2007 PPT Viewer Capabilities

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NormD - 29 Oct 2007 20:31 GMT

Previous versions of the Viewer have not had full compatability with PPT
itself. For example, I found out, after a lot of work on a presentation,
that the Viewer in an earlier version of PPT would not support VBA developed
in the same version of PPT itself! It never occurred to me that the Viewer
wouldn't do (display-wise) what PPT itself did. Wasted about 2 months of
effort.

Is there a document that lists what the 2007 Viewer won't do that PPT does
do so I don't spend time doing something cool in 2007 PPT only to fond out it
won't work with the 2007 Viewer? Maybe the answer is the Viewer does
everything; that would be great. I'm not looking for backward compatability
with earlier versions, but within the 2007 version I'd really like to know
what I have to stay away from in PPT because it isn't supported in the Viewer.

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John Wilson - 29 Oct 2007 20:56 GMT

The bad news is that the new viewer is not a lot different to the old one
with a compatibility pack added.

You still wont be able to use any vba code.

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http://www.PPTAlchemy.co.uk
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email john AT technologytrish.co.uk

> Previous versions of the Viewer have not had full compatability with PPT
> itself. For example, I found out, after a lot of work on a presentation,
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> with earlier versions, but within the 2007 version I'd really like to know
> what I have to stay away from in PPT because it isn't supported in the Viewer.

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NormD - 30 Oct 2007 15:08 GMT

I appreciate the answer, but what they've done - or not - with the viewer
makes it near useless to me.

Do you know, John, if a PPT presentation played through
full PPT can be "secured" so it can't be changed or parts copied?

> The bad news is that the new viewer is not a lot different to the old one
> with a compatibility pack added.
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> > with earlier versions, but within the 2007 version I'd really like to know
> > what I have to stay away from in PPT because it isn't supported in the Viewer.

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John Wilson - 30 Oct 2007 21:06 GMT

In 2002 on you can add a modify password. This prevents all editing but it's
not very secure and easily broken by an expert. Prevents most people editing
though.

If you don't want people to be able to view at all in edit mode try creating
a pps with a password and then inserting it as an object in another pps file
also with a password.

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Amazing PPT Hints, Tips and Tutorials-
http://www.PPTAlchemy.co.uk
http://www.technologytrish.co.uk
email john AT technologytrish.co.uk

> I appreciate the answer, but what they've done - or not - with the viewer
> makes it near useless to me.
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
> > > with earlier versions, but within the 2007 version I'd really like to know
> > > what I have to stay away from in PPT because it isn't supported in the Viewer.

Reply to this Message

Austin Myers - 30 Oct 2007 16:50 GMT

The viewer has never supported VBA or controls. If it did there would be no
need of PowerPoint itself. Other than that, the viewer will do whatever
PowerPoint can.

Austin Myers
MS PowerPoint MVP Team

Provider of PFCPro, PFCMedia and PFCExpress
www.playsforcertain.com

> Previous versions of the Viewer have not had full compatability with PPT
> itself. For example, I found out, after a lot of work on a presentation,
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> what I have to stay away from in PPT because it isn't supported in the
> Viewer.

Reply to this Message

NormD - 30 Oct 2007 19:02 GMT

I don't expect the Viewer to allow me to create presentations. I do expect
it to be able to "play" a created presentation. I'm painfully aware that as
PPT had presentation features added the Viewer did not keep up with it; I'd
hoped that the latest version would overcome this and get things caught up.

I do not see why being able to execute VBA (and who knows what else
functionality in a RUNNING presentation) logically equates to having the full
PPT presentation development package. If I can put it in a presentation
(effect, event code, etc.) then, IMHO, I ought to be able to have it run
under the Viewer. By the logic of "It's never been in there" PPT would not
have evolved from the very first version.

> The viewer has never supported VBA or controls. If it did there would be no
> need of PowerPoint itself. Other than that, the viewer will do whatever
[quoted text clipped - 24 lines]
> > what I have to stay away from in PPT because it isn't supported in the
> > Viewer.

Reply to this Message

Austin Myers - 30 Oct 2007 20:23 GMT

>I don't expect the Viewer to allow me to create presentations. I do expect
> it to be able to "play" a created presentation.

You miss the point. If the viewer could run VBA I could quickly replicate
the menu system of PPT and there would not be a need to pay for PPT.
Something Microsoft would certainly frown upon.

> I'm painfully aware that as
> PPT had presentation features added the Viewer did not keep up with it;
> I'd
> hoped that the latest version would overcome this and get things caught
> up.

As far as I have seen in my testing, it has and will do anyting PPT will do
with the exception of ruynning VBA code.

> I do not see why being able to execute VBA (and who knows what else
> functionality in a RUNNING presentation) logically equates to having the
> full
> PPT presentation development package.

See above.

> If I can put it in a presentation
> (effect, event code, etc.) then, IMHO, I ought to be able to have it run
> under the Viewer. By the logic of "It's never been in there" PPT would
> not
> have evolved from the very first version.

You misunderstand, the ability to run code has never been in the viewer.

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Steve Rindsberg - 03 Nov 2007 01:55 GMT

> Previous versions of the Viewer have not had full compatability with PPT
> itself. For example, I found out, after a lot of work on a presentation,
> that the Viewer in an earlier version of PPT would not support VBA developed
> in the same version of PPT itself!

In fact, none of the viewers support any sort of VBA. It's not a version
dependent thing.

> Is there a document that lists what the 2007 Viewer won't do that PPT does
> do so I don't spend time doing something cool in 2007 PPT only to fond out it
> won't work with the 2007 Viewer?

The 2007 viewer is essentially the 2003 viewer plus a few small fixes plus the
compatibility pack that allows it to open 2007 files.

I don't know that there's any complete list of differences. Your best bet is to
open your presentations in the viewer and test carefully.

> Maybe the answer is the Viewer does
> everything; that would be great. I'm not looking for backward compatability
> with earlier versions, but within the 2007 version I'd really like to know
> what I have to stay away from in PPT because it isn't supported in the Viewer.

-----------------------------------------
Steve Rindsberg, PPT MVP
PPT FAQ: www.pptfaq.com
PPTools: www.pptools.com
================================================

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