Powerpoint 2000 to PPT XP migration

  • Thread starter Thread starter Andy
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A

Andy

I have a very interactive presentation with multiple links. Some of my
linking pages have over 50 links on them. Because our data is required to
be portable, we have used what we call a Hybrid Link where we use
non-relative links and remove the drive letter. In other words a link like
C:\OurCompany\SubArea1\Item3\This.pps becomes
\OurCompany\SubArea1\Item3\This.pps. Making our links this way allows me to
copy the files to a CD and actually run from the CD.

Everything works great in PPT 2000 running on either Windows 2000 or Windows
XP. When I 'install' my data on a machine with PPT XP, most of my links are
broken. They point to a totally separate link in a wacky way.

Did PPT XP change the way they store and read links? If they did, how do
you overcome this problem.

I can let you see the problem via e-mail if you'd like or I can be much more
descript about what we have working.

Thanks in advance!

Andy
 
Thanks Glen, but that actually works fine. The way we have our data (for
lack of a better word) start is to click on one .PPS file which is our main
page. From there you can link via the home page or other 'home pages' via
buttons we put on a template / master document.

As the article in FAQ00155 says, PPT sets the current directory to where it
was invoked. PPT is smart enough to put the missing drive letter in (or is
that an OS function?) It works the same way PPT uses relative linking
\..\..\my_stuff, etc. PPT is smart enough to put in the drive letter where
PPT was invoked. it won't work if I want to link from C: to D: in a
presentation, but works fine if everything is on the same drive.

Let me be a little bit more precise. We have links in over 1.4GB of data,
shared in two CDs. On the primary CD, a guy could take with him, plug it in
a computer and run info from the CD. OR, you can drag the entire directory
structure onto the hard drive and then click and play from the hard drive
(much faster). Obviously, choosing save-as screws things up.

The FAQ pointed to a link size problem (122 char or something) to a sound
file. My specific problem is this:

In PPT 2000:

Link 1 --> Page 1
Link 2 --> Page 2
Link 3 --> Page 3
etc

When open this presentation in PPT XP
Link 1 --> Page 1
Link 2 --> Page 7
Link 3 --> Page 4
Link 4 --> Page 3

Its just wacky. The links are NOT broken, they specifically link to the
wrong place.

How does PPT XP handle links specifically versus PPT 2000?

Do you know how I can find out?

Thanks again and I appreciate you reading this entire thing. I hope it
sheds a little more light.

I hate having to put "not compatible with PowerPoint XP" on all my distro
CDs.

Andy

Have run into the isses described in the FAQ00155 article,
 
I don't think PowerPoint would be able to handle the removal of the drive
letter. More info is available here:
Click to expand...

It can deal with links like ..\images\thingie.gif to pictures and media
files.
 
Glen -

Thanks again for looking into this. I would be happy to e-mail you a copy
of one page that has correct links and invalid links if it might help figure
out the situation. I looked into the long path name idea and all of my
swapped around links are less than 56 char.

I copy to a machine running PPT 2000 and it works fine. I copy to one
working PPT XP and it moves links around. OS doesn't matter as far as I can
tell.

Please let me know if you would like me to zap you a copy. Its only 156 KB.
 
I have the same problem, even if I have my links in the same document. If I open a PowerPoint 2000 file in PPT XP all the links are wacky. They are linked to incorrect "slides". But if I open the PPT 2000 file in PPT 2000 all the links works fine.

My Solution: I edited my links in PPT XP and both PPT versions sees the links fine but the catch is. I cannot edit and save the same file in PPT 2000. This will bring back the wacky links. All your editions should be in PPT XP.

Question: Is Microsoft gonna give us a patch on this? I hope so, we have at least 350 PPT 2000 files and it will be hard for us to convert to Office XP.
 
I have the same problem, even if I have my links in the same document. If I open a
Click to expand...
PowerPoint 2000 file in PPT XP all the links are wacky. They are linked to incorrect
"slides". But if I open the PPT 2000 file in PPT 2000 all the links works fine.
My Solution: I edited my links in PPT XP and both PPT versions sees the links fine but the
Click to expand...
catch is. I cannot edit and save the same file in PPT 2000. This will bring back the wacky
links. All your editions should be in PPT XP.
Question: Is Microsoft gonna give us a patch on this? I hope so, we have at least 350 PPT
Click to expand...
2000 files and it will be hard for us to convert to Office XP.
I've been working on this type of problem lately; if you can give me a simple example file
with just a few links that demo the problem and a more precise description of exactly what the
problem is when you view them in XP, I'd like to have a look.

You can email me at steve at-sign pptools dot com
 
Steve is it possible I can e-mail you several slides or the whole presentation? I tried
Click to expand...
to made it simpler but somehow it will not recreate the problem in PPT XP.

Try making a copy of the existing presentation then deleting all the slides but a couple
that show the problem. Then go back and forth and see if the problem persists between
versions. If so, then absolutely, shoot me a copy.

In the body of the email, give me all the specifics of the problem again if you would.
Sometimes too much air leaks in through my ears and interferes with the memory cells.

steve at-sign pptools dot com
 
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