Sep 13, 2019
Gary W. Ash
wrote
When importing a PowerPoint show into a script, the advance time value is set to manual by default. If I set that value to Timed, I can set the timer value. However, the script plays each timed slide for 5 seconds, regardless of the timer value. While 5 seconds is consistent with the default value set in General Settings / Script / Auto-Advance Duration, is does not appear to be controlled by it. Changes to that setting does not change the reported behavior.
Reply
6 Answers
Sep 13, 2019
Adam DuBose
agent
wrote
The timing can be set for all pages at once, then adjusted by individual page. Use the pull-down menu at the top-right of both the cue and each page to adjust. Make sure your Playback Mode is set to Normal (not Auto, Loop or Manual). Normal will allow each cue to advance on it's own settings, whether they are set to Manual or Timed.
Sep 13, 2019
Gary W. Ash
wrote
Adam, I am not asking how to set the timer value. I'm reporting that the timer value is ignored. I have set timer values on each page to values that are other than 5 seconds. On playback, it matters not whether the value is 1, 7, 10, 10:00 -- whatever. The cue is played as if each page was set at 5 seconds.
Thank you for your suggestion to review the Playback Mode. I confirmed that it is set to normal.
Your statement to use the pull-down menu at the top-right of the cue (which didn't match what I was seeing) led me to the discovery that there are two methods of inserting slideshows. I incorrectly used the term "importing a PowerPoint" when I should have said "inserting a slideshow". I'm not sure what the differences are intended to be, but my bug report is relative to Insert / Slideshow, not Insert / Import Slideshow.
The Import Slideshow cue plays each slide according to the timing set.
The version is 6.3.80.
Thank you for your suggestion to review the Playback Mode. I confirmed that it is set to normal.
Your statement to use the pull-down menu at the top-right of the cue (which didn't match what I was seeing) led me to the discovery that there are two methods of inserting slideshows. I incorrectly used the term "importing a PowerPoint" when I should have said "inserting a slideshow". I'm not sure what the differences are intended to be, but my bug report is relative to Insert / Slideshow, not Insert / Import Slideshow.
The Import Slideshow cue plays each slide according to the timing set.
The version is 6.3.80.
Sep 13, 2019
Gary W. Ash
wrote
I should have noted that now that I have seen the results of both options, I see that there is a substantial resolution penalty to use the Import Slideshow option. The images it produces are lower quality than Insert / Slideshow, so I would probably not use that option.
Sep 17, 2019
Adam DuBose
agent
wrote
The timer value set in PowerPoint will not be brought in with the Slideshow (Insert/Slideshow). When timer values which have been set in MediaShout are ignored it is usually because the Playback Mode has been set to Automatic or Manual, thus the explanation I offered.
When using Insert Element > Slideshow, MediaShout will bring in as much information as possible from PowerPoint and the file type (found under File Menu > Script Properties > Graphics) is still .ppt or .pptx. The risk with using this method is that there is a good chance PowerPoint will want to run in the background and may interfere with the operation of MediaShout.
When using Insert Element > Import Slideshow, MediaShout converts the .ppt or .pptx pages into .jpg files, which prevents PowerPoint from running in the background and has proven to be less problematic.
When using Insert Element > Slideshow, MediaShout will bring in as much information as possible from PowerPoint and the file type (found under File Menu > Script Properties > Graphics) is still .ppt or .pptx. The risk with using this method is that there is a good chance PowerPoint will want to run in the background and may interfere with the operation of MediaShout.
When using Insert Element > Import Slideshow, MediaShout converts the .ppt or .pptx pages into .jpg files, which prevents PowerPoint from running in the background and has proven to be less problematic.
Sep 25, 2019
Gary W. Ash
wrote
Adam, I've been away on vacation, so didn't immediately see your response. I'm not sure why we are mis-communicating on this issue. Your latest response sounds like you are addressing a training issue. It's not. Let me try again to summarize the issues -- the bug I first reported and the additional bug I observed.
1) When using Insert / Slideshow, any timing applied to the resultant slides is ignored. Playback proceeds as if the timer was set to 5 seconds on each slide.
2) When using Insert / Import Slideshow, the process produces very low resolution slides, consistent with the PowerPoint default value of 96 set in the Registry (see https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/office/troubleshoot/powerpoint/change-export-slide-resolution). Mediashout is not getting that value from the Registry, so it is likely to be a hard-coded value. Regardless, it produces slides that are not of high enough resolution to be used.
1) When using Insert / Slideshow, any timing applied to the resultant slides is ignored. Playback proceeds as if the timer was set to 5 seconds on each slide.
2) When using Insert / Import Slideshow, the process produces very low resolution slides, consistent with the PowerPoint default value of 96 set in the Registry (see https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/office/troubleshoot/powerpoint/change-export-slide-resolution). Mediashout is not getting that value from the Registry, so it is likely to be a hard-coded value. Regardless, it produces slides that are not of high enough resolution to be used.
Sep 27, 2019
Adam DuBose
agent
wrote
Understood. Thank you for taking the time and effort to let us know of this bug(s).