'Presenter View' SNAFU's

I've been using Powerpoint for a ferw years now - I really like the
improvements of PP2003 - especially the Presenter View. Seeing the upcoming
slides along the left-hand side allows me to segue seamlessly. I don't
really use the Notes at the bottom of the page unless I am presenting a slide
developed by someone else.

Here's my problem.

A few months ago I switched to a tablet computer for presentations (Fujitsu
ST). There's a few nuances with tablets that are different fromnotebooks,
but I worked those out.

However, twice now I've had a presentation lock-up - this is not good in a
room of 300-400 people!

The main thing seems to be connected with Presentation View, but I can't be
sure.
The only way to get two monsitors working (on my computer) is in Presenation
Mode. Sometimes the Presentation Mode works flawlessly and other times it
doesn't. But in Presentation Mode, my wireless mouse doesn't work, so I'm
still leashed to the computer (using the stylus) instead of working the
conference room.

I also can't seem to just use normal 'Slide Show' - I can't have a
full-display screen at both my tablet and up on the overhead.

The only 'work-around' thatI've been able to come up with is set the
overhead as the Primary Screen - this allows me to NOT use Presentation Mode
and DOES allow me to use the wireless mouse. So I can walk around the room
and still control what the audience sees. THe downside is that the computer
screen doesn't change - it doesn't keep up with the overhead slide show.

Is this a PowerPoint Presentation Mode issue or is this an OS problem with
my tablet (Windows XP) and/or display settings? I've tried every playing
with every variable I can think of but I don't get any better results.

This last time it crashed seems to have had something to do with the
screensaver mode activating just seconds before the presentation started - It
made the overhead monitor turn to gibberish and the tablet screen was locked.
Neither one would come out of it by re-booting. I never did figure out what
that problem was specifically, but I reset all the screensaver stuff to
1-hour, so I hope that resolves it.

Help!

Peter Drenan

A few months ago I switched to a tablet computer for presentations (Fujitsu
ST). There's a few nuances with tablets that are different fromnotebooks,
but I worked those out.

However, twice now I've had a presentation lock-up - this is not good in a
room of 300-400 people!

I'd start by disabling the screensaver entirely, at least while you're in the
presentation venue. The screen can display the same thing for weeks w/o burning
in so there's really no need for it and on a presentation machine, the silly
things are just dangerous.

[Still, I have to admit that it's fun to see some ultra-serious self-inflated
pundit droning on and on about Important Matters, utterly unaware that
SpongeBob's doing his SquarePants ScreenSaver SquareDance up there on the
screen.]

I'd also get into the habit of restarting the computer as soon before your
presentation as you feel comfortable with. Also, look for updated tablet
drivers. Some of the original ones that came with the Fooj STs were awful ...
leaked memory like a buckshot sieve. The restart will at least buy back any
lost memory. Note that we're not talking about huge losses per minute, but if
you leave the computer in standby or hibernate between uses rather than
restarting, this'll creep up on ya.

The only way to get two monsitors working (on my computer) is in Presenation
Mode. Sometimes the Presentation Mode works flawlessly and other times it
doesn't. But in Presentation Mode, my wireless mouse doesn't work, so I'm
still leashed to the computer (using the stylus) instead of working the
conference room.

Just as a FWIW, I'm pretty sure there are gadgets you plug into the projector
and your PC that let you wander around the room *with* your tablet; it sends
the video back to the projector by magic electron x-ray proton beams or
something. ;-)

I also can't seem to just use normal 'Slide Show' - I can't have a
full-display screen at both my tablet and up on the overhead.

"Can't" covers a lot of ground. Why not? What happens when you try? Details
... Error messages? Rude comments about that guy in the front row with the
really really UGLY tie? Smoke? Flames? Or ...

Do you see the icon for the slide show in the task bar but nothing on screen?
If so, the show's set to use the second monitor. Choose Slide Show, Set Up and
set it back to the primary monitor.

Not sure about the mouse problem; Troy? Kathy? Ping!

The only 'work-around' thatI've been able to come up with is set the
overhead as the Primary Screen - this allows me to NOT use Presentation Mode
and DOES allow me to use the wireless mouse. So I can walk around the room
and still control what the audience sees. THe downside is that the computer
screen doesn't change - it doesn't keep up with the overhead slide show.

Is this a PowerPoint Presentation Mode issue or is this an OS problem with
my tablet (Windows XP) and/or display settings? I've tried every playing
with every variable I can think of but I don't get any better results.

This last time it crashed seems to have had something to do with the
screensaver mode activating just seconds before the presentation started - It
made the overhead monitor turn to gibberish and the tablet screen was locked.
Neither one would come out of it by re-booting. I never did figure out what
that problem was specifically, but I reset all the screensaver stuff to
1-hour, so I hope that resolves it.

Help!

Peter Drenan



-----------------------------------------
Steve Rindsberg, PPT MVP
PPT FAQ: www.pptfaq.com
PPTools: www.pptools.com
================================================

I'd also get into the habit of restarting the computer as soon before your
presentation as you feel comfortable with.

Good point.

Also, look for updated tablet drivers. Some of the original ones that
came with the Fooj STs were awful ... leaked memory like a buckshot sieve.
The restart will at least buy back any lost memory. Note that we're not
talking about huge losses per minute, but if you leave the computer in
standby or hibernate between uses rather than restarting, this'll creep up
on ya.

After last week's episode, I came home (tail between my legs...) I
immediately did all the driver updates and such, from the WindowsXP site. Is
there something *else* that's like a driver or upgrade from the Powerpoint
site?

Just as a FWIW, I'm pretty sure there are gadgets you plug into the projector
and your PC that let you wander around the room *with* your tablet; it sends
the video back to the projector by magic electron x-ray proton beams or
something. ;-)

You're right , of course. I just don't want to be hindered by carrying it
around with me.

I also can't seem to just use normal 'Slide Show' - I can't have a
full-display screen at both my tablet and up on the overhead.

"Can't" covers a lot of ground. Why not? What happens when you try? Details
... Error messages? Rude comments about that guy in the front row with the
really really UGLY tie? Smoke? Flames? Or ...

Do you see the icon for the slide show in the task bar but nothing on screen?
If so, the show's set to use the second monitor. Choose Slide Show, Set Up and
set it back to the primary monitor.

What I see is...a blank, blue screen. But I just realized something that
makes me think this might be more about Windows than Powerpoint - On the
Control Panel - Display - Settings I have the two montior icons
side-by-side...so the '2' monitor is to the right of the '1' monitor.

When I have the overhead connected, the 'blank' screen up on the overhead is
actually to the right of the screen that I am seeing on the computer screen.
(For instance, I can click & drag a box and pull it off the right side edge
of the computer screen, and I can see it ease onto the overhead screen, on
the left side. It's as though the two 'monitors' were really side-by-side on
a really wide screen.


Doesn't that sould more like a Windows issue?


Not sure about the mouse problem; Troy? Kathy? Ping!

The only 'work-around' thatI've been able to come up with is set the
overhead as the Primary Screen - this allows me to NOT use Presentation Mode
and DOES allow me to use the wireless mouse. So I can walk around the room
and still control what the audience sees. THe downside is that the computer
screen doesn't change - it doesn't keep up with the overhead slide show.

Is this a PowerPoint Presentation Mode issue or is this an OS problem with
my tablet (Windows XP) and/or display settings? I've tried every playing
with every variable I can think of but I don't get any better results.

This last time it crashed seems to have had something to do with the
screensaver mode activating just seconds before the presentation started - It
made the overhead monitor turn to gibberish and the tablet screen was locked.
Neither one would come out of it by re-booting. I never did figure out what
that problem was specifically, but I reset all the screensaver stuff to
1-hour, so I hope that resolves it.

Help!

Peter Drenan



-----------------------------------------
Steve Rindsberg, PPT MVP
PPT FAQ: www.pptfaq.com
PPTools: www.pptools.com
================================================

After last week's episode, I came home (tail between my legs...) I
immediately did all the driver updates and such, from the WindowsXP site. Is
there something *else* that's like a driver or upgrade from the Powerpoint
site?

I can't BELIEVE I was able to find this again, but here's what I have:

Memory leak in Windows XP Tablet PC Edition
View products that this article applies to.
Article ID : 895953
Last Review : July 12, 2005
Revision : 5.0
SYMPTOMS
A memory leak in Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 causes a gradual decrease in
available system memory. This loss in available memory causes degradation in system
performance. When this behavior occurs, the user must restart the computer.
CAUSE
This problem is caused by a memory leak in the tcserver.exe service.
RESOLUTION
A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to
correct the problem that is described in this article. Only apply it to systems that
are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix may receive additional testing.
Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you
wait for the next Windows XP service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to
obtain the hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services
telephone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft
Web site:
http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support
Note In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be
canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will
resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support
questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question. The
English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes)
that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are
listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it
is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use
the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel.

=====================

Just as a FWIW, I'm pretty sure there are gadgets you plug into the projector
and your PC that let you wander around the room *with* your tablet; it sends
the video back to the projector by magic electron x-ray proton beams or
something. ;-)

You're right , of course. I just don't want to be hindered by carrying it
around with me.

No problem ... some people want it with them, others don't.

What I see is...a blank, blue screen. But I just realized something that
makes me think this might be more about Windows than Powerpoint - On the
Control Panel - Display - Settings I have the two montior icons
side-by-side...so the '2' monitor is to the right of the '1' monitor.

When I have the overhead connected, the 'blank' screen up on the overhead is
actually to the right of the screen that I am seeing on the computer screen.
(For instance, I can click & drag a box and pull it off the right side edge
of the computer screen, and I can see it ease onto the overhead screen, on
the left side. It's as though the two 'monitors' were really side-by-side on
a really wide screen.

That's exactly how dual monitor support works. But if you remove the check next
to "Extend my desktop ..." or whatever it says, then you go back to single monitor
mode and there'll be a function key or some other means of toggling amongst tablet
display only, external only or both at once. Check the tablet's documentation for
that.

-----------------------------------------
Steve Rindsberg, PPT MVP
PPT FAQ: www.pptfaq.com
PPTools: www.pptools.com
================================================