Why won't PPT play an WMA file?

[franny]

I have been trying for THREE DAYS now, to install a WMA file into my PPT
presentation. (Note: Windows Meda Player 10, Windows XP, Powerpoint 2003)

While several other WMA files work beautifully in the presentation, the
particular song that I want will NOT play. I've looked at the file properties
of "A Charlie Brown Christmas" (which won't play) as opposed to other WMA
files on my computer that DO play, and I don't see any difference!

I've tried saving the presentation and the song to "Package for CD", and get
the error message that Powerpoint is "Unable to Process the Linked file
....yada Charlie Brown Christmas". What's WITH this file? Why won't this
blasted song play??

 

[John Wilson]

Probably it has DRM protection but maybe its buried deeper in your folder
hierachy and the path length is too long. Powerpoint wont play DRM protected
files.
--
Did that answer the question / help?
___________________
John Wilson
Microsoft Certified Office Specialist
http://www.technologytrish.co.uk/ppttipshome.html
email john AT technologytrish.co.uk

 

[Austin Myers]

Where did the file come from? I suspect it has DRM (digital rights
management) and if so PowerPoint will not allow it to be used. (PowerPoint
is a distribution vehicle and it won't allow you to distribute copyrighted
works.)


Austin Myers
MS PowerPoint MVP Team

Provider of PFCMedia, PFCPro, PFCExpress
http://www.pfcmedia.com

 

[franny]

" Protected: No ". Does that mean DRM isn't an issue? Also checked the CD
itself. 1998 Copyright. I don't think DRM is it.

 

[John Wilson]

Out of interest could I see the WMA file?
email john AT technologytrish.co.uk
--
Did that answer the question / help?
___________________
John Wilson
Microsoft Certified Office Specialist
http://www.technologytrish.co.uk/ppttipshome.html

 

[Austin Myers]

" Protected: No ". Does that mean DRM isn't an issue? Also checked the CD
itself. 1998 Copyright. I don't think DRM is it.

How did you get the content from the CD? If you "ripped" it with Windows
Media Player it put a DRM wrapper around it. You have to understand there
are several levels to DRM in Windows Media. It may well report "Protected
No" but all that really means is you can play it on your PC with Widows
Media Player or another registered device in your home.

Not to be the copyright nanny here but if this is a commercial CD with a
copyright notice, you need to contact the copyright holder and gain their
permission to use it. After all, do you want people ripping off your
work???


Austin Myers
MS PowerPoint MVP Team

Provider of PFCMedia, PFCPro, PFCExpress
http://www.pfcmedia.com

 

[franny]

If I was incorporating the music into a presentation created for a business
purpose, I could see your point. But the Boston Pops incorporated into a
family Christmas card? Pah. They'll survive. If someone used a song that I
had written for THAT, I'd be flattered.

 

[Austin Myers]

If I was incorporating the music into a presentation created for a
business
purpose, I could see your point. But the Boston Pops incorporated into a
family Christmas card? Pah. They'll survive. If someone used a song that I
had written for THAT, I'd be flattered.

Ok.

 

[Austin Myers]

You're not likely to get caught at it.
It's still not legal.

You know, it occurs to me that the publisher went to the trouble to label
the CD as "Copyrighted" for some reason? Now, I wonder what that reason
could possibly be???

 

[franny]

Actually, it's more like doing 70 in a 65 mph on a beautiful, clear day with
nobody around for miles. And that trooper's got way bigger fish to fry than
me.

A little tired of morality lectures, thanks. You guys can cease and desist
now.
I'll figure something out.

 

[David M. Marcovitz]

I like morality lectures, so I'll keep this alive with a new twist. DRM
is something that throws the baby out with the bathwater. It can be a
good thing, but it also prevents many perfectly legal uses of music. I am
not a lawyer, so I don't know if your particular use falls under Fair
Use. The problem with DRM is that it not only limits people's ability to
drive 85 in a 65 zone (anyone driving more than that has ways to get
around it); it prevents people from driving 70 in a 65 zone; and it
actually prevents people from driving 65 in a 65 zone while allowing
everyone to drive 60. There are lots of perfectly legal uses of
copyrighted material that fall under fair use but are prevented by DRM
(although many of those are now illegal because the Digital Millenium
Copyright Act prevents getting around DRM even if the use would have
otherwise been legal).
--David

--
David M. Marcovitz
Microsoft PowerPoint MVP
Director of Graduate Programs in Educational Technology
Loyola College in Maryland
Author of _Powerful PowerPoint for Educators_
http://www.PowerfulPowerPoint.com/