Problem with PowerPoint conversion to HTML when using within frames
Adam
I am manager of a group that helps support a major university with
various Learning Technologies. I have run into an odd problem with the
newer versions of MS Office X that doesn't occur in Office98 (the
problem is also in Office 2001 as well).
Specifically, if you convert PowerPoint presentations to Web Pages,
they use a custom frameset that can cause problems if you want these
presentations to be viewed within other frames. This is expecially a
problem if you are posting the presentations within a system that you
cannot change. In our case, this happens to be within WebCT (an
academic Course Management System).
The symptom that shows up is a complete black screen with "You must
load the default.htm file to view this presentation." When you look at
it in a new browser window, everything is fine, but not if its within
other frames.
The reason for this seems to be that the HTML conversion uses
javascript references to "top." in the code instead of "MainFrame.".
This creates problems if the presentation is going to sit within
another frameset. By doing a find/replace in all the text files from
"top." to "MainFrame.", this will correct the problem.
This doesn't happen with Office98 (which is understandable as it didn't
do all the funky things the new office can do) but it also doesn't
happen at all on the PC versions of Office2000 or OfficeXP. PowerPoint
conversions work perfectly fine from these programs (which I find odd
as the I thought the code base for the conversions was similar).
I can deal with the problem by finding and replacing the offending
text, and I was thinking of making a little AppleScript do solve the
issue.
However, I was wondering if this is a know issue with Office X
Powerpoint and if it will be solved at a later date?
Thanks.
-Adam
John Reiher
Adam <ab...@localhost.com> wrote:
> I can deal with the problem by finding and replacing the offending
> text, and I was thinking of making a little AppleScript do solve the
> issue.
>
> However, I was wondering if this is a know issue with Office X
> Powerpoint and if it will be solved at a later date?
No, you still have the same problem. One solution is to output your
presentation as a collection of still images. Then you simply reference
them one after another using one of the many available web slide show
programs, like iPhoto.
If you want a more dynamic presentation, then consider saving it as a
PowerPoint Movie with PPTX. This feature actually works in PPTX and
creates a usable movie. There are limitations, and I suggest
experimenting with the program to see how your presentations look as a
movie.
--
The Kedamono Dragon
PowerPoint MVP
Pull Pinky's favorite words to email me.
http://www.ahtg.net
Have Mac, will Compute
Check out the PowerPointers Shop at:
http://www.cafeshops.com/PowerPointers
sel...@earthlink.net
I teach American Lit on WebCT and have the same problem. Transparent
Media has created a repair utility (free) that fixes the code if you're
using Office X. The utitlity does not work with Office 2004. My
solution: I use Office 2004 unless I'm creating a PPT. Then I return
to PPT X.
Here's the link to the free utility:
http://www.transparentmedia.com/downloads.php
Kathye Bergin