How to Embed SWF in a PowerPoint
Users can incorporate Flash movies, also known as SWF files, in a presentation to enhance a dynamic presentation. PowerPoint provides options to play a variety of media and movie files, including Flash. Inserting a SWF file in a PowerPoint slide requires advanced techniques, and later versions of PowerPoint such as 2007 and 2010 include these options as developer tools. SWF files saved on the computer or accessed from the Web can be inserted into a presentation. Since the media controls fall under developer controls or advanced options, users must be conscientious about transferring the SWF file and checking the link.
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Instructions
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PowerPoint 2007 and 2010
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1
Open the folder containing the SWF file and select "Toolbar" under "View" in the folder's window. Click the SWF file and then write down the full path for the location of the file. For example, the path "C://Users/Yourname/Desktop/Movies/sample.swf" may appear in the folder's address bar.
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2
Launch PowerPoint, open your desired presentation and navigate to the desired slide. Click the Office button and then click the "PowerPoint Options" button at the bottom of the menu.
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3
Select "Popular" and then click the option "Show Developer tab in the Ribbon." Click the "OK" button to save this setting.
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4
Click the "Developer" category tab in the main toolbar. Click "More Controls" in the "Controls" section or group.
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5
Select the control option "Shockwave Flash Object" and then click the "OK" button. Click and drag the object to the slide to create a box for the media.
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6
Resize and reposition the media box as desired on the slide.
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7
Right-click the media box and select "Properties" to open a window. Click the Alphabetic tab in this Properties window and then click "Movie."
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8
Type the path you wrote down in Step 1 in the field next to "Movie."
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9
Click the option "True" in the field next to "Playing" before closing the Properties window.
PowerPoint 2000, 2002 and 2003
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10
Open the folder containing the SWF file and select "Toolbar" under "View" in the folder's window. Click the SWF file and then write down the full path for the location of the file. For example, the path "C://Users/Yourname/Desktop/Movies/sample.swf" may appear in the folder's address bar.
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11
Launch PowerPoint, open your desired presentation and navigate to the desired slide. Select "Toolbars" under "View" in the top menu bar and choose "Control Toolbox."
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12
Select the option "More Controls" in the Control Toolbox and then click the "Shockwave Flash Object" button.
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13
Click and hold down the mouse button on your slide to draw a box for the SWF movie and resize/reposition as desired.
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14
Right-click the media box and select "Properties" to open a window. Type the path you wrote down in Step 1 in the field next to "Movie" in the table.
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15
Select the option "True" in the field next to "Playing" before closing the Properties window.
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1
Tips & Warnings
A SWF file from the Internet can be played in a PowerPoint presentation, provided you maintain your Internet connection during the slide show. Write down the full URL for the SWF movie that appears in your browser's address bar, and type this instead of the file path in the Movie field in the media box Properties window.
If the link to the SWF file is broken, simply re-establish the link by following steps 5 to 7 in Section 1 for PowerPoint 2007 and 2010 or step 5 for earlier versions.
The SWF file is only linked to the presentation. If you are transferring or sending your presentation to another computer or user, the SWF file must be added manually and then re-linked on the other computer (the PowerPoint Package or Package for CD option doesn't bundle SWF files).
References
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