Protecting an PowerPoint slideshow

[AnnA]

The function i XP isn't very good is it? Seems like it crashes when used an
the file is opened in any other version?

I have a PPt file I need to protect. The users should only be able to open
and view the slides - not change any objects, texts or images on the slide.

The users are running all kinds of different systems from 97, 2000 and XP
versions.

I have used the way of exporting each slide to an jpg image and then paste
them back, but this makes the file to big for the customers taste...

Is there any other solution?

//AnnA

 

[Sonia]

One thing to consider, if the customers *could* open the presentation in
PowerPoint 97 or 2000, they would not see it as you have designed, because
those versions do not support the features that are new in PowerPoint 2002.

One suggestion would be to assign a Modify password, not provide it to
users, and then request that they open the presentation in the PowerPoint
2003 Viewer. This will provide full protection and the Viewer will display
the presentation as you designed it. The Viewer does not request the
password, because it always opens everything as Read Only.

 

[John O]

I have used the way of exporting each slide to an jpg image and then paste

them back, but this makes the file to big for the customers taste...

Is there any other solution?

Sonia's got the security angle, I'll tackle this one. Export as something
else, such as PNG. The quality will be much better.

Then, don't paste, because that's what makes the file huge. Instead, do
Insert > Picture > from file. You should see a noticeable difference in file
size.

-John O