Minimizing Those HUGE PowerPoint Slideshows

In yesterday’s tip, we talked about factors that cause “slow” access times on the Internet. On big factor that an instructor/designer has control over is file size. All things being equal, the smaller the file size, the faster the download. I’ve seen faculty trying to deliver 25 to 70MB files (usually PowerPoint slideshows) using Blackboard CE and they wonder why students complain of slow download times. A simple solution is to reduce the size of your PowerPoint slideshow. A handy tool to accomplish that task is PPTminimizer (http://www.pptminimizer.com/).

PPTminimizer is installed in the Ed Tech Center labs (LIB 371 and 373) and in the Center’s Faculty Media Development Area (LIB 375). Stop by and we’ll show you how it works, or use the following instructions.

To compress your PowerPoint slideshows using PPTminizer:

1. Open PPT Minimizer.
2. Click the “Open Presentations” button
3. Choose the PowerPoint file(s) you would like to optimize. You can select one slideshow to minimize or use the Add to List button to select multiple slideshows to minimize at the same time.
4. By default the optimized PPT file will be saved in the same folder as the original. If you want it saved in another folder, select the “…” button (appears under the “Optimized presentations” button, and choose the folder into which you want to save the optimized presentations.
5. If you select a different folder (not the source folder) into which to save the optimized file, you’ll see the “Add extension to Filenames” check box (found above the “…” button). Deselect if you do not ant the “(PPTminimizer)” suffix added to the filename.
6. Next you can choose your compression settings. The default “standard compression” is usually a good choice. If you would like an even smaller file size then move the compression slider to “Strong Compression”. This setting may reduce your image quality and you should always check the optimized presentation when choosing “Strong Compression”. Further, if you find the images in your slideshow too pixilated using “Standard Compression,” lower the slider to use “Low Compression.”
7. Click the “Optimize Presentations” button.
8. If you are asked to confirm conversion of embedded objects, you should click the “yes” button in order to reduce file size. You will not be able to edit the embedded objects in the optimized file, but you can edit it in the original slideshow and run the file through the optimizer again when changes need to be made.
9. Once the progress bar reaches 100% your file has been optimized.
10. You’ll see three buttons: View Presentation(s), E-Mail Presentation(s) and Delete Presentation(s). Be sure to view your compressed slideshows to verify that they look satisfactory.
11. Next you are presented with the statistics of the optimization including how much spaced you saved. Out experience is tat typical slideshows with graphics can be reduced in size easily from 60% to 95%.
12. Your optimized file is placed in the directory you specified.

Try it, you’ll like it and so will your students.