Enable External Media Objects in PowerPoint Viewer 2010

[lrose73]

I have a Powerpoint presentation with embedded video clips.

The Smart Art doesn't animate correctly in Powerpoint 2003 (which, unfortunately, is still being used by a large number of people who need to view these files).

Solution 1: I packaged for CD and included PowerPoint Viewer 2007
Outcome: The Smart Art still DOESN'T animate; Embedded videos WILL play

Solution 2: Instruct the end users to download and install PowerPoint Viewer 2010
Outcome: The Smart Art DOES animate; Embedded videos will NOT play.

I discovered that if I open the presentation file in PowerPoint 2010 I get a warning that external medial objects have been blocked. If I click the Enable Content button, then close Powerpoint and go back to Powerpoint Viewer 2010 (on the same computer) embedded video WILL play.

How does someone who does not have the full version of Powerpoint 2010 open the presentation file and enable content?

This is REALLY important to solve immediately.

Thanks a million!


To make things even more complicated...

I just opened the Help menu in Viewer.
-> The Media tab indicates shortcuts for start, stop, volume, etc.

Then, I opened the readme file.
-> "PowerPoint Viewer does not support running macros, programs, or opening linked or embedded objects".


That's a bit contradictory, isn't it? Media IS an embedded object, is it not?!

 

[Irene]

Perhaps they could download the Free Powerpoint Viewer:
Download Details - Microsoft Download Center - PowerPoint Viewer

 

[lrose73]

Irene,

As already stated, I have tried Viewer 2007 AND Viewer 2010. Viewer 2007 won't animate the Smart Art. Viewer 2010 won't play the embedded video.

The only way I can get Viewer 2010 to play the video is if I open the presentation file in Powerpoint 2010 first and Enable Content when the warning bar is displayed. Then, if I re-open the file in Viewer 2010 the embedded video will play.

The specific question is, how do people who do not have Powerpoint 2010 play the embedded video if they are not prompted to Enable Content?

 

[Irene]

Could you utilise anything in this Article:
How to play media clips in PowerPoint by using Windows Media Player


Edit:
Maybe I am missing something, but this does not reflect what you are saying...
http://presentationpro.blog.com/2010/06/16/powerpoint-2010-viewer-released/

PowerPoint 2010 viewer released

The new PPT viewer was resently released and I have taken the time to run a series of presentations built in different version of PowerPoint to test it. Here is what I have found…


For starters, this viewer isn’t like the previous versions; a light weight, quick download. The new PowerPoint 2010 viewer is 60MB! It also needs to be truly installed vs. the previous versions that could be run directly from a CDROM or USB drive. That is a significant down side for taking PowerPoint presentations with you and planning on playing them on any computer with out installing or needing admin rights. Aside from that, there is nothing but praise for the capabilities of what it can do. It handles ALL animations, transitions, trigger events, media, and everything I’ve thrown at it from all versions of PowerPoint (I tried PPT, PPTX, PPS, PPSX all from multiple versions and languages of PowerPoint). From what I have tested, it runs everything that the full application runs including password protected presentations.



You can play and print slides, you just can’t edit anything.


You can download the viewer from Microsoft.com here.