How does Rehearse Slideshow work?

Question

How does Rehearse Slideshow work?

I've put together my first presentation on my MacBook Air. When I select Play Slideshow, my whole screen fills up with the current slide, one at a time. When I select Rehearse Slideshow, I can see the current and next slide, plus the timer etc.

But without a separate monitor to run the slideshow on at home, I have no way of testing it. That means I don't know what to expect when I turn up at the conference.

When I connect my MacBook to the projector or whatever and take to the stage, should I select Rehearse Slideshow? And will that show the audience only the current slide and show me on my MacBook the current and next slide, etc?

Or do I select Play? And will that have the same effect of giving me the Rehearsal screen on my MacBook while the audience merely sees the current slide?

Thanks!

MacBook Air, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.4)

Posted on Aug 16, 2013 5:00 PM

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Answer 1

Aug 17, 2013 3:55 AM in response to macmanlondon1967

But without a separate monitor to run the slideshow on at home, I have no way of testing it. That means I don't know what to expect when I turn up at the conference.

Yes you do:

The Rehearse slide show function shows the content of the Presenter Display. It is used to practice and adjust the timing of the presentation, without having a second display or projector connected.

Rehearse is not used during a live presentation to show to viewers.

Presenter Display is set up in:

Keynote > Preferences > Presenter Display

During the live presentation, the viewers will see the full size presentation from the projector, and you will see the Presenter Display on the laptop.

Apple system preferences > Display > Arrangement: have Mirror deselected

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Answer 2

Aug 17, 2013 7:32 AM in response to Gary Scotland

Thanks, Gary. That's more or less put my mind at ease.

Just to confirm, though:

There is no Presenter Display option to choose anywhere in Keynote. But you're saying that once I plug my laptop into the projector, Keynote will automatically know to show me the Presenter Display on my laptop and only the Current Slide on the projector?

Just want to be sure there isn't some box to tick or something in order for this to happen.

Thanks again!

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Answer 3

Aug 17, 2013 10:17 AM in response to macmanlondon1967

There is no Presenter Display option to choose anywhere in Keynote.

Yes there is, this is what I described in my post:

within Keynote go to: Keynote > Preferences > Presenter Display

select presenter display tab and select use alternate display and the options you want to show:

that once I plug my laptop into the projector, Keynote will automatically know to show me the Presenter Display on my laptop and only the Current Slide on the projector?

Once Keynote preferences are set as described the settings will be remembered.

Lastly in System Preferences: Mirror must be off

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Answer 4

Aug 17, 2013 10:44 AM in response to Gary Scotland

Sounds like it's going to work, then.

I just feel a bit uneasy about turning up without having actually seen it work first!

My Systems Preference window is different from yours:

In the bottom left corner, where yours just shows a box and two words beside it, mine has a box besied the words "Show mirroring options in the menu bar when available"

There is also a thing above it that says AirPlay Mirroing: No Devices Selected

The "No Devices Selected" is a drop-down menu but is greyed out.

If I leave the "Show mirroring options in the menu bar when available" unticked, am I doing the same as what you're recommending?

Thanks again!

Carl

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Answer 5

Aug 17, 2013 2:11 PM in response to macmanlondon1967

If I leave the "Show mirroring options in the menu bar when available" unticked, am I doing the same as what you're recommending?

This just provides a quick way to access the preferences window, it does not change any settings.

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Answer 6

Aug 17, 2013 2:16 PM in response to Gary Scotland

Sorry, I don't understand what you mean.

Your System Preferences seems to deliver a different window for Displays than mine does. I don't have that single Mirror ?????? box on the left hand corner that you've highlighted with a red arrow.

Are you running an older version of OS X? Or am I looking in the wrong place?

I get the impression from your last message that I have failed to do this crucial think of switching off the Mirror.

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Answer 7

Aug 17, 2013 3:04 PM in response to macmanlondon1967

Whichever OS you are using, you must have Mirroring turned off in System Preferences > Displays, otherwise Presenter Display will not be available.

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Answer 8

Aug 17, 2013 3:08 PM in response to Gary Scotland

I get that.

But your last reply gave me the impression that I was failing to switch off the Mirroring. In other words, that unticking the box called "Show mirroring options in the menu bar when available" was not enough. That, to use your words, "it does not change any settings."

So I'm left with the doubt about whether I've actually switched off Mirroring or not....

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Answer 9

Aug 19, 2013 4:34 AM in response to macmanlondon1967

To extend the desktop over two displays and switch off Mirroring:

connect the second display and power it on

System Preferences > Displays > Arrangement

deselect the option box: Mirror Displays (so that it is not ticked)

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Answer 10

Sep 3, 2013 7:17 AM in response to Gary Scotland

Worked a treat! Many thanks, Gary...

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