PPT_Pack_and

Making PowerPoint Slideshows Portable

Microsoft PowerPoint has a great portable tool for viewing slideshows on different computers. It's called Pack and Go. This feature compresses all of the files included in your slideshow from pictures and text to music in one file.

With Pack and Go you can also include the Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation Viewer. The PowerPoint Viewer is free and allows computers to view presentations without having PowerPoint installed. You cannot edit PowerPoint with this program it is only for viewing purposes.

Here's how to get started:
Step 1. Open PowerPoint and the slide show.
Step 2. Click File>Pack and Go>Next.
Step 3. Place a checkmark next to Active Presentation. Click Next.
Step 4. Choose where you want the file copied to (floppy disk or your hard drive). Click Next.
Step 5. Place a checkmark next to "Include linked files." If you are using special fonts, place a checkmark next to "Embed TrueType fonts." Click Next.
Step 6. Place a checkmark next to "Viewer for Microsoft Windows." If the viewer is not installed on your computer, there will be a link for you to click. You'll have to download and install the program.
Step 7. Click Next>Finish.

A screenshot of a Pack and Go Wizard.

If you include the Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation Viewer, you will have two files. The presentation file, with the extension .ppz, and the Presentation Viewer file labeled PNGSETUP.EXE.

Pack and Go will copy files to a floppy disk, USB drive or a hard drive. If you have lots of picture and sound files a floppy disk may not have enough space, since it will only hold 1.44 MB of information. You can copy the presentation and Presentation Viewer files onto your hard drive and then burn them to a CD.

The latest version, PowerPoint 2003, has a feature called Package a CD. This feature will burn your files directly to a CD and automatically install the PowerPoint Viewer. To access it click File>Package a CD.