Effective interactive presentations delivered using PowerPoint on the web

September 23, 2023
By:  Alice Osborn

It's possible to use PowerPoint on the web and deliver effective interactive presentations, but the slide designer or presenter needs to be aware of its associated challenges. PowerPoint files (.ppt) don't easily convert into readable files over the web and Internet browsers don't understand the .ppt native files.

In Robin Good's presentation about rich-media online presentation tools, he gives three methods for users to convert PowerPoint slides into a web format for delivery to a virtual audience.

  1. Traditional graphical formats
    PowerPoint presentation slides can be converted to both GIF and JPG format files to be used within HTML web pages. Finding the right balance between using higher quality and longer download times with the JPGs versus lower quality and quicker download times with the GIFs, is an ongoing conversion issue. However, there are third party conversion tools such as Image Exporter and PPT2HTML that help the user control the size and design of the images when exporting them from PowerPoint into HTML files.
     
  2. Proprietary formats
    When you use a proprietary format solution, such as Microsoft Office Live Meeting, the .ppt files are converted into a special format and then these files are delivered through Live Meeting's conferencing solution. Impatica for PowerPoint is another proprietary format solution that helps deliver animated PowerPoint presentations on the web by translating the .ppt files and then streaming these newly converted files into a java applet. The new PowerPoint file can play on any browser.
     
  3. Flash formats
    The recommended and most cutting edge of PowerPoint interactive web conversion methods are the Flash formatting solutions. Ranging from expensive to moderately priced, Flash-based presentation tools, target both large and small businesses and can fulfill most presentation needs because they offer an accessible web-based delivery system. Using Flash's timeline and layers interface for a web or data conference, presenters can navigate the presentation slides, add narration, preview their content, and activate virtual whiteboards and interactive controls for direct feedback.

By converting to Flash, the now compressed PowerPoint files can be uploaded to a web server via FTP to be viewed by any web browser on any computer. Now the user can view high quality animations, movies, effects and multimedia presentations.

Here are several formatting tips and limitations to be aware of when PowerPoint files are converted to Flash .swf files:

  • Some bullets may not convert properly to Flash, but most bullets having an ASCII code lower than 255 will work fine.
     
  • Make sure that text frames and images are within the slide area when converting a PowerPoint presentation into Flash to prevent Flash Player from freezing up.
     
  • Ensure that all of the fonts used in the PowerPoint presentation are also installed in the software tool that's converting the .ppt files into .swf files.

Finding the right rich-media web presentation tool

When it comes to finding the right interactive tool for PowerPoint presentations conducted over the Internet, Robin Good recommends that users investigate ease of use and accessibility, cost-effectiveness, and appropriate features for their business needs. He also urges users to try out the interactive software tools before purchasing to make sure the tools fit their presentation requirements. Studying the available interactive presentation tools and knowing your presentation needs is the first step to making your online presentations more effective and engaging.

About the Author
Alice Osborn is a successful freelance writer and contributor to Web-Conferencing-Zone.com.  Your definitive guide to web conferencing services, online collaboration software and web meetings for business.