What is the best video file format for PowerPoint...

[pete]

if you want the video to run smoothly using the same presentation on a
PC and a Mac? I am creating a presentation on my machine using PPT
2003 for the PC, and a client on the other side of the country will
need to run the final presentation on her machine which just happens
to be a Mac running PPT 2004.

I used to do this stuff blindfolded but it's been a while since I've
messed with video in PowerPoint. I know that we aren't really
"embedding", we will be "linking" even if looks like it's embedded -
and therefore we will both need to have the same video files on our
respective machines, in the same folder as the PPT file, so the link
in PowerPoint works on both machines. What I am trying to figure out
is what the best file format for cross-platform. I don't want to
produce two different versions of the video (one for my machine and
one for hers). Quicktime seems problematic on the PC side. How about
MPEG? And if MPEG is the way to go, should it be MPEG1? MPEG2?

So, to reiterate, I am creating a PPT presentation with a link to a
video file on my PC. When I email the file to my client, the same
video file needs to work on her end. We both have to have folders on
our hardrives that include the PowerPoint file and the video file. So
I'm trying to create ONE video file that I can send to her (I'll
probably burn to disc and overnight it it's very large, or FTP it or
something - doesn't matter how I get it to her, she will get it) that
will work on both our machines.

Nevermind all the other fun cross-platform issues there are to deal
with going from PC to Mac and back with PPT. I'm just worried right
now about the best video format that will work on both our machines
(Mac and PC) in PowerPoint.

THANKS!

 

[Jim Gordon MVP]

if you want the video to run smoothly using the same presentation on a
PC and a Mac? I am creating a presentation on my machine using PPT
2003 for the PC, and a client on the other side of the country will
need to run the final presentation on her machine which just happens
to be a Mac running PPT 2004.

I used to do this stuff blindfolded but it's been a while since I've
messed with video in PowerPoint. I know that we aren't really
"embedding", we will be "linking" even if looks like it's embedded -
and therefore we will both need to have the same video files on our
respective machines, in the same folder as the PPT file, so the link
in PowerPoint works on both machines. What I am trying to figure out
is what the best file format for cross-platform. I don't want to
produce two different versions of the video (one for my machine and
one for hers). Quicktime seems problematic on the PC side. How about
MPEG? And if MPEG is the way to go, should it be MPEG1? MPEG2?

So, to reiterate, I am creating a PPT presentation with a link to a
video file on my PC. When I email the file to my client, the same
video file needs to work on her end. We both have to have folders on
our hardrives that include the PowerPoint file and the video file. So
I'm trying to create ONE video file that I can send to her (I'll
probably burn to disc and overnight it it's very large, or FTP it or
something - doesn't matter how I get it to her, she will get it) that
will work on both our machines.

Nevermind all the other fun cross-platform issues there are to deal
with going from PC to Mac and back with PPT. I'm just worried right
now about the best video format that will work on both our machines
(Mac and PC) in PowerPoint.

THANKS!

Hi,

For high quality and small file size I recommend that WMV be used. On
the Macs, FLip4Mac (free) will need to be installed so that QuickTime
will be able to play the WMV files.

Without Flip4Mac the other format that works cross platform is
uncompressed AVI. AVI has huge file sizes and lower quality, but you
don't need Flip4Mac on the Macs in order to use this solution.

-Jim

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

I used to do this stuff blindfolded but it's been a while since I've

messed with video in PowerPoint. I know that we aren't really
"embedding", we will be "linking" even if looks like it's embedded -
and therefore we will both need to have the same video files on our
respective machines, in the same folder as the PPT file, so the link
in PowerPoint works on both machines.

Jim's already answered the main question but I wanted to jump in with
one reminder: It's not enough that the video be in the same folder as
the PPT file. It has to be in the same folder as the PPT *at the time
you insert it*.

 

[pete]

Hi Jim, I think I understand what you are saying for insertion, but
does that mean when everything is transferred from PC to Mac that the
link will be broken (assume the same folder structure - ppt file and
video file in the same folder, link set up on the PC side, entire
folder transferred to PC via FTP site).

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

Hi Jim,

I'm Steve. We're easy to tell apart. I'm a little taller, he's a lot
smarter.

I think I understand what you are saying for insertion, but
does that mean when everything is transferred from PC to Mac that the
link will be broken (assume the same folder structure - ppt file and
video file in the same folder, link set up on the PC side, entire
folder transferred to PC via FTP site).

No, just the opposite ... you have to put the video and the PPT in the
same folder first, THEN insert the video. As long as you do that, the
path to the linked file will look like:

Somefile.WMV

Just the file name. No path.

When PPT sees that on another computer, it looks in the current folder
for the file and in nearly all cases, the current folder is the one
that the PPT is in.

So as long as the link is properly inserted in the first place, it
should continue to work as long as the PPT and linked files are
together in the same folder (no matter where the folder is and what
it's named).

 

[Jim Gordon MVP]

I'm Steve. We're easy to tell apart. I'm a little taller, he's a lot
smarter.


No, just the opposite ... you have to put the video and the PPT in the
same folder first, THEN insert the video. As long as you do that, the
path to the linked file will look like:

Somefile.WMV

Just the file name. No path.

When PPT sees that on another computer, it looks in the current folder
for the file and in nearly all cases, the current folder is the one
that the PPT is in.

So as long as the link is properly inserted in the first place, it
should continue to work as long as the PPT and linked files are
together in the same folder (no matter where the folder is and what
it's named).

Steve's not as tall, but his voice is a lot easier to listen to than
mine is.

You can also use PowerPoint's File > As As and choose type PowerPoint
Package to create a new folder that has a copy of your presentation
along with copies of all the media files that are properly linked to the
presentation.

-Jim

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

Steve's not as tall, but his voice is a lot easier to listen to than

mine is.

But he's SUCH a nitpicker ...

You can also use PowerPoint's File > As As

?? ??