Making PDF file (object icon) active in Show (PPT 2000 SR1)

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How do I make a PDF file, that is pasted into a slide, and that shows as an icon, active in presentation show?
The worker that is trying to do this has a need to include some PDF files that are associated with the content of a presentation.
The desired effect is that it, the .pdf object, will be a click-able event during the show that will launch the Acrobat Reader program and display the file.

I have performed searches within this lounge and the MS web sites without any discernable answers.

Currently, if the user exits the show and clicks on the object, Acrobat reader opens displaying the file. It is truly embedded and not linked.
This presentation is a living document and is in continual flux.

The recipients of the file have various versions of operating systems and the MS Office suite.

Is there a macro that will make the object active/click-able during a show, with out having to exit the presentation?

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Okay, try this. Back up and choose a different strategy.

Insert or create an object you wish to click in the presentation that will launch the PDF. It can be anything from a square to a word to a picture of a butterfly.

Now select the item and tell PPT you want that to be a clickable object. (There are actually 2 ways to do this. Here’s one.)
1) Choose the SlideShow menu.
2) Choose Action Settings.
3) Choose Hyperlink To.
4) In the drop down box, choose Other File.
5) Choose the PDF you want to open.
6) OK

Now, start the presentation and move the mouse to the object and click on it. It should open the PDF file in Acrobat. When finished, close Acrobat and the presentation will appear. Or you can swap back and forth. This should all work if your computer has the correct supporting programs such as Adobe Acrobat.

Note:
– I don’t use version 2000, so the command might be in Tools instead.
– The PDF file is only linked. Should you take the prez on the road, you have to take the PDF as well and it be saved in the same file as the prez when you link it.

Let me know if you have other questions.

-Lenny

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Lenny,

Thanks for your succinct answer, however, I already know how to do this type of link and this type of link would require us to zip a directory that includes the presentation and linked files. The objective is to have all files embedded in PowerPoint. Currently, there are MS Word and Excel files that are active and embedded objects in the PPT show.

Since, this presentation is being emailed around the world to various government IT managers, we are trying to eliminate the need to zip directories of files that are associated with the presentation and make all the documents inherent to the PPT. The less moving parts and items there are to deal with, the less confusion and chance of error. I do have some very basic Visual Basic experience and am willing to give it a try. I just know that PowerPoint is a very different beast in the VB arena than the other Office programs and am seeking advice as how to get a macro started to make the object click-able if it is possible.

Thanks again, I will keep my fingers crossed.

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Oh, sorry, I didn’t realize you wanted it imbedded. I’m not familiar with a macro to do it.

This works for me, however… Try inserting the object (Insert>Object>Create from file [as icon]) and then programming it’s action setting to Activate Contents (under Object Action)? That makes the icon clickable, and opens the embeded object with the associated program.

-Lenny

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Lenny,

Thanks, I’ll let you know how it works out…

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Afterthought….

Are you going to assume the destination machine has Acrobat installed? If not, you might want to consider snarfing the images from the PDF and making graphic slides.

-Lenny

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Lenny,

The recipient machines do have Acrobat Reader, but not all the same version. Your previous recommendations were not successfull as PDF is not a supported format to insert as an object.

Here is a thought that maybe you or someone else may have some knowledge on.
“If I insert a command button in the PowerPoint, can I use it to activate the embedded PDF file?”
Note: I do have a little visual basic experience, but not in PowerPoint.

I am really trying to avoid PDF screen captures/snarfing or zipping the supporting PDF files in a directory.

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What do you mean it’s not a “supported format to insert as an object”? Does the PDF file not show up in your Insert Object dialog box when you choose Create From File and then Browse? Or are you saying you can’t set the action to Activate Contents? Or are you saying it does nothing when you activate it?

For the record, this works on several machines for me, all using Off97 or OffXP with Acrobat 5.

As for the VBA, I don’t think you’re going to get much more done than what’s available in the common interface, if Acrobat is giving you a problem.

BTW, I take it you have good reason why you are not capturing the visuals straight into a slide, since Acrobat is such a challenge, right?

-Lenny

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Lenny,

Thank you for keeping with me… The user that is developing this material is on a machine that is locked down from much dynamic functionality. I took the presentation to a seperate workstation and activated the contents just fine. So, to answer your question, the user is not able to select “activate contents”. This was really a simple fix, just had to get on the correct machine to do it… Thanks again

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I’m glad it works, cuz I was running out of ideas.

Listen, in the prez, the OLE might be a bit flakey with Acrobat. I’ve seen it where I clicked the icon during the show and, although I got the hourglass, nothing appeared. Simply click it again. It sometimes takes two knocks to wake it up.

Good luck.

-Lenny

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