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Learn to create engaging PowerPoint presentations that work seamlessly across different platforms. Discover solutions for compatibility issues and ensure your audience stays captivated. Get expert tips on handling text, images, movies, animations, and more.
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Designing Cross-Platform PowerPoint Presentations Dr. Liz McCormack Cain Project in Engineering and Professional Communication THE CAIN PROJECT
Why Cross-Platform? • Save time by not switching computers • Lose presentation time • Lose audience interest • Don’t know equipment availability
What Can I Do About It? • Check Compatibility Report • Available only in newer versions • Identifies differences between current version and PowerPoint 97 through 2004 Access the Compatibility Report from Tools in the Menu bar. For a sample compatibility report visit: http://www.wellesley.edu/Computing/ Office04/Powerpoint04/whatsnew.html
What If I Use Older Versions? • Update PowerPoint • Ask about equipment for talk • Preview your slideshow • On both platforms • Multiple versions
Frequent Compatibility Issues • Displaying Text • Playing Movies • Animating Objects • Editing or Rotating Images
Problem: Text Replacement Abc becomes Abc Fix: Use fonts common to Mac and PC: Arial, Comic Sans, Helvetica, Trebuchet MS, Verdana. Fixing Problems: Text
Problem: Disappearing Text becomes ? or - Fix: Generate symbols/equations in a suitable program and insert them as images. or Use PowerPoint Equation Editor to embed equations. (Insert > Object > Equation) or Insert symbols in “[Normal Text]” if available. Use “Symbol” as second choice. (Insert > Symbol) Fixing Problems: Text
Problem: Text Changes Size Text on one line becomes Text on one line Fix: Leave extra space in text boxes to allow for differences. Fixing Problems: Text
Problem: Movie Won’t Play Becomes or Fix: Avoid Flash, Windows Media, and Quicktime Movies Use MPEG Insert movies after moving to new OS Link to movie rather than insert Fixing Problems: Movies
Problem: Transition lost becomes Fix: Use “older” set of transitions or “No Transition” No Quicktime transitions on PC Fixing Problems: Animation
Problem: Animation lost becomes Fix: No Motion or trigger path on Mac Use animations common to both OS: Appear, Fade, Fly, etc. Fixing Problems: Animation
Problem: Image Doesn’t Show becomes Fix: Use jpeg or png; not pict format Use menu bar to insert image; not drag and drop Pay attention to file size Fixing Problems: Images
Problem: Image is Rotated becomes Fix: Rotate image in graphics editor, then insert Fixing Problems: Images
Problem: Transparency Lost becomes Fix: Edit image in graphics editor, then insert Fixing Problems: Images
Problem: Audio Doesn’t Play becomes Fix: Use MP3 Avoid AIFF or WMA which are OS specific Fixing Problems: Other
Protecting Yourself • Presentation in a folder with all images, movies, and audio • Re-insert at pre-talk slide review • Access files if problem arises during talk
Protecting Yourself • Be able to give talk without movies, images, or special characters • Anticipate OS specific items • Be able to give talk without slides • Especially first few slides