PowerPoint

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PowerPoint

Display PowerPoint presentations by selecting from one of the following options:

1. Add Video (RECOMMENDED)

For non-Windows Players / users with no full copy of PowerPoint to install, from Office 2010 onwards PowerPoint presentations can be exported as a Video file. Export a PowerPoint file by using the option on the file menu from inside the PowerPoint application.

NOTE: If your Players are Android or webOS devices you should ensure that the export format is MP4 (PowerPoint 2013 onwards) or convert your video to a MP4 using a 3rd party tool.

Continue by adding Video to your Playlists and Layouts.

2. Add PDF

For non-Windows Players / users with no full copy of PowerPoint to install you can save your PowerPoint as a PDF file.

Continue by adding PDF to your Playlists and Layouts.

3. Upload a prepared PPT file (Windows Players only)

PowerPoint is a proprietary format from Microsoft and can only be displayed on a Windows-based signage player which has a full copy of Microsoft PowerPoint installed on each Windows Player. (Please see the Prepare your Windows Players section)

  • PowerPoint
  • Available from CMS: 1.8
  • PowerPoint 1.8
  • Cloud

Prepare the PowerPoint Presentation.

PowerPoint will, by default, put scroll bars up the side of your presentation, unless you do the following for each PowerPoint file BEFORE you upload it:

  1. Open your PowerPoint Document
  2. Slide Show -> Set-up Show
  3. Under “Show Type”, choose “Browsed by an individual (window)” and then untick “Show scrollbar”
  4. Click OK
  5. Save the Presentation
  6. Please note that Xibo will not advance the slides in a Presentation, so you should record automatic slide timings by going to “Slide Show -> Rehearse Timings” and then save the presentation.

Upload to CMS

Using the ‘other media’ search, use the Type drop down to select PowerPoint:

  • Upload PPT files directly to Playlists/Layouts using the Library Search from the toolbar.

  • Files uploaded directly to Playlists and Layouts are automatically saved to the Library for re-use.

  • PowerPoint files can also be uploaded in advance to the Library.

  • Set start and end times for PowerPoint files uploaded directly to a Playlist.

  • Save PowerPoint files to Folders on upload, to easily control access to Users.

A Preview for PowerPoint files is not available in the CMS!
Screenshot/Image

Prepare your Windows Players

Install PowerPoint on your Windows PC alongside your Xibo Player and make the following adjustments to the Windows Registry to disable the windows prompt when opening the PowerPoint. Please ensure you have taken all necessary precautions when making these changes.

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\PowerPoint.Show.12]
"BrowserFlags"=dword:00000002
"EditFlags"=dword:00010000

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\PowerPoint.Show.8]
"BrowserFlags"=dword:00000002
"EditFlags"=dword:00010000

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\PowerPoint.SlideShow.12]
"BrowserFlags"=dword:800000a0
"EditFlags"=dword:00010000

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\PowerPoint.SlideShow.8]
"BrowserFlags"=dword:00000002
"EditFlags"=dword:00010000

If you do not feel comfortable changing the registry it may be possible to achieve the same results by waiting for Xibo to open the first PowerPoint and then when the pop-up notification appears, choose to “Open” the file, and un-check the box so you won’t be prompted again.

Enable PowerPoint on Displays

You will need to ensure that the Windows Display Setting Profile used for the Displays you intend to use PowerPoint on, must be first enabled:

  • Click on Display Settings under the Displays section of the main CMS menu.
  • Use the row menu for the Windows Display Profile and select Edit.
  • From the General tab, tick to Enable PowerPoint.
  • Save.

Advanced Steps

When displaying PowerPoint, Xibo is relying on Windows and PowerPoint to display the content. This means that error capture and reporting is outside the control of Xibo. To mitigate any issues we recommend disabling Windows error notifications. This can be done by following the steps here.

If you still experience issues, it may also be advisable to disable Office Application Error reporting by merging the registry patch below.

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Common]
"DWNeverUpload"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Office\10.0\Common]
"DWNeverUpload"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Common]
"DWNeverUpload"=dword:00000001

NOTE: The Windows player displays the PowerPoint presentation inside an Internet Explorer container. Internet Explorer uses the directory C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.MSO to cache Microsoft Office temporary files that are identified as being from the Internet security zone. This can cause multiple copies of the presentation to be saved to this directory over time. Windows does not automatically remove the cached duplicates from that directory, which can consume storage space on your hard drive over time. If you find multiple copies of your presentation cached at this directory it is safe to delete them.

We would recommend creating a scheduled task or script that will delete the contents of that directory regularly.