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Level 1

5 points

Imported pps files will not play audio

I just bought iWork 08 so I could discontinue going to Windoz Vista to play pps files that people have sent me. I used the free power point viewer in Vista to view and HEAR these files. Everything worked fine there. But in Keynote the video plays ok, but without any audio. I can add my own music etc to the file, but that is not what I need. I need to hear the original audio that came with the pps file. What am I doing wrong here?????

I had the same problem when I was using the previous TRIAL version of iWork - that is why I did not BUY that version. So, did I waste another 83 dollars here?

2.16 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, Mac OS X (10.4.10)

Posted on Aug 11, 2007 7:16 AM

30 replies

JLM222 Author

Level 1

5 points

Aug 16, 2007 7:57 PM in response to Brian Peat

Four Hundred bucks for "2004 Office for Mac". I think I will use PPV in Vista. I am not a cheap-skate, but that is a lot of money just to open PPS files. Don't get me wrong again, Office is probably a good app, I just don't have the need for anything else at this time.

JLM222 Author

Level 1

5 points

Aug 18, 2007 7:36 AM in response to Tulse

Thanks for the input, but Neo Office will not work for me. My final solution is to use PPV in my Vista Ultimate to view PPS.

Aug 22, 2007 9:27 PM in response to Brian Peat

that is always an option but darn it burns me to have to use any microsoft product. It just does not look the same.

Happy Mac and Keynote user
MG

Aug 25, 2007 7:06 PM in response to Brian Peat

I did buy Microsoft Office 2004 and it does not play audio on the forwarded .pps files either. (My keynote has same problem: no sound). Microsoft support was no help and wants to blame my computer or the file (which has sound on my PC laptop).
Save your money
Dan

JLM222 Author

Level 1

5 points

Aug 26, 2007 7:11 AM in response to Dan Caliendo

You tell em Dan!!!! No one seems to listen to me - hopefully you will have better luck at getting thru to THEM!

Brian Peat

Level 6

18,216 points

Aug 27, 2007 6:50 AM in response to JLM222

Uh, getting through to who? Us? The way I see, you can stop complaining that Apple's software doesn't play the audio...because neither does Microsoft's OWN product. My guess is, there's something in how PPT for windows embeds it that isn't easy to deconstruct. Still, it surprises me very much that their own PPT software for mac can't read the files properly. Sure, you can get mad at Apple for Keynote's lack of it, but they had to figure it out on their own...PPT 2004 is MS's OWN PRODUCT. There's just no excuse for that.

JLM222 Author

Level 1

5 points

Aug 27, 2007 7:35 AM in response to Brian Peat

I can see that (we) are not getting thru to you. If you will read at least two of my previous posts, you will see that Microsofts Power Point Viewer plays the ten PPS files I have PERFECTLY.

I am not MAD at anyone or anything YET, but I am getting close to it. I also said in a previous couple of posts that I had to view the PPS files while in Windows Vista Ultimate using the MSN PPV (2003 version) that I was only allowed to download while in Mac - then I emailed it to an address in my Windows Mail program from which I installed the .exe program.

I also take exception to the comment that Apple did not hype iWork and Keynote as being able to PLAY PPS files. Around two weeks ago Apple had a video that HYPED Keynote as being able to play PPS. If I had known that my credibility would be questioned I would have kept track of the URL - but I did not do that.

One last point: I started using computers when the first iMac came out. Since then I have owned eight Apple computers, and never have I had a strictly windoz machine. My current iMac offered me my first chance to run Windoz alongside Mac, using Parallels Desktop and Windows Vista Ultimate. THE ONLY THING I LIKE ABOUT WINDOZ IS ITS ABILITY TO PLAY PPS FILES CORRECTLY. WHEN I CAN DO THAT IN MY APPLE SIDE I WILL NEVER USE WINDOZ AGAIN.

Brian Peat

Level 6

18,216 points

Aug 27, 2007 7:55 PM in response to JLM222

My point was only that MS's own mac product falls as short as Apple's. You're being forced to use a windows app to play something MS makes a player for on the mac. I just think that's sad on MS's part.

Sep 1, 2007 8:21 AM in response to Tulse

Just a few thoughts on this post because I too have gotten mad about this issue.
It seems that the temperature went up a notch in this discussion but really we do not buy macs to be using windows products. Yes once in a while something is not what we want exactly but in the long run keynote is still far superior to PP in elegance clarity, sharpness of slide and ease.
I'll put up with a few annoyances for that!
Have a great day
Mireille

JLM222 Author

Level 1

5 points

Sep 2, 2007 5:10 PM in response to Mireille Green1

OK!!! I give up! All I originally wanted to know is: Can I play my PPS files using Keynote the way the files are supposed to open. The answer is definitely NO. I couldn't care less which type of computer is best at building presentations. Maybe if I emailed some of my PPS to those of you who seem to insist that Keynote is the best, you will see what I mean, that Keynote does not play them properly. I guess I should get off Discussions before I get kicked off AGAIN.

Brian Peat

Level 6

18,216 points

Sep 2, 2007 5:21 PM in response to JLM222

Wait, you got kicked off once before? This I gotta hear 🙂

By the way, I stand by my opinion that Keynote can be a great app and not have a feature that YOU need. As I said earlier, I've only ever seen this issue come up like 3 times in all the years I've been running Keynoteuser.com and helping on these boards. Heck, lack of QTVR support is a bigger issue that this one.

EDIT: I realize I sound like I'm baiting you here. Honestly, these boards are just a fun place for me. I like to help folks, and I love Keynote. Don't let our strong opinions get you fired up, we just happen to love the app. Though I still want to know how you got kicked off 🙂

Message was edited by: Brian Peat

JLM222 Author

Level 1

5 points

Sep 3, 2007 1:08 PM in response to Brian Peat

I got tired of EVERYONE getting smart a**ed remarks from two of the top users, one of which is listed on this discussion with 51035 posts. The other person is from France and I think he did most of his posting under "Mail/Address Book". I asked the 51035 poster if his middle initial was "S". If that was true, then his complete initials would be A.S.S. With the guy from France (I have nothing against the French people - After reading around six of his tirades I replied to one of his posts with "If you cannot be decent with people who report problems, then he should consider getting a life instead of bad-mouthing people who obviously are not as computer savvy as he is". His last name starts with a "G".

I would not be surprised if I get kicked off just by posting this reply - no big deal, I was a whistle blower when I was in the Air Force so, I have been a rebel rouser even when billions of dollars were involved - not just access to a forum.

JLM222 Author

Level 1

5 points

Sep 28, 2007 8:35 AM in response to Brian Peat

Big up-date on Keynote yesterday. Did not fix the lack of audio on pps files. Did it fix your problem with QTVR? Sure should have fixed something you would think!

Oct 18, 2007 6:52 PM in response to JLM222

just to add another angle to this i have a PPS file that won't play in Keynote 4.0.1 - iWork 08 but will play in Keynote 3.0.2 - iWork 06 Starts playing for about 7 - 10 secs then quits audio but runs thru sweetly in 3.0.2 but on some computers will not play in power point either - go figure.

Oct 18, 2007 8:49 PM in response to Collin Blackman

Next step - i played the pps in Keynote 3.0.2 no prob then saved it in Keynote 3.0.2 and then it would play in Keynote 4.0.1 and that played Ok so i then saved it again in Keynote 4.0.1 and all seems OK.

Imported pps files will not play audio