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Communicating Using Technology
Vol. 4 Issue 2 January 25, 2005
Published and Copyright by Dave Paradi
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In this issue: Vancouver Workshop and Consulting 1. PPT - Play Audio over many slides 2. Sending mail problem 3. Useful Resource - Cleaning Your PC -------------------------------------------- Privacy Policy: I will never sell or distribute your e-mail or information to anyone. -------------------------------------------- If you like the tips, pass it on! If you have received this as a forward from a friend, sign up for your own copy at: http://www.thinkoutsidetheslide.com/newsletter.htm --------------------------------------------
February 11 & 12, 2005 in Vancouver If you are going to be in Vancouver, BC, Canada on February 11 or 12, you can take advantage of two great opportunities to improve your PowerPoint skills. On February 11th, I am offering one hour consulting appointments throughout the day. E-mail me for which times are still free and the cost. And then, on the afternoon of February 12, 2005, you have a chance to attend my Compelling PowerPoint workshop sponsored by the Vancouver chapter of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers. Registration is available on their web site at: http://www.capsvancouver.org
(Special advance warning: Before the next newsletter issue, you will get an e-mail from me announcing the first Video Tutorial on Using Images. Twenty-five full motion tutorials with over 50 minutes of focused training. Watch for the announcement soon.)
1. PPT - Play Audio over many slides A number of people have asked how they can get an audio segment to play over a number of slides. What they are usually trying to do is have background music play while they go through a series of slides. By default, when PowerPoint inserts an audio clip, it stops playing the clip when you go to the next slide, regardless of whether the entire audio segment has finished or not. But you can change this default behavior. The trick is in setting the animation settings for the audio item on the slide. After you have inserted the audio clip on your slide, it will ask you whether you want to play the clip automatically or not. If you say Yes, the audio clip plays as soon as the slide appears. If you say No, the audio clip plays when you click on it with your mouse while the slide is displayed (a future tip will explain how to get the audio clip to play on the click of the advance key). Neither response will have the clip play beyond the slide it is on. To change how long the clip plays, click on the Slide Show menu and click on the Custom Animation menu item. This will display the Custom Animation task pane (for PowerPoint 2000 and earlier, it is a dialog box and the settings below are on the Audio or Multimedia tab of this dialog box). Right Click (click the right mouse button) on the audio clip listed in the animation list of the task pane. This will bring up a sub-menu. Click on the Effect Options menu selection. This brings up the Play Sound dialog box. In the Stop Playing section of the Effect tab of the dialog box, click the radio button for After <x> slides and set the number of slides to how many slides you want the audio to continue for. The number of slides could be as high as the entire number of slides in your presentation. Click the OK button to save the changes. Now your audio clip will play even when you change slides, up to the number of slides you had set.
------------------------------------------------------- Make Your Next PowerPoint Presentation Compelling Do you have an important presentation coming up? Would you like to make it so compelling that people sit on the edge of their seats listening to you? If you do, let me help you with my ten step PowerPoint presentation consulting approach. This is way more than just slide design, this is professional input on the structure, design and delivery of your PowerPoint presentation. One of my consulting clients wrote "I can confidently say my sales have already increased as a result of this astounding presentation." If you are interested, go to this link: http://www.kickstartcart.com/app/adtrack.asp?AdID=85889 -------------------------------------------------------
2. Sending mail problem During the holidays, we were at a relative's house and one of the family from out of town hooked his laptop into the home network to do e-mail between meals. He tried to send some e-mail and it failed, giving him a message that he was not authorized to send mail. This problem is becoming quite common. When you connect to a network that is not your home network, you are now using a different Internet Service Provider (ISP). Many ISP's will not allow mail to be sent through any other mail server than their own. This is a security measure since many of the unwanted messages we get are sent by someone using a different mail server than the one they are connected to. So the ISP's have blocked this activity. So how did he get his e-mail sent? I suggested he use the web mail application that his mail provider has (most have some web mail ability, just ask your mail provider how to access it). From his laptop, he connected to the web mail application and he could attach files and send mail as if he was sending it from his mail program. The mail was not blocked because the web mail application is connected to his own mail server, which allows his e-mail to flow freely. Before you leave the office, ask your mail provider how to access your e-mail via the web and you will be prepared to work anywhere you please.
-------------------------------------------- Learn to use PowerPoint in under 2 hrs Why wade through a big book - get a 13 step process that teaches you the 20% you REALLY need to know. "The step-by-step guide for these functions is far easier to follow than the PowerPoint for Dummies book I had!" -Randy Maples "Dave, many people go over the top with claims as to how great their product is - you know the sort - but I can definitely say that your e-book on Powerpoint is a no-frills, punchy and very helpful tool." - Tom Webb Go to this link: http://www.kickstartcart.com/app/adtrack.asp?AdID=45805 --------------------------------------------
3. Useful Resource - Cleaning Your PC It is the start of the year and many people are organizing their offices and cleaning out the old to make room for the new. While you are at it, why not clean your computer and other devices. But before you just get a bottle of cleaning solution and a cloth, read PC Magazine's article on how to safely clean your PC and components. Some of the cleaning solutions can damage sensitive equipment, so heed their advice on usage of solutions, materials and how to approach the cleaning job. Before long, your whole office will be gleaming. The article is at: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1747017,00.asp
-------------------------------------------- Tools I use to sell my products: KickStartCart shopping cart system: http://www.kickstartcart.com/app/default.asp?pr=31&id=42487 Credit Card Processor 2checkout.com: http://www.2checkout.com/cgi-bin/aff.2c?affid=90267 -------------------------------------------- Would you like me to speak to your professional association or chapter event? I am always looking for opportunities to share my information with others and would consider speaking to your group if you are in or near the following areas: Rochester, NY, Buffalo NY, Detroit, MI, Cleveland, OH, Pittsburgh, PA or Toronto, ON. Just e-mail me at: dave@communicateusingtechnology.com for more info. -------------------------------------------- Check out the books, e-books and other learning tools at: http://www.thinkoutsidetheslide.com/resources.htm ******************************************** This newsletter is: CUT Jan 25/05 [PPT Play Audio, Send mail issue] If you want to read back issues of this newsletter, click on the following link to go to the Archives: http://tinyurl.com/nhgl ********************************************