reunion info distribution

[ChuckN]

Need advice on (inexpensive) software and approaches to use to distribute
pictures and information to classmates regarding our reunion and other info. Might
like something similar to a yearbook format, which could be distributed as email attachment,
or via CDs thru the mail to the classmates, many of whom are computer illiterate.
(we're talking 50th h.s. reunion here).

Considered PowerPoint but I have win7 64-bit and I'm afraid those who have older systems would have troubles. Plus I'd have to get into telling everyone about the PP-viewer available from MS, for those who don't have PowerPoint on their computer.
Thanks, Chuck

 

[DeaconFrost]

Considered PowerPoint but I have win7 64-bit and I'm afraid those who have older systems would have troubles.

What does that have to do with them using older systems? PowerPoint can save in previous formats if needed, and the fact you have an x64 OS means nothing to PowerPoint or discs you'd create.

I also believe that PowerPoint has a feature where you can burn a presentation to a disc with the viewer already included. If so, you can then add any other files or documents you needed to, and send off the copies.

 

[Skyroket]

Even with the PowerPoint "Package for CD" feature, it can still be a little buggy. It uses the autorun of Windows to launch a small version of the PowerPoint viewer, then launches your presentation. That'd be the best way to use Powerpoint. I do not recommend trying to send everyone a PPT file. You can set PowerPoint to automatically save as PPT files instead of PPTX files like the new 2007 does. Microsoft screwed up with that docx, xlsx, and pptx stuff.

I don't know if PowerPoint is the best way, though. I would say something like a spreadsheet printed out and mailed. Isn't that the best way you old fogeys like to do things? (haha I'm sorry, I had to go there) Most grandchildren have at least got their grandparents on with an XP machine and email, haven't they? At least they have a CD-drive, so maybe the PowerPoint idea isn't so bad after all.

 

[DeaconFrost]

Microsoft screwed up with that docx, xlsx, and pptx stuff.

I don't think so, especially in terms of the business world. My company deals with a lot of schools, and at this point, I have little sympathy for any organization who has an IT staff, and doesn't have the ability to handle the new formats. I completely understand that these schools don't have the money for new Office versions, even though they get them dirt cheap....but the add-in viewer to allow Office 2003 to handle the files is completely free. I have a standard form e-mail that goes out to these schools showing them the links to download and install the viewers...so they can be given to their technical person.

On top of that, the new formats are generally smaller files that open faster. We routinely have PowerPoint presentations that are in the 25 MB range, than when saved as pptx files, are often 2/3 to 3/4 of the original size.

 

[Skyroket]

Microsoft screwed up with that docx, xlsx, and pptx stuff.

I don't think so, especially in terms of the business world.

I guess that's the main difference. I was envisioning all the problems I've seen with people and their home computers. I've seen my fair share of people who don't know how to use the new formats in the business world, but it seemed far more prevalent with personal computers at home. "How come my son can't open these files?" "Why isn't anyone else able to open the neighborhood contact list?" It's getting better now that they're putting the starter version on essentially all new Windows computers, but it was BAD for awhile.

I felt like Microsoft was kinda admitting just that when they released the free converter.

 

[ChuckN]

What does that have to do with them using older systems? PowerPoint can save in previous formats if needed, and the fact you have an x64 OS means nothing to PowerPoint or discs you'd create.

sure, PowerPoint can save in various formats, but if you''re sending out
a copy to each of 100 people, how do you know which format to send to
which person? I suppose I could survey everyone, and custom make batches
for each version. Lotsa muckin' around.

-Chuck

 

[ChuckN]

I also believe that PowerPoint has a feature where you can burn a presentation to a disc with the viewer already included. If so, you can then add any other files or documents you needed to, and send off the copies.

The way PPT used to be is you could save as PPT file or PPS file. If PPT, a person could not only execute it, but could alter it, within their PowerPoint program. If PPS, the viewer would only permit execution.
I don't think I can distribute one PPT demo to to be executed on various Windows systems.

 

[DeaconFrost]

Not really. When we suspect that e-mails are going out to non-internal people, we still save it as the old format just to be sure....but it is still an annoying process. The same goes for any "portable" format. When we save files as PDFs and send them out...we still have schools write back asking what they need to open the PDF file. Adobe Reader has been free for well over a decade.

It always brings to mind the saying "when you make it idiot-proof, along comes a better idiot".

No matter how "universal" you make a file...someone, somewhere will always fail to handle it.

 

[DeaconFrost]

From my little experience with .pps files, I think you would be correct, that they could view only, and not be able to edit the file. I don't have any computers without PowerPoint, so I'm not sure if a .pps file would play on a system without. I thought they did, but that's just a guess on my part.

 

[ChuckN]

From my little experience with .pps files, I think you would be correct, that they could view only, and not be able to edit the file. I don't have any computers without PowerPoint, so I'm not sure if a .pps file would play on a system without. I thought they did, but that's just a guess on my part.

If you build a PPT presentation and send it to someone who does not have PPT on their machine, they need to download a free viewer from MS, which allows viewing only. (I guess that's why they call it a Viewer).

 

[ChuckN]

I don't know if PowerPoint is the best way, though. I would say something like a spreadsheet printed out and mailed. Isn't that the best way you old fogeys like to do things? (haha I'm sorry, I had to go there)

This old fogey taught Computer Science for 30 years b4 retirement. Mrs. Fogey managed an Access Database for an airlines b4 retirement and has subsequently marketed similar software to retirement communities. However, we agree that many old fogeys have avoided computers like the plague and if they have one, it's likely 10 or 15 years old. That's why we're not sure yet as to what avenue to pursue with this project. I think we need a product that will operate on ANY windows computer.

 

[DeaconFrost]

If you build a PPT presentation and send it to someone who does not have PPT on their machine, they need to download a free viewer from MS, which allows viewing only. (I guess that's why they call it a Viewer).

Yes, that's a given. If you look in my quote, I was referring to a .pps file, which basically turns a ppt into a self-contained executable. The question was...if a .pps file could be played on a computer without PoerPoint...not a .ppt.

 

[ChuckN]

okay, enough on PowerPoint. Does anyone have suggestions on OTHER software, something that would operate on all windows machines ?

 

[Skyroket]

Yes, that's a given. If you look in my quote, I was referring to a .pps file, which basically turns a ppt into a self-contained executable. The question was...if a .pps file could be played on a computer without PoerPoint...not a .ppt.

You still need the viewer program, unless you use the "Package for CD" feature when creating the presentation. With that feature, it puts all the files needed to play it into one folder and sets it up with an autorun.inf. I'm pretty sure you could even just copy those files to a USB stick and it would work, but that would be a bit more pricey than burning CDs.

 

[Skyroket]

okay, enough on PowerPoint. Does anyone have suggestions on OTHER software, something that would operate on all windows machines ?

The next thing up I'd think would be a website or PDF.

 

[ChuckN]

okay, enough on PowerPoint. Does anyone have suggestions on OTHER software, something that would operate on all windows machines ?

The next thing up I'd think would be a website or PDF.

aha, two good suggestions to think about....

 

[DeaconFrost]

I was thinking you wanted something physical to distribute, but in all honesty, a website is the best approach, and can even be done free or at a very low cost. The advantage to a website is that it is the most flexible option, where you can provide whatever content you feel like, in whatever format you feel like. Every computer has a web-browser.

 

[ChuckN]

I was thinking you wanted something physical to distribute, but in all honesty, a website is the best approach, and can even be done free or at a very low cost. The advantage to a website is that it is the most flexible option, where you can provide whatever content you feel like, in whatever format you feel like. Every computer has a web-browser.

I will run this idea through the others. Where would you suggest getting a free website? What would you use to develop a simple site? I developed a site once, using MS Publisher. I was told it was terribly inefficient, but it worked, and was easy to use....

 

[DeaconFrost]

Most blog type sites, like Wordpress, allow you to set up a free site. I'm sure there are countless others. If you want a hosting plan with your own domain name, you can get them for as little as $3 or so a month. I use 1and1 to do my hosting. Most places will also have tools available to make your own websites with no programming experience. Many ISPs also give their customers free webspace as well, but limit the amount of storage space you have.

 

[Skyroket]

I will run this idea through the others. Where would you suggest getting a free website? What would you use to develop a simple site?

I use iPower.com for my hosting and domain management. They have a cool and easy web site builder called Weebly Drag & Drop builder. I don't know if it will do very well for chart type data like names and contact information, but it does really well for pictures and text. You can only create a small site, like 5 pages, with the free version, then you have to pay more if you want a bigger site.