How do I get Keynote from Mac to a Dell?

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Level 1

95 points

How do I get Keynote from Mac to a Dell?

After intending to for over a year and actually working on a Keynote presentation for many months, I finally finished the project last week. My intent has been that when I'm done that I'd convert to Power Point and display all my work on a Dell PC in the building.

I did the conversion thing as per instructions in the Keynote manual. I received a message that conversion was complete but there were a few errors. Ok, I thought, I'd read that it doesn't convert perfectly.

Now what? I figured putting the Power Point file on a 128 MB jump drive would be an easy way to get the presentation to the Dell that is hooked up to the Power Point projector. I did just that and gave it to a PC person. He could not even get the jump drive to show up on his desk top or my file. He tried 2 different Dells - same thing. I've been trying to figure out that problem.

I tried emailing him the file but was told the file exceeded file size. File size is 2.5 mb in Keynote. It inflates to 6.5 mb when converted to PP!

Meanwhile, I accidentally opened the P.P. file on my Mac. What a mess! My beautiful presentation sure isn't what I made it to be. Changes of colors to make text unreadable, change of shapes of text boxes so they don't fit in shapes I created them in anymore. Is all this normal?

If so, I'm not sure it is worth the effort to convert to Power Point!! IF I can somehow get the Power Point version on one of the Dells, will I be able to clean up the mess on a PC that has the Power Point software. Is it worth the effort?

Should I just consider physically picking up my chunky older iMac (at least it has a handle on top unlike my newer eMac!) and carrying it into the room where the PP projector is?

Can I assume that whatever it takes to hook up the Dells to Power Point stuff can also be hooked up to my iMac? ie shove the Dell aside and put the Mac in it's place. I know nothing about what it takes to hook up PP to a computer.

Help! Keep me "crying" a lot from all my many lost hours of work to create my presentation.

Thanks for your help.

eMac, Mac OS X (10.4.3)

Posted on Jan 7, 2006 1:29 PM

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Answer 1

Brian Peat

Level 6

18,216 points

Jan 7, 2006 1:36 PM in response to I LUV MACS

I think ppt conversion is hit or miss. I have found that some of my stuff looks nearly like the original (maybe a tiny font misalignment here or there) when I've tested things.

I'd love to see your original and test it myself and see what's up.

As for the size of the PPT file, you might try deleting any unused master slides from your Keynote file before the conversion.

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Answer 2

I LUV MACS Author

Level 1

95 points

Jan 8, 2006 2:37 PM in response to Brian Peat

Hi Brian
My Keynote presentation is 2.2mb in size. Emailable - you want me to send it to you to look at it - at no charge? The presentation is for the seniors group at church. Nothing fancy. I think it has around 50 slides. It's on plants of the Bible.

Do you want me to email it to you? How can I get my email to you without posting it online?

There really aren't any unused slides in my KN presentation.

I asked a couple guys at church this morning how I can do this. I don't want to move the iMac to where the projection equip. is but will if that is what it takes. I think the PP version is awful! The guys told me I don't have the right plug ins needed to hook up to the projection equipment. Maybe if I had a mini Mac or something other than iMac or eMac - something with a separate monitor. ??? Gotta be a way to do this. Wouldn't it seem logical that if it was impossible to run this program with an iMac or eMac, the manual would have said so?

Rose

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Answer 3

Jan 8, 2006 5:50 PM in response to I LUV MACS

You can hook an iMac to a projector, but you may need a cable adapter. I'm not sure about the version you have, but I know the "desk lamp" iMacs use a connector that is similar to the connectors on some of the laptops. Not sure if it is a mini-VGA (iBook) or a mini-DVI (PowerBook).

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

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Answer 4

Brian Peat

Level 6

18,216 points

Jan 9, 2006 12:10 AM in response to I LUV MACS

zip or stuff the .key file and send it to me at brian @ keynoteuser.com and I'll have a look. Hey, it's for church, I won't charge you 🙂

be patient with me though, I'm in San Francisco for the Macworld expo, but I'll make time to check your file.

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Answer 5

I LUV MACS Author

Level 1

95 points

Jan 10, 2006 10:02 AM in response to I LUV MACS

Dave,
The iMac I have available for this project was new Feb. 2002 - The graphite one with monitor and CPU in one piece. Not the one with the "gum drop" base/CPU.

Is it too old to have the plug in I need? What does the plug in I need look like and what symbol is it labeled with?

IF I have proper plug in, what would I ask for at Apple store for an adapter ?

Help, someone! My deadline in figuring this out is getting too close for comfort! Panic City!

Rose

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Answer 6

Jan 11, 2006 6:56 AM in response to I LUV MACS

I'm afraid I don't know the models well enough to know what you need.

Look at the connector field. You're looking for a 15-pin mini D connector. If you have one of those, then STOP! You're golden. You just need a VGA cable.

Otherwise, go to Apple and tell them that you want to plug your iMac into a projector. Assuming it has a video output (I thought it was only the early "toilet seat" iBooks that didn't) they should be able to supply you with the proper adapter.

Sorry I can't be of more assistance!

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

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Answer 7

Jan 12, 2006 11:05 AM in response to I LUV MACS

Hi,

It's been mentioned by others that Keynote 3 can export to DVD..
..Would an interactive DVD be a viable option or you ??

Just a thought,
Peter

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Answer 8

I LUV MACS Author

Level 1

95 points

Jan 12, 2006 1:51 PM in response to Nyarlathotep

Hi Peter

A DVD is a possibility. I'd thought of that. I'll remember that if the following doesn't work.

I stopped at Apple store today for some help. They showed me the "secret" trap door at back and bottom of a blue iMac they have on their service counter and where the video plug in is "hidden". When I got home, I checked our old lime green iMac - it doesn't seem to have the trap door. I'm hoping the graphite colored iMac at work is new enough that it has it. It is newer than the lime green iMac.

If I understand correctly, I will be able to use the cable that is currently hooked up to the Dell to the iMac from my office and I can then run the Keynote program from the iMac. At least the iMac is easily transported from my office to where the Dell resides. I don't really want to move it but it's a whole better option that the awful version I get when playing the version converted to Power Point.

Will this work? Any other tidbits I need to know?

I hope to prove to some PC luvers that a Mac is worth it's weight in gold.

I thought I had the latest version of Keynote but see there is a vs. 3. I have 2.0.2.

Rose

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Answer 9

Jan 12, 2006 2:53 PM in response to I LUV MACS

iMac G3 model: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=58669
iMac G3 I/O ports: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=60894
How to connect to VGA monitor port: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=58467
Does not look easy.

You seem to have a slot loading, CD-RW iMac from 2001 (500-700 MHz).

Your eMac is more promising:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=88428
It has a mini-VGA output port.

I'd take the eMac (get the VGA display adapter to connect) or ask around, if anyone lets you use his/her iBook or PowerBook to present. Much easier than mess with your presentation on a PC (and you know the Mac 🙂

If you manage to get the presentation right in PowerPoint on the Mac, you could burn a CD to transport the file to the PC. This usually works without any problem. (If the PC does not recognize the memory stick, it could be it runs on an old version of Windows, and needs to have USB drivers installed for the memory sticks.)

Hope this helps

Marc

PS: If all else fails, to mail to the other person: divide the file (part of the slides, only slides with pictures matter) into chunks that are smaller than 2MB after conversion to PP - burning a CD is much faster.

Mac OS X (10.4.4)

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Answer 10

I LUV MACS Author

Level 1

95 points

Jan 13, 2006 3:15 PM in response to Marc Heusser

Hi Mark,

I feel like I may be a little closer to a solution than I was a week ago. I went to my friendly Apple Store yesterday. They have a couple of old iMacs on their service counter that they use for checking things on internet for customers, creating receipts and such. One is the original iMac (biondi blue or whatever it was called) and the other is a couple of years newer bright blue one. The newer one has the "back door" on the bottom that pops open to give access to a video port - sorry I don't know the official name. The salesguy said if I have this model of iMac all I have to do is hook up the wire the Dell uses to the iMac and I'm good! Sounds good to me. The graphite colored iMac in my office has that back door and plug in!

My Windows boss said I'd probably have to tell the iMac to recognize the projection equipment. A Mac friend says I won't even have to do that. Hooked up, what's on the iMac screen will also show on the big screen on the wall up front. Is this the way it works?

I'd really rather not move my iMac from my office but it's a whole lot better solution than to fight with the Dell or to lug my unweildy eMac from home up there.

I will get my husband to carry the iMac into the other room and hook things up soon to make sure it all works.

Hey you Keynote experts! What can I do with my Keynote presentation to blow the Power Point people away! They all look at my Mac as some low form of life. They need to be shown the REAL computer in the building!

I wish I knew someone that would lend me a lap top but I don't. Wish I could show the Windows people something spectacular and they'd want me to do it enough that they'd buy me an iBook or something!

Rose

eMac Mac OS X (10.4.4)

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Answer 11

Brian Peat

Level 6

18,216 points

Jan 13, 2006 7:22 PM in response to I LUV MACS

Rose,

I looked at your presentation. The reason the conversion to PPT didn't work is that PPT does NOT support true text wrapping inside a shape. Instead it makes a virtual rectangle shape inside it and flows the text in that...making all your work in Keynote a complete disaster.

As for how to wow the crowd...get the fastest mac with the best video card you can manage to get your hands on, otherwise all those flashy effects will stutter and ruin the magic. 🙂

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Answer 12

I LUV MACS Author

Level 1

95 points

Jan 14, 2006 3:15 PM in response to I LUV MACS

YAHOOOOO! IT WORKS! We carried the old iMac into the room where the projection equipment is, hooked up the wire from the Dell's Power Point projection equipment into the hidden video port in the back of the iMac and what is on screen of iMac showed up on the big screen up front. No problem, No hassle!

Thanks for all the suggestions.

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