Locking a PowerPoint File

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mac_and_PC
  • Start date Start date
M

Mac_and_PC

I know this question has been thrown out numerous times and I am aware
of the following solutions:
http://www.aladat.com/
http://www.rdpslides.com/

However, I want to try on my own to see if a better answer can be had.

System: PC PowerPoint XP (or possibly 2003)
Problem: Widely distributed (internal/external) PowerPoint file needs
to be non-editable, has to be printable in both the slide and notes
view. Has to be opened by clients using any PowerPoints from 2003-95.
There is nothing special in these presentations (animations, etc..)
The client wants to keep the files in PowerPoint and I would rather
not use 3rd party software.

Right now I have tried two things;
1- Password protect the file, can't be changed/copied/save as, can't
be printed either (big problem).

2- Convert each slide to a JPEG. Specific parts of slide can't be
edited (can copy and paste somewhere else), looses some clarity
(despite being 300 DPI), the notes section can still be changed,
increases file size significantly.

Solutions:
Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get a read only
presentation that can be printed and viewed as slide and note.

Thank you.
 
Your best solution may be to do the major work manually.

- Design the show and save in PowerPoint 2002/2003 with password protection.
- Export the notes to a Word file.
- Export the slides to high resolution JPG's.
- Import the JPG into a new presentation, as a photo album, save as PPT 95
file.
- Download a copy of the new viewer.
- Export to HTML, just for fun, too.
- Toss the whole mess onto your web server with a neat little link page.

- Anyone can down load the notes, but can't change what's on the server.
- Anyone with PP later than 2002 can download the PPT file, but can't take
it apart
- Anyone with an earlier version of PowerPoint can download the PPT 95
version, but can't take it apart
- Anyone can download pictures of the slides (for printing), but can't take
them apart, either

- You can not prevent people from copying the whole slide. If they can see
it, they can copy it.
- You can not keep people from editing their copy of the notes text, just
yours.


This is not a perfect solution, and involves a significant amount of work
for you, but its the best I can think of to meet most of your needs.

B
--
Please spend a few minutes checking out www.pptfaq.com This link will
answer most of our questions, before you think to ask them.

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