PowerPoint on Web 1

[bludonda]

Okay, I know this seems like a no-brainer, but please bear with me.

My supervisor's boss, who has no real idea of how the Web, HTML or browsers work, wants to put a PowerPoint presentation on the Web. This person won't take my supervisor's word for it and since I'm just the code grunt, the task has fallen to me to find "expert testimony" on the pros (if any) and cons of putting a PowerPoint presentation on the Web.

Normal and rational coders of moderate experience would obviously say "Why bother?", and my supervisor and I would agree. I could see making the file available for downloading but not to display on the Web.

Anyway, if any of you can point me to some references or other "reputable sources" on this subject, I and my supervisor would appreciate it.

Thanks.

 

[Wullie]

Just found this, not sure if it will help or not.

http://www2.essex.ac.uk/wag/guides/office2000/powerpoint/default.htm

Wullie

http://www.necomputers.org.uk

http://www.freshlookdesign.co.uk

http://www.freshlookdesign.com

http://www.whiland.co.uk

The pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects it to change.
The leader adjusts the sails. - John Maxwell

 

[bludonda]

Thanks Wullie,

It was helpful and it's a start in the right direction.

I'll keep looking too.

Thanks again.

 

[CliveC]

bludonda,

One of the powerpoint options is to "save as HTML". When you do this the powerpoint file is saved as a 3 frame HTML frameset that can be deployed on the web as pure HTML.

Clive

http://tubularity.com

 

[bludonda]

Thanks CliveC,

Yes, I know about the Save as HTML option in most of the MS products, I use it for certain Word documents sometimes who's content needs to go online and the code always needs extensive clean-up to make it palatable, and I've seen what kind of HTML mess PPT files make when converted! YUK! Particularly if there are lots of FX added by the original author. (Although I'm not entirely sure, I'd bet this may be one of my supervisor's boss's main reasons for being so fixated on putting this presentation on the web.)

And, since it has to be converted to HTML at some point anyway then it wouldn't really be a PowerPoint presentation anymore. The content, which was really created for a whole different presentation style and use than the Web is then completely inappropriate at that point.

The information should really be re-written for use on the Web in my opinion. But like I said before, I'm just the coding grunt here, so what would I know?

Here's a link to Florida State University that has some valid points to consider about this subject too:

http://online.fsu.edu/onlinesupport/instructor/templatetoolkit/present.html

Thanks, and keep those cards and letters coming folks!

 

[CliveC]

Bludonda, You wrote:

"And, since it has to be converted to HTML at some point anyway then it wouldn't really be a PowerPoint presentation anymore. The content, which was really created for a whole different presentation style and use than the Web is then completely inappropriate at that point."

If you keep a ppt version of the slide show, and if you subsequently update it, then by saving again as HTML you would just need to move the new files to the server.

Not sure what FX is.




Clive

http://tubularity.com

 

[bludonda]

CliveC,

FX would be "effects" as in, animations, sounds, etc., in the original PPT file.

I guess what I'm really asking for here are some great, valid reasons NOT to use PowerPoint content on the Web if at all possible. But there may be an appropriate and useful purpose for using PPT on the Web as well, so in the interest of objectivity, I'm interested in that information as well.

So far my searches on the subject have only turned up what seems to be advice from educational institution's technical services departments to educators who are interested using the presentations they've created for use in their lectures or courses in some sort of Web-based or online manner.

I'm not sure what the ultimate goal of my supervisor's boss's need for his presentation to be online is, but it is probably not as an easy way to present course materials, though.

Stay tuned... Same Bat-Channel, same Bat-Time!

 

[CliveC]

Bludonda,

I see. I am certainly no great fan of Microsoft products, I was just trying to help you save your job .

Really a website that has navigation to different pages is, in effect, a powerpoint presentation for the web. If you want a win-win situation just create such a website.

Good Luck!

Clive

http://tubularity.com

 

[CliveC]

Bludonda,

I see. I am certainly no great fan of Microsoft products, I was just trying to help you save your job .

Really a website that has navigation to different pages is, in effect, a powerpoint presentation for the web. If you want a win-win situation just create such a website.

Good Luck!

Clive

http://tubularity.com

 

[bludonda]

CliveC,

Exactly! So, do you really want to be using an application like PowerPoint to generate your content and HTML when there are other much better programs available for those tasks. The issue here is not the program really, but the user of the program, in this case my supervisor's boss.

This person just needs to be educated as to when using PowerPoint content is appropriate and efficient on the Web.

Thanks, I really appreciate the time and effort of all here.

I'll let you know what happens eventually.