Microsoft KB Archive/125774

PPT4: Automatically Start and Play File Continuously in Viewer

PSS ID Number: Q125774 Article last modified on 05-16-1998

windows:4.0,4.0a,4.0c

WINDOWS

================================================================ ==

The information in this article applies to:

 Microsoft PowerPoint for Windows, versions 4.0, 4.0a, 4.0c Microsoft Windows operating environment versions 3.1, 3.11 == Microsoft Windows for Workgroups versions 3.1, 3.11 == 

= SUMMARY =

You can open a particular file in PowerPoint Viewer from a command line. However, there is no command line switch to allow this file to run continuously. If you want to use Viewer to continuously play a file, you must open a file in Viewer normally and choose the Run Continuously Until Esc button.

To open a specific file in Viewer automatically, without seeing the Open File dialog box, and have the file run continuously, record a macro with the Windows Recorder and create an icon for this macro in Program Manager.

= MORE INFORMATION =

Recorder is an application that comes with Windows. You can use it to record a series of keystrokes and replay them when desired.

You can use Recorder to record the actions you would take to start Viewer, select your file, and indicate that you want it to use slide timings and to run continuously. Then you can create an icon in Program Manager to run the macro that automatically re-creates your actions.

NOTE: In the procedures below, ALT, CTRL, BREAK, ESC, and ENTER indicate that you should press the corresponding keys on your keyboard, not type the letters. A combination keystroke is indicated by a plus sign (for example, ALT+F). When you see this, hold down the first key indicated while pressing the second, then release both keys.

Recording the Macro
To use Recorder to record the desired macro, use the following steps:

  On the Options menu in Program Manager, make sure that the Minimize On Use option is NOT selected.   Open Recorder by double-clicking on its icon in the Accessories Group in Program Manager.   From the Macro menu, choose Record.   In the Record Macro Name box, specify a macro name. (This name can be longer than eight characters.) You can also type a description in the Description box. </li>  In the Shortcut Key box, leave the Ctrl box checked and select a shortcut key, such as F10, from the pull-down menu. </li>  In the Record Mouse box, select Ignore Mouse. </li>  To begin recording the macro, choose the Start button. </li>  Record the following key strokes: ALT+F R Type the exact path to the PPTVIEW.EXE file (for example C:.EXE). ENTER Type the exact path to the file you want to show (for example C:.PPT). ALT+C (This will play the file continuously.) ALT+A (This will use the slide timings.) ENTER </li>  Once the file has been opened successfully, press CTRL+BREAK. </li>  To save your macro, select the Save Macro option. </li>  Choose the OK button. </li>  Halt the presentation by pressing ESC and choosing the Quit button. </li>  In Recorder, you can test your macro by choosing Run from the Macro menu. </li>  If the macro does not work as expected, you may have incorrectly typed a file path. Use File Manager to verify the correct paths and carefully re-record the macro. </li>  If the macro works as desired, save the macro by choosing Save from the File menu. Recorder macros are saved in the Windows directory with an extension .REC. Enter an appropriate filename for your macro, such as MYFILE.REC. </li></ol>

Creating an Icon
To create an icon to run your macro, use the following steps:

<ol style="list-style-type: decimal;">  In Program Manager, select the program group you want to place the icon in. </li>  From the File menu, choose New. </li>  In the New Program Object dialog box, select the Program Item button and choose OK. </li>  In the Description box, enter a description for your icon. </li>  Type the following in the command line RECORDER.EXE -H ^F10 MYFILE.REC where MYFILE.REC is the name of the macro you recorded and F10 is the shortcut key you selected. </li> <li> Choose the OK button. You now have an icon that will automatically play your PowerPoint file continuously. </li></ol>

NOTE: If you want to learn more about using macros to automate common operations, refer to the Help menu in Recorder. For more information about using different shortcut key combinations than described here, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

ARTICLE-ID: Q72439 TITLE : Automatically Running Recorder Macros, Command Line Parameters

If you would like to create another icon for another file, you will need to repeat all the steps outlined above.

Additional query words: 4.00 4.00a 4.00c power point powerpt stop stopping continous continuous continuus how 72439 winppt ====================================================================== Keywords : kbinterop kbdta kbviewer Version : windows:4.0,4.0a,4.0c Platform : WINDOWS Hardware : x86 Issue type : kbhowto ============================================================================= Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1998.