
Click to expand...


The only sound files that may be embedded are wav files. ALL other files
are linked.

Austin Myers
MS PowerPoint MVP Team
 
Thanx... (I think...).
Actually, I am a bit disappointed that PowerPoint does not tell you what it
does (or does not do...).
the process of embedding an object (icluding a sound file; the choice on the
list does include a ".mid sequence" as a pssoible file type, implying that
the application will support the intended action) allows you to go through
the entire step sequence, complete the process (including the insertion of
icon, etc.). All of these implies support.
The fact that at the end it does not function as implied is a great
disappointment.
I wish the MS team would come out and indicate VERY specifically how it
intends (or does not...) to deal with this.
I found a reasonably large discussion 'trail', all wishing to undertsand how
to deal with this, in particular since the .WAV files are so large!
Cheers!
 
On the other systems, is the PowerPoint Viewer being used to play the
presentation?
Click to expand...

Maybe at Sam's end. I tried it here in PPT itself (97 and 2003 ... didn't see
any reason to waste time in between).

When you click the icon to play the MID, you get a "Locate MIDI Sequence
[filename]" dialog box homed in on the inanely familiar "My Documents" folder.

This happens whether the allegedly embedded MID file is present in the folder
with the PPT or not.

Now (and Sam, this may or may not be of use to you):

If you "embed" the MID from the same folder as the PPT itself, it works more or
less the same as movies and other sounds. As long as the MID is in the same
folder as the PPT, it works.

Same behavior all around if you insert the MID as a Linked OLE object, except
that it launches an independent player when clicked instead of an embedded
player.
 
When you use insert object you are not really using a feature of powerpoint.
You can insert this midi sequence into any program that allows the use of
activex objects.
So don't blame powerpoint because you can't use this object.

Your right about alot of people wanting to embed music and movies and not
knowing that it really doesn't. Its more common that people want to embedd
these files, whether I would agree or not, or if it is really practical (I
think midi files should be also, since they are just small text files)
MS only listens if you speak up.
The mvp's will give you a link to the mswish email...i think its
(e-mail address removed)

Also I would suggest trying to use the Insert Object
"Microsoft Package object"
I've seen some pretty neat usages of it.
Eg put the midi in the package.. and then have powerpoint activate the
contents of the package

lost?
 
When you use insert object you are not really using a feature of powerpoint.
You can insert this midi sequence into any program that allows the use of
activex objects.
So don't blame powerpoint because you can't use this object.

Your right about alot of people wanting to embed music and movies and not
knowing that it really doesn't. Its more common that people want to embedd
these files, whether I would agree or not, or if it is really practical (I
think midi files should be also, since they are just small text files)
MS only listens if you speak up.
The mvp's will give you a link to the mswish email...i think its
(e-mail address removed)

Also I would suggest trying to use the Insert Object
"Microsoft Package object"
I've seen some pretty neat usages of it.
Eg put the midi in the package.. and then have powerpoint activate the
contents of the package

lost?
 
[CRITICAL UPDATE - Anyone using Office 2003 should install the Critical
Update or Service Pack 1 for Office 2003 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,

As you have discovered, PowerPoint does not include the ability to embed
(not link) multimedia formats other than *.WAV audio files (using the
Insert -> Movies and Sounds -> [ Sound from file | Sound from Clip
Organizer | Record Sound ] commands) that are smaller than the maximum
embedded sound file size specified in the General tab of the Tools ->
Options dialog.

There are a variety of workarounds to make your presentations with linked
content more portable including:

* Pack and Go (PPT 2002 and earlier), or
* Package for CD in PowerPoint 2003
* Saving presentation in MHTML format (single file web page)
* Converting your audio files in to *.WAV files (using some external
<non-Office> tool) and re-inserting them (check the General tab of the
Options dialog to adjust linking threshold for sound files if necessary).

Of course, If you (or anyone else reading this message) feel strongly that
the option to embed other kinds of multimedia should be a built-in feature
in PowerPoint or that PowerPoint should provide better tools for managing
linked content (such as linked media files), don't forget to send your
suggestion (in YOUR OWN WORDS, please) to Microsoft by either:

PREFERRED METHOD:

A) If you are using Microsoft's web-based, online newsreader for Office
communities
(http://www.microsoft.com/office/community/en-us/default.mspx?dg=microsoft.p
ublic.powerpoint), check to see whether or not the suggestion has been
submitted before (Show -> Suggestions for Microsoft) and, if so, add your
vote to the suggestion submission. If the suggestion has not been submitted
before, click on the "New" drop-down menu and choose "Suggestion for
Microsoft" from directly within the newsreader web page.

OR, NEXT BEST METHOD:

B) If you are using another newsreader (such as Microsoft Outlook Express),
submit your suggestion using your web browser at the following address:
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.
 
Thanks for the response and the thought about the "Packager"...

I have tested this (probably not completely) and found out that this tool
does NOT produce an object that contains the 'source' file [in my test a .MID
file].
When embedding the reslutant object (using the 'copy' and 'paste' process as
indicated by the Packager Help files) and completing the PowerPoint file, to
be ready for use (in this case, a .PPS format) the reslutant file, when
tested on another PC (receiveing this file as an e-mail attachment), the
application does not know what to do with this 'thing'. In one of my tests,
an attempt to activate the object on the target PC yield a search window,
looking for search direction to find the 'missing' file. This suggested that
basically the operation created a linked entity (which of course was not on
the target PC). BTW: all work was done with both presentation file and media
clip files residing in the same folder, just to ensure that any 'quirky'
issue of association is not part of this...
Either my use of the Packager is lacking, or this really does not work...
Cheers,
Sam
 
John,
Thanks for the response.

I've attempted to send you a direct response, using the address provided in
your message [ (e-mail address removed) ].
No luck. The various mail servers that I use reject this, without indicating
the reason... The text is long, so I do not want to include it here (unless
you ask me to do so...). The nature of the note to you have to do with your
comment regarding the 'wish' feedback to MS... I am just a bit sceptic about
the process to deal with this...
Cheers,
Sam

"John Langhans [MSFT]" said:
[CRITICAL UPDATE - Anyone using Office 2003 should install the Critical
Update or Service Pack 1 for Office 2003 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,

As you have discovered, PowerPoint does not include the ability to embed
(not link) multimedia formats other than *.WAV audio files (using the
Insert -> Movies and Sounds -> [ Sound from file | Sound from Clip
Organizer | Record Sound ] commands) that are smaller than the maximum
embedded sound file size specified in the General tab of the Tools ->
Options dialog.

There are a variety of workarounds to make your presentations with linked
content more portable including:

* Pack and Go (PPT 2002 and earlier), or
* Package for CD in PowerPoint 2003
* Saving presentation in MHTML format (single file web page)
* Converting your audio files in to *.WAV files (using some external
<non-Office> tool) and re-inserting them (check the General tab of the
Options dialog to adjust linking threshold for sound files if necessary).

Of course, If you (or anyone else reading this message) feel strongly that
the option to embed other kinds of multimedia should be a built-in feature
in PowerPoint or that PowerPoint should provide better tools for managing
linked content (such as linked media files), don't forget to send your
suggestion (in YOUR OWN WORDS, please) to Microsoft by either:

PREFERRED METHOD:

A) If you are using Microsoft's web-based, online newsreader for Office
communities
(http://www.microsoft.com/office/community/en-us/default.mspx?dg=microsoft.p
ublic.powerpoint), check to see whether or not the suggestion has been
submitted before (Show -> Suggestions for Microsoft) and, if so, add your
vote to the suggestion submission. If the suggestion has not been submitted
before, click on the "New" drop-down menu and choose "Suggestion for
Microsoft" from directly within the newsreader web page.

OR, NEXT BEST METHOD:

B) If you are using another newsreader (such as Microsoft Outlook Express),
submit your suggestion using your web browser at the following address:
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.
Click to expand...
 
nGlenna,
Thanks for the URL...
I have done some browsing there and found the following [ bottom of
http://www.rdpslides.com/pptfaq/FAQ00155.htm ]:

....Though PowerPoint will ordinarily only embed WAV sound files, a user on
the PPT newsgroup has discovered that if you bring sounds in at least some
other formats into the Clip Organizer first and then move them into
PowerPoint, the sounds seem to be embedded...

Do you know anything about this? Is there a way to identify what other
formats may be included in this 'feature' ?
Eager to hear more about this...
Sam
 
Hello,

I hope you will overcome you skepticism and submit your suggestion and
feedback using one of the two methods mentioned previously. This is REALLY
the best way to insure that you feedback gets to the people responsible for
making decisions regarding future versions of PowerPoint.

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.
 
....Though PowerPoint will ordinarily only embed WAV sound files, a user on
the PPT newsgroup has discovered that if you bring sounds in at least some
other formats into the Clip Organizer first and then move them into
PowerPoint, the sounds seem to be embedded...

Do you know anything about this? Is there a way to identify what other
formats may be included in this 'feature' ?
Eager to hear more about this...
Sam
Click to expand...

FWIW, I tried this with a MID file and didn't get anywhere with it.
Frustrating.
 
I've tried this (with .MID, of course...) as well.
No luck at all... One would have to try all formats to see if this 'legend'
has any leggs...
It would be nice if someone who is familiar with the 'posting' on
http://www.rdpslides.com/pptfaq/FAQ00155.htm [bottom of page] would shed some
light on this...
The sense I get after attempting to get familiar with this is that we are
'up the creek without a paddle' and no specific workaround is being proposed
by any of the active and/or passive 'observers' on this board...
The recommendation that is being made to post a vocal voice with MS about
this may suggest that we are fighting 'city hall', again...
Obviously, I am rather disappointed with this...
Sam
P.S. I just run into a (new) problem with Photo Story 3.0 (A real nice
application) that generates very fine "video" out of images, music and
narrated voice (would be interesting to see if this can be used as a
'packager' for PPT for bulk distribution...). The problem is:
(must operate within Windows XP, and Media Player 10 for the program to
install)
After generating a 'movie', sending it as an e-mail (which is a neat feature
of this application) [created as a .WMV file format] it will not run on any
media players that are installed on a Windows 2000 system. Even MS media
Player 9.0 (the latest version available for Windows 2000; Media Player 10
will not install on Windows 2000 !!!) will not run and it generates an error
message ["Windows Media Player cannot play the file because the required
video codec is not installed on your computer"]. I was not able to find what
codec is missing and Windows update for Media Player tells me that there are
no further updates for this player...
Anyone with clues on the issue of video codecs?...

It seems that I create new problems daily, lately...

Sam
 
No luck at all... One would have to try all formats to see if this 'legend'
has any leggs...
It would be nice if someone who is familiar with the 'posting' on
http://www.rdpslides.com/pptfaq/FAQ00155.htm [bottom of page] would shed some
light on this...
Click to expand...

I wrote the FAQ but it's been so long that I no longer remember who posted it or
where (though it was likely here). I've updated to suggest that whatever it may
do with other file formats, it doesn't seem to work with MIDs.
The sense I get after attempting to get familiar with this is that we are
'up the creek without a paddle' and no specific workaround is being proposed
by any of the active and/or passive 'observers' on this board...
Click to expand...

This is a pretty smart bunch. If nobody here knows of a workaround, I'd be
inclined to assume, at least provisionally, that there isn't one.
The recommendation that is being made to post a vocal voice with MS about
this may suggest that we are fighting 'city hall', again...
Click to expand...

Not at all! MS wants to sell software. To do that, they have to add features
that people want. The MSWish link is one of the ways they use to estimate how
many people want a feature, how much pain it's causing them NOT to have it and (I
assume) whether they're interested enough to pop for a possible upgrade that
includes the feature. In a few years I'll have been bugging them for a decade
about one obscure bug - but it's one that has an easy workaround and it apparently
doesn't annoy anyone but me, so it hasn't gotten fixed. Economics. <g>
 
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