ppt2smil

The ppt2smil tool is a PowerPoint macro that convert a PowerPoint presentation to a streaming SMIL presentation with audio and/or video. It can be used with, for example, a MP3 player with sound recording or a webcam.

Download

The only thing needed is the empty PowerPoint ppt2smil.ppt presentation with the embedded ppt2smil-macro. Optimally, you can also reach the code directly:

• UserFormSettings.frm
• UserFormSettings.frx
• ModuleSMIL.bas

License: GNU GPL. Please report bugs here.

Usage

This description assumes that the user has been given the ppt2smil-macro a shortcut in "File / SaveAsSMIL".

1. At the same time:
   • Start sound or video recording
   • Click on "Slide Show / Rehearse Timings" in PowerPoint
2. When finished stop steps in (1) at the same time
3. Click on "File / SaveAsSMIL" in PowerPoint and a pop-up window show itself:
   • In the "URL-address for publication" put an absolute URL-address to the RAM-file on Internet where your presentation will be reached
   • In the "First slide time correction" field correct the time for the first slide that is used if there is a delay between the steps in (1)
   • Choose "Audio presentation" or "Video presentation" and fill in the sub fields:
     • In the "File name(s) audio/video file(s)" field put the names of your media files (note that you can write several file names here and that they are played consecutively)
     • In the "Mime-type(s)" field put the corresponding mime-types (one type for each audio/video file name)
     • In the "Heading" field (when choosing "Video presentation") put the heading of the presentation that will be displayed on top of the presentation
     • In the "Sub heading" field (when choosing "Video presentation") put the sub heading of the presentation that will be displayed just below the heading
   • Click the "OK" button and the ppt2smil macro produces the smil-lecture in a sub folder to the presentation
4. Convert the audio or video file(s) to a format that is supported by RealPlayer and streams over HTTP:
   • MPEG3-files does not need conversion
   • Use the free RealProducer Basic 10 for converting and in this tool use:
     • One stream (not SureStream)
     • Appropriate "Rate/Quality"
5. FTP the following files to the place decided in "URL-address for publication":
   • The files constructed with the ppt2smil macro
   • The converted media file(s)
6. View the presentation with RealPlayer Basic 10

Screenshots

Updated 2005-01-09 by Pierre A. I. Wijkman.