PowerPoint to EXE Page 3 of 4

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Part III: Getting Ahead with IExpress

11. In the Install Program options, just type in:
    pptview.exe sample.ppt
12. Here sample.ppt is the name of your PowerPoint presentation. Figure 11, below, shows how we typed in this command.

Remember

13. At all times, especially when you are creating new presentations or linking media to presentations, try using the old DOS 8.3 naming structure where the actual file name does not exceed 8 characters and the extension does not go beyond 3 characters. Of course, if you are working with PPTX files native to PowerPoint 2007, you can extend this rule to a somewhat ironic 8.4 naming structure. Click the Next button.
14. 
    Figure 11: Install program to launch
15. Alternative: You might want to use the constant pptview.exe/L /S playlist.txt. Doing so opens the playlist created in Package to Folder. Less likely to have typos on the user's part if they just cut and paste. Also, the /S switch tells the Viewer to open without a splash screen. Much cleaner for a self-executing file.
12. In the next screen, as shown in Figure 12, below, opt to Hidden the installation program's window. Click the Next button.
13. 
    Figure 12: Show window
13. Since, we want the entire process to be as transparently invisible to the end-user as possible, we'll opt to include No message, as shown in Figure 13, below. Click the Next button.
14. 
    Figure 13: Finished message
14. You need to provide a path and name for your finished standalone EXE presentation now. Place it in the same folder as the presentation (or anywhere else) and give it a small name, preferably something that uses the old DOS 8.3 file naming convention, as shown in Figure 14, below.
15. 
    Figure 14: Provide a name
15. Within other options, check the box that Hide File Extracting Progress Animation from User. Remember to check the other box that allows you to Store files using Long File Name inside Package, even though we've suggested you already use the 8.3 file naming convention for all files in this tutorial. Click the Next button, as shown in Figure 15, below.
16. 
    Figure 15: Options

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