I'm assuming you are using version 2000, since later versions offer the
password protection option.
A few ideas (taken from
www.pptfaq.com):
Distribute a show file instead of a presentation file
Rename your presentation from .PPT to .PPS
This doesn't change the presentation in any way, nor does it really
secure it, but when naive users doubleclick it, it starts PowerPoint
directly in Slide Show mode. They won't have the opportunity to edit
the file. Experienced PPT users know that all they have to do is start
PowerPoint then File, Open to open either PPT or PPS files.
Distribute a show within a show
A Powerpoint newsgroup user (you know who you are, Glenna) suggests
this devilishly devious trick:
* Create and save your presentation as a PPS file.
* Open a new presentation, click on Insert, Object, Create From
File and select the PPS file you just created. Do not check the link or
icon box.
* Resize your embedded PPS (powerpoint show) to cover the whole
screen.
* Use the custom animations setting to make it run automatically,
etc. However you want it to appear.
* Make sure your Multimedia setting is set to SHOW.
* Save your new file as PPS. You may have to experiment a little to
get the exact results you want.
A really knowledgeable PowerPoint user may still be able to get around
this trick, but it should work quite well in most cases. And it's
simple. And free.
Embed it
PowerPoint 2000 and earlier don't allow password protection, but Word
and Excel do. You can embed your PowerPoint presentation in a Word or
Excel file, then apply a password to the Word or Excel file.
Only people who have the password will be able to open the "container"
Word/Excel file and from there open the PowerPoint file embedded
within. People with the password will have complete access to the
embedded PowerPoint file; they'll be able to edit it even extract it to
a standalone PPT file.
Distribute an AVI movie of your presentation
This suggestion from Dean Craven:
There is also the "convert your PPT presentation to an AVI movie file"
solution. Our screen camcorder and video production tool "Camtasia" can
record anything on the desktop and produce standard AVI files. Camtasia
can also produce Microsoft and Real streaming video files. For simple
screen video capture tasks, also checkout our screen capture tool
"SnagIt".
http://www.techsmith.com
Secure Pack
Another approach to distributing secured PowerPoint presentations is
available from PowerPoint MVP Shyam Pillai. Salient features of Secure
Pack:
* Pack single or multiple presentations into a single executable to
be distributed.
* Hyperlinks and linked files, True Type fonts can be included.
Cross linkages are resolved during pre-packing processing.
* Long file names supported
* Limit the number of times the show is executed.
* Enable editing support. Set archive password for extraction.
* Program group/Short cut links created for Viewing/Editing created
on the Start Menu on first run
* Autorun.inf created
* Twin Security modes: High/Medium
* Clear Personal information from files.
* Supported on 95/98/98SE/ME/NT/2000
http://skp.mvps.org/securepack/index.htm
PrezGuard Pro
If you need to retain all of your PowerPoint animations and hyperlinks
and distribute a real -- but secure -- PowerPoint presentation, your
best bet is PrezGuard Pro.
PrezGuard Pro lets you protect your presentation files but still allow
them to be viewed in PowerPoint or the PowerPoint Viewer.
For more information or to download a shareware version to try out,
visit
http://www.aladat.com/
Hope that helps.
