Powerpoint Perplexity

[ffutures]

I have a BIG Powerpoint presentation on Forgotten Futures I run on my laptop at games conventions etc. To make this clear, I just have it running on the screen, not on a projector etc. There isn't a standard page template for this presentation, there's a lot of variation in layout, position of graphics, etc., some pages have a little animation, etc.

The problem is that it is formatted for my old laptop's screen layout, 4:3, and not to the new Macbook Pro's 16:9, so when it's viewed on the new computer there are black bars to either side of the image.

If you try to change the slide width in Office 2008 for Mac it tries to expand the page vertically and horizontally, which is useless, since the bottom of text and images is often cut off. What I would like to do, initially, is simply expand all of the page BACKGROUNDS to the new layout while leaving the slides otherwise unchanged. I can then think about altering their layout on an individual basis.

I'm sure there has to be a way to do this, I just can't seem to figure it out. Microsoft's web site, as usual, seems to be about as much use as a chocolate teapot.

Anyone know an easy way to do this?

Comments

[johnreiher.livejournal.com]

It's been a while since I used PowerPoint 2008, but first, you're using the Page Setup feature to change the slide size right?

The one way to fix it, is to create a new presentation with the correct 16:9 slide size, then I believe from the Insert menu, you should be able to import slides from the old presentation and they should resize correctly.

Alternatively, I have the 2011 version and it deals with this scenario gracefully, and I could do the resizing for you.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

No, that just distorts everything, especially the graphics, same problems as for resizing it.

It's a fairly big file, over 16mb and 72 pages, would you be able to take a look? If so how should I get it to you? I can upload it to my site if that would be easiest.

[johnreiher.livejournal.com]

You could do that, or up on a google drive. I used to support PowerPoint for both Mac and Windows, so I know few tricks. I'll give it the once over and see if I can get it into the new screen ratio with minimum fuss.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

OK, it's here:

http://forgottenfutures.co.uk/album/FF.ppt

It's slightly out of date and will need some editing before I use it again, so don't waste too much time on it, I can always do it a page at a time.

[johnreiher.livejournal.com]

Accidentally deleted a comment. Anyway, I converted it to 16:9. But I had to reduce the font size on most of the slides. I can make it available for you on my google drive. I have two email addresses for you, one that starts with forgottenfutures and the other starts mrowland. Just let me know which one you prefer and I'll share the file with you privately.

[johnreiher.livejournal.com]

It was the old ntlworld.com address. Is the new one forgottenfutures AT forgottenfutures DOT org?

[johnreiher.livejournal.com]

OK, the link is in the mail.

On a somewhat related note, did you know that there's a podcast out there, the Whartson Hall Gamers, who've played a couple of games using Forgotten Futures? I think they've used one of your scenarios, the Astrotnef, and they've run a Forgotten Futures/Weirdzone game as well. (Weirdzone is a campaign setting for any setting.) They have had a lot of fun with these games.

http://www.rpgmp3.com/ipb/forum/134-forgotten-futures/

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

OK, I'll take a look - thanks again for doing this!