Discussion on:

How do I... Put a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation on a CD?

Did you ever have a carefully crafted presentation blow up on you because of missing fonts, graphics, or other supporting files? Have you used PowerPoint For CD to successfully avoid those headaches?

Ppt for CD. It's easy and it will keep your presentation from taking a life of its own instead of the way you created it. I also like it because you can have audio files embedded as well. Good feature.

I must admit I have never ported a CD for presentation purposes to a foreign machine.I would never present to a client or a group something that could not be tested to work? I use a laptop with the functioning presentation and avoid the CD altogether.

MicroSoft has provided version level detail information on what Pack and Go can and cannot do and if you design your presentation to those standards I would think it should work as advertised but still we are untested on the target machine.

Had you considered saving your presentation as HTML, copying that to CD and running the presentation through a browser?

From PowerPoint 2002 Help regarding Font restrictions.

When you package your presentation, you can include any linked (linked object: An object that is created in a source file and inserted into a destination file, while maintaining a connection between the two files. The linked object in the destination file can be updated when the source file is updated.)files in the package, and if you use TrueType fonts you can embed (embedded object: Information (object) that is contained in a source file and inserted into a destination file. Once embedded, the object becomes part of the destination file. Changes you make to the embedded object are reflected in the destination file.)them as well. Embedding fonts guarantees that the fonts will be available when you run the presentation on a different computer. (However, note that the wizard cannot include TrueType fonts that have built-in copyright restrictions.)

test your presentation on the machine you will be using prior to the presentation? I certainly agree and would prefer to have my own laptop to run it from but... It would be the presenter's responsibility to arrive, or make arrangements to meet someone a little early to run through it. Not doing a run through with enough time to make adjustments is just asking for it to bite you in the butt and would be deserved. IMO anyone who does not make a run through is not well prepared. This goes even for out of town engagements. It's not hard to allot the necessary time.

Edited to add Addendum: One should also create their presentation with the idea in mind of their audience and the availability of fonts and designs. Just because you may have 1600 fonts doesn't mean you have to use them. A lot of times simple is better.

JodyGilbert: "Did you ever have a carefully crafted presentation blow up on you because of missing fonts, graphics, or other supporting files? Have you used PowerPoint For CD to successfully avoid those headaches?". The article isn't implying that all of your presentations get burned onto a CD, it's just making people aware of the available feature to do so.

in my first reply, which I think is a good option. In my second post I was responding to some points brought up by hexff@.

Looks like the 9/21 TechRepublic NetNote Newsletter covers this topic in great detail.

How do I... Put a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation on a CD? (Steven Pittsley, CNE)

http://articles.techrepublic.com.com/5100-10877_11-6116802.html?tag=nl.e138

Good Job Collaborating

Not sure why you linked back to the article that is being commented on. ??

he didn't like my reply to his first post regarding some other points he brought up. Not a problem...

Thanks for the article. I use powerpoint on a CD for distribution of an art portfolio to prospective galleries. CDs can be posted to places where its not effective to travel or lug large canvas' too, and when most gallery owners can view them at their leisure. It also means you can never be sure of how they will display !!

I used to save it as an HTML but it was slow to transition between screens, showed a white background between transitions of black slides on some PC's, and also did not in some instances keep the text formatted within the borders etc - not the most ideal when what your trying to display is creative talent.

I have upgrade to 2003 and used this function with much better results...inclusion of the viewer is great, which was a primary concern when originally deciding that I would use Powerpoint for this. I am now considering adding commentary as clips to a couple of the canvas after some discussions with some gallery owners.

If you want to burn a data cd/DVD, it is very easy. Just burn your prsentation with nero. When I do this, I find some animation lost. My version is PowerPoint 2007 and I don't know why.
If you need to create a playable CD/DVD, you need a third-party software to do this.such as PPT2DVD http://www.ppt-to-dvd.com Convert the presentation to video format and then burn it to DVD with DVD menus.

Yea, this method is great! But how about animations,transitions and audio track,if you want to play PowerPoint on TV with DVD menus. Then way is out of control.In my opinion, it is just a data back up.
So I recommend burn PowerPoint to DVD with Acoolsoft PPT2DVD

PowerPoint does not have the built-in ability to save presentations as
video files or other video formats such as DVD-Video and, even if it did,
there would be significant loss of interactivity (because DVD-Video and
PowerPoint slide show have very different capabilities in this area) and
loss of visual fidelity (DVD-Video resolution is less than typical computer
display resolution and most television will not render colors the same way
that a computer display will).