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Easy way to sync complex PPT lecture slides between Macbook and iPad ?

I have a difficult question regarding the syncing of my Powerpoint lecture slides.

I am not even sure this is the right forum (please point me in the right direction, if not).


I have a large set of PPT slides for my classes.

They are complex in that they contain quite a few animations, and videos, and (external) demos.

The videos are NOT embedded into the slides, but rather linked -- they do, however, play inside the

PPT slideshow.

(I don't want to embed the videos for various reasons.)

The slides also contain quite a few hyperlinks to external demos, such as web pages containing javascript demos, or java applets, or even regular applications.


So far, I have developed my slides on my MacbookPro; then, using a simple rsync command, I have synchronized them over to a so-called Modbook (http://www.modbook.com/), which is essentially a modified Macbook.

The good thing about this solution is that my complete folder structure is completely in sync between my Macbook and the Modbook, so all slides and links work out of the box.

However, my old Modbook is about 10 years old, and showing signs of feebleness.

Unfortunately, the new modbook's are prohibitively expensive.

So I am looking for a different solution.


I was thinking of an iPadPro.

What I would like to do is to present them on an iPad , so that I can scribble and draw on the slides during the lecture.


But I cannot find a way to keep my usual workflow (create on Macbook, present on iPad).


So far, I have this folder structure:

~/Documents/Class1/slides*.pptx

~Documents/Class1/demos/...

~/Documents/Class2/slides*.pptx

~/Movies/lectures/subfolders/*.mp4

(~ means me home)


I suspect, that this folder structure cannot be replicated on my iPad, because the filesystem itself has a different structure. But this is just a guess.


So, I have a number of questions:

- is it possible to maintain my workflow, i.e., create slides on the Macbook, sync over to iPad ?

- is it possible to maintain external hyperlinks in my PPT slides and present them on the iPad?

- would it help to put my folders ~/Documents, ~/Movies, and others, under iCloud control?

- are there any other solutions? (Keynote does not seem to be a solution, because it does not allow external movies or hyperlinks to other stuff like demos)


I will appreciate very much all kinds of insights, hints, suggestions, links, and thoughts.


Best regards, Gabriel

MacBook Pro with Retina display, macOS High Sierra (10.13.2), iPhone 6S, always latest iOS

Posted on Mar 14, 2018 5:25 AM

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6 replies

Mar 19, 2018 3:37 PM in response to GabrielZ

Regarding your second item above, see if this page from Keynote's help file addresses this concern:


https://help.apple.com/keynote/mac/7.3/#/tande32a1b86


Regarding your first item, perhaps this same section of Keynote's help addresses this, as you can likely add a link to the Movie object.


I admit I don't have first-hand experience with what you're trying to do. Also note I have supplied links to the Mac's Keynote, and assumed these techniques would work as well with iPad's Keynote.


Admittedly AlexDale's proposal sounds good to me as well.

Mar 18, 2018 6:16 PM in response to GabrielZ

Let's start with a fundamental question which I am not certain you addressed in your well documented question above.


GabrielZ wrote:


But I cannot find a way to keep my usual workflow (create on Macbook, present on iPad).

Here is the fundamental question:


Are you requiring that your existing PowerPoint lecture slides be re-used? Or would you feel comfortable in keeping your workflow, but starting your lecture slide preparations over again?


If the latter works for you, then I strongly suggest you consider using Apple's Keynote application instead of PowerPoint.


Keynote would work on both your Mac and iPad, and would very likely allow easy content transfer not only now but for the foreseeable future.

Mar 19, 2018 3:21 PM in response to sberman

I would love to move to Keynote, even if it takes a little extra effort.


HOWEVER, Keynote is lacking two feature that are very important to me:


1.

I cannot put a movie on the slide *without* keynote embedding the file.

Want to *link* to the file, but still have the movie play in the presentation without switching to Finder.


2.

Keynote does not allow to make what is called a hyperlink in PPT,

i.e., I want to click on an image and then Keynote/PPT should open an external application (leaving the presentation, of course), or open a (local) web page.

Easy way to sync complex PPT lecture slides between Macbook and iPad ?

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