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How do I restrict keynote to one screen

My macbook is using a second screen. How do I restrict keynote to only show the presentation on one of the screens?

MacBook Pro, OS X Mavericks (10.9), Quad Core i7 15" 10GB RAM

Posted on Nov 3, 2013 6:45 PM

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Posted on Aug 22, 2017 11:18 PM

That really is a ridiculous design. Clearly no-one in the Keynote dev team actually uses the product, or they'd quickly discover how impractical it is to take over the other monitor during a slide show, especially when presenting a webinar where you need to see lots of other windows in relation to questions and chat messages from webinar audience members. This fatal flaw in Keynote is forcing us to now use—wait for it—Google Presentations in webinars because in Zoom we can choose to show only that browser window, leaving screen real estate available to place the Q&A, Chat, Attendee list etc. via the Zoom.us software.


While we're at it... Keynote should also provide an option to display a slide show in just a portion of the screen to leave what's around it available for these other app windows. I have a large monitor in front of me, plus my MacBook Pro and using Keynote for webinars is not feasible due to this "we will take over all your screens" flaw in its design.

41 replies

Apr 10, 2014 3:37 AM in response to madmaxF16

I never make light of a serious question.


I repeate, Keynote takes over complete control of the graphics system (as does Powerpoint) so that presenter screen and primary screns can be used if needed. Therefore when Keynote is in play the other screen displays Presenter screen or is black if presenter screen is switched off in Keynote preferences.

Sep 17, 2014 2:40 PM in response to ironick17

Same here. I'm frustrated with how it is designed without any options like what the powerpoint offers. I also need to show the slideshow on the projector and do something else on my macbook pro screen however with the Keynote, I wasn't able to do that simultaneously. I also wish there is a presenter screen only show in its own window, not the whole screen. This will give us more control and be able to view our presenter's "window" when the slideshow is on other display.

Sep 18, 2014 12:45 AM in response to DKinner

I also need to show the slideshow on the projector and do something else on my macbook pro screen however with the Keynote,

This is a regular query in this forum but as previously stated, you can't work like this in Keynote, if you must use a slide show and other software at the same time, to you will have to use other slide show application.

Nov 21, 2014 6:41 AM in response to PicciaNeri

I need to record the presentation as it plays one screen, while I read my notes out loud on the other screen.

Go to: Play > Record Slideshow

if the Presenter notes window is not shown, click the options button ( 3rd button from right at the top of presenter display window)

click the red record button to record


If Keynote makes it impossible then it's absolutely useless to me as a program. Apple, please sort it out.

You have jumped into a discussion on a different subject to your query. It is best to start a new discussion for your specific question.

Apple, please sort it out.


Nothing to sort out, it appears you were not aware of how this function is used.

Post back if you have any further difficulties.

Mar 29, 2015 3:12 AM in response to andrewbatz

I know this thread is a little old now, but I found a decent solution until Apple fixes the problem. You can export the slideshow as an HTML file, which will allow you to play the slideshow on any browser. You can then play it in fullscreen leaving the other display free to do whatever you like.


Most of the animations still work, but there are some that don't.


It's really a shame that this problem hasn't been fixed yet.

Apr 16, 2015 7:23 PM in response to Gary Scotland

Gary, or whomever has taken over for him since Nov 21, 2014 6:41 AM .

Apple needs to "sort this out". That means make it do what we need. I need to record my keynote WITH ANIMATIONS in Screenflow as I talk about the slides and interact with them. We don't care if Keynote WANTS to take over all the screens, we're telling you and the programmer with a billion dollars in cash sitting in the bank, to please fix Keynote so it allows this. I may be aware of what you've done with the program, but we don't like it. And THIS IS THE PLACE, not SOME OTHER PLACE to express this concern.

I discovered this ANOMALY during a conference presentation when I also wanted to record audio of my presentation with my audio of the talk. Couldn't do it so that I had control of the audio record board. BAD DESIGN. FIX IT. Please.

Apr 17, 2015 4:12 AM in response to Stan Williams

Apple needs to "sort this out". That means make it do what we need

There is nothing to sort, Keynote functions in the way it does for good engineering reasons. The quality and type of effects that users have praised for many years can only be achieved if Keynote player has complete access to the graphics and sound system. Keynote has always worked this way, many other graphics applications work this way also.


And THIS IS THE PLACE, not SOME OTHER PLACE to express this concern

No it is not.

This is a user to user technical help forum, not a facility to rant.

The correct way to give Apple your comments is here: www.Apple.com/feedback


I need to record my keynote WITH ANIMATIONS in Screenflow as I talk about the slides and interact with them.

Screenflow and every other Mac application is hidden when Keynote is in Play. Keynote is a stand alone application, it has not been designed to work specifically with Screenflow, or any other Mac application. If this is of sole importance to you, look for an alternative application.


BAD DESIGN. FIX IT. Please.

This is not bad design, its not what users would prefer and at times inconvenient, but there is no fault.

Apr 25, 2015 12:18 PM in response to renante

Your argument that the system needs the full graphics does not hold up as simple animations are barely processor intensive considering the CPU and graphics cards modern PCs hold.


Very little processing is performed by the CPU when Keynote is in Play as most of the processing is made by the GPU. Keynote uses the parallel processing power of the graphics pipelineto process the advanced effects unique to Keynote; luminous keying and 64bit rendering.

Most Keynote users prefer the look and quality of presentations achieved by Keynote in comparison to other applications, we certainly don't want to trade that off just to see the appearance of a second application at the time Keynote is playing.


This can be easily fixed if the programmer of keynote just reprogrammed it the way it should be like they did with full-screen apps.

There is nothing to fix. If Keynote causes you so much grief, use an alternative presentation application.


Keynote is not alone in hogging the graphics system, applications using graphics acceleration that prevent displaying a second application, blanking secondary displays include:


Final Cut Pro X

Libra Present

PhotoMagico

Open Office Impress

PowerPoint

Perfect Effects

Keynote

Lightroom

Aperture

Digital Heaven Pro Video Player

Quictime Player X

Apr 25, 2015 12:41 PM in response to Gary Scotland

Gary, you set yourself up for ridicule. Whenever someone says of their product, "There's nothing to fix" be sure that someone is fixing it and will make a better product. You can state the technical situation and apologize, but when you defend something that clearly a number of customers do not like, you come off sounding strangely religious and ideological. This isn't natural law where we're arguing about whether the functional of gravity can be revised. You sound like Henry Ford saying "The Model T is available only in black because that's the only necessary color for an automobile."


In the meantime, I've found a solution to the problem, which I"ve been using the last few days with success. I wish you, or someone at Apple, had been able to provide this information. You can use it for others. If we want to record Keynote with Screenflow then the process is this:

1. Open up both Keynote in EDIT mode, and ensure when it's in PLAY mode it will display on the correct screen (f you have multiple screens)

2. Start up Screenflow and ensure it will record on the same screen that Keynote plays on, and that audio levels are correct.

3. Start Screenflow in RECORD.

4. Start Keynote in PLAY

5. Go through your Keynote presentation, realizing that the front end of the Keynote pitch will be edited away laster during your Screenflow's presentation editing for a smooth beginning.

(During the recording you won't see Screenflow's monitors, but it's doing it's job. You may want to start and stop a few times to ensure the screen and audio are being recorded as you want them.)

6. Escape Keynote's PLAY funciton....and drop back into Keynote EDIT. Screenflow will reapepar.

7. Stop Screenflow from Recording. You can note leave Keynote EDIT up or QUIT it.

8. Save the Screenflow file.

9. Edit the Screenflow file, and resave.

Apr 27, 2015 6:55 AM in response to Stan Williams

Gary, you set yourself up for ridicule.

I am happy to be ridiculed by anyone who does not understand the proposition being discussed. A ridiculous statement is one of false information, as my last post is based on fact, please be kind enough to explain what is incorrect.


Whenever someone says of their product, "There's nothing to fix" be sure that someone is fixing it and will make a better product.

As the hardware and software developers of Open GL Core Technology and Keynote are not myself, I am obviously not in a position to alter these products.

NVIDIA Apple BOINX Adobe and others do not see this as a fault, therefore they do not believe there is anything to fix, as for myself I can only comment on the technology that is employed as of today.


You sound like Henry Ford saying "The Model T is available only in black because that's the only necessary color for an automobile."


Ford's advertising slogan referred only to the model T and to no other car, he believed he manufactured the best car in the world.


when you defend something that clearly a number of customers do not like, you come off sounding strangely religious and ideological.

Again you appear to believe that people who reply here can immediately and directly change the technologies used in the Macs graphics system. The hardware and software are developed by many manufacturers and developers, why don't you put your proposals in detail to them? It would be more productive than mock anyone who offers practical advice.


I've found a solution to the problem, which I"ve been using the last few days with success.

Unfortunately you appear not to understand the issue under discussion at all.

Screen recording applications are used to record and play back sound and video of a recording of the main display, it will not in any way allow a second display to show applications running when Keynote is in play. Perhaps when you find out what this discussion is debating you may be able to offer some constructive support?

Apr 27, 2015 8:44 AM in response to renante

There are just some shortfalls, which I feel need to be implemented to improve the user experience.

I completely agree, there are a number of shortfalls in Keynote, but I acknowledge that most of these have been sorted out by Apple over the last two years since version 6 was released.


Please give these ideas some consideration instead of totally writing them off as it's evidently a very important feature to people who actually use the app.



To confirm, this is not a bug. A bug is an error, flaw, failure, or fault that can be repaired or corrected. What this blanking of the display or unable to display a second application when Keynote is in play is a side effect, I like your word "shortfall".


Its something, like you, I personally would like to not encounter, but this effect is apparent in Mac, Windows and Linux systems and is something that can't be corrected with the current combination of hardware and software available.


This effect (shortfall) is due to the lack of processing ability the totality of the graphics system has available.

A daily example with windows computers in schools and colleges; a lecturer plugs the laptop into a projector and runs the presentation software. The presentation is shown on the laptop but a blank display on the projector. The only remedy is to select the projector as the presentation screen and make do with a blank laptop screen.


The Mac Keynote user has three choices when using Keynote, one computer and two displays, typically a projector and a Mac:


1 with presenter display enabled: Keynote presentation on projector with Presenter Display on Mac display

2 with Presenter Display disabled: Keynote presentation on projector and blank screen on Mac

2 with displays mirrored: Keynote presentation on both projector and Mac display


Alternatively use application switcher (command tab) to swap between Keynote and a second application.


An extended work around I use is to have two computers; I have this installed in over 50 presentation rooms classrooms or theatres; one computer displaying Keynote the second displaying the other application, perhaps a web browser or spreadsheet.


In Final Cut Pro X, I assume with a two screen system, the main display shows the browser and timeline, the second display shows Viewers or events.

In this case no other application can be seen or used.

Similarly the applications I mention a similar "shortfall' occurs.


I have lived with this situation for over twenty five years and have been forced to employ one of the above choices.

Jul 12, 2015 12:45 PM in response to Gary Scotland

I consider Keynote's "feature" to take over both displays in presentation mode to be a serious bug. I produce screencasts of presentations but, when Keynote hogs both displays, I cannot access Camtasia to select custom screen and start the recording. I also have software that would allow me to write over the presentation with a Wacom pad; however, since I cannot access either screen, then I cannot use that software in the presentation. (In contrast, this is possible on Powerpoint. I can explain how but it is beyond the scope of this thread.)


All in all, Keynote is worthless to me as a tool for preparing screencasts. However, if Apple would "fix" this bug, all would be well. From my perspective, Keynote has a debilitating bug that must be fixed ASAP. As of now, I'll stick with Powerpoint and I will probably eventually uninstall Keynote.

Jul 13, 2015 7:22 AM in response to goldtrotter

I consider Keynote's "feature" to take over both displays in presentation mode to be a serious bug.


This is not a bug. It is a symptom of the graphics system in the Mac when rendering the effects used in Keynote. When in play, Keynote takes over full control of the graphics system and this results in only Keynote being shown, not other applications. If you don't want this symptom, use another application.

How do I restrict keynote to one screen

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