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Microsoft PowerPoint XP

Pack and Go

It is a common practice to copy a PowerPoint presentation in order to open it on another computer. At times, however, PowerPoint files can be quite large, even too large for a floppy disk. In these cases, you can use the PowerPoint feature called Pack and Go to "pack up" a presentation for use on another computer. If you will be using a campus laptop computer for a classroom PowerPoint presentation, refer to Pack and Go for Laptop Users.

NOTE: This option is not available on Macintosh versions of PowerPoint.

return to topUsing PowerPoint Pack and Go: FAQ

While using PowerPoint Pack and Go, there are several tips which you can utilize. Review the following questions and answers to use Pack and Go most effectively.

If I am saving to a disk, what kind and how many disks will be needed?

If you are using floppy disks, it is wise to have several formatted floppy disks on hand. You may find it helpful to number these disks in the order that you used them. If you are saving to a zip drive, you will probably only need one formatted zip disk.  

Is there anything special I need to do with my presentation's images, sounds, videos, etc.?

You will want to be sure that all of your presentation's images, sounds, videos, etc. (except those from PowerPoint clipart) are located on the same directory as the presentation. 

Should I include linked files?

Consider the fact that if you include linked files, you can change them at the destination computer. If you do not include linked files, their information cannot be changed. 

Is there anything I need to know about different versions of PowerPoint or PowerPoint Viewers?

If you used PowerPoint XP or its Viewer to create and "pack" your presentation, you will only be able to run your PowerPoint presentation on a destination computer running Windows NT, Windows 2000, or Windows XP. 

What should I do if I changed my PowerPoint presentation since last using Pack and Go?

You must rerun Pack and Go to ensure that your presentation is up-to-date and complete when you get to your destination computer.

return to topPacking a PowerPoint Presentation

The PowerPoint Pack and Go Wizard will assist you with packing up your presentation. You may want to refer to the FAQ section for some general guidelines before beginning. Just follow these steps to save your presentation files to a floppy disk, zip disk, hard drive, or other drive on your network:

  1. Open the PowerPoint presentation you wish to save

  2. From the File menu, select Pack and Go...
    The Pack and Go Wizard dialog box appears.
    Pack and Go Wizard dialog box

  3. Click NEXT

  4. To pack the currently open presentation, select Active presentation
    OR
    To pack a different presentation:
    1. Select Other presentation(s)
    2. Click BROWSE...
      The Select a presentation to package dialog box appears.
    3. Using the Look in pull-down list and other navigational tools, locate and select the desired presentation

    4. Click SELECT
      NOTE:You may pack your current presentation along with other presentation(s) simultaneously by selecting all the presentations you want packed.

  5. Click NEXT

  6. Select which drive to copy the presentation to:

    A:\ drive Copy to floppy disk  
    D:\ drive Copy to zip disk
    C:\ drive Copy to hard drive
    NOTE: This option is not always available.
    Choose destination Copy to another computer on your network
    Click the BROWSE... button to select a destination.

  7. Click NEXT

  8. OPTIONAL: To open the presentation's linked files on the destination computer, select Include linked files (See Using PowerPoint Pack and Go: FAQ)

  9. OPTIONAL: To ensure that the presentation's text will display correctly even if the selected font is not installed on the destination computer, select Embed True Type fonts

  10. Click NEXT

  11. If the destination computer does have PowerPoint installed, select Don't include the Viewer
    OR
    If the destination computer does not have PowerPoint installed, select Viewer for Microsoft Windows
    NOTES:
    If you are unsure whether the destination computer has PowerPoint installed, select Viewer for Microsoft Windows just to be safe (See Getting the PowerPoint Viewer).
    If the Viewer is not installed on your computer you will not be able to select Viewer for Microsoft Windows and you must download it by clicking DOWNLOAD THE VIEWER. You will be taken to the Microsoft web site where you can search for and download the Viewer onto your computer.
    Pack and Go Wizard, Viewer

  12. Click NEXT

  13. Click FINISH
    PowerPoint Pack and Go Wizard will now copy your presentation. 
    NOTES:
    If saving to a disk, you may be asked to insert new formatted floppy disks.
    If there is an error while Pack and Go Wizard is saving, do not panic. PowerPoint will alert you to what the specific problem is. Simply respond to the alert and rerun the Pack and Go Wizard.

return to topUnpacking a PowerPoint Presentation

The following instructions will aid you in unpacking your PowerPoint presentation onto the destination computer.

  1. If you have saved your PowerPoint presentation to a disk(s), insert the first disk

  2. From the Start menu, select All Programs » Accessories » Windows Explorer
         OR
    Right click the START menu » select Explore
    Windows Explorer opens.

  3. In Windows Explorer, open the drive where you saved your presentation
    On this drive, PowerPoint Pack and Go created a file called Pngsetup.exe. 

  4. Double click PNGSETUP.EXE
    The Pack and Go Setup dialog box appears.
    Pack and Go Setup dialog box

  5. In the Select destination folder scroll box, select the destination where you want to copy your presentation

  6. Click OK
    If you saved to disks, you will be prompted to insert them, in order.
    The Pack and Go Setup dialog box will appear alerting you that the presentation was successfully installed and asking if you would like to run the presentation now.

  7. To run the slide show presentation immediately, click YES
    OR
    To postpone opening the slide show presentation, click NO

Starting the PowerPoint Presentation After Unpacking

  1. From the Start menu, select All Programs » Accessories » Windows Explorer
    OR
    Right click the START menu » select Explore
    Windows Explorer opens.

  2. In Windows Explorer, open the drive that you saved your presentation on

  3. Locate your presentation on that drive

  4. To start the presentation, double click it

return to topGetting the PowerPoint Viewer

If you are planning to run your PowerPoint presentation on a computer that does not have PowerPoint installed, you must use a Viewer. To utilize the Viewer, you must have selected this option while running the Pack and Go Wizard (See Packing a PowerPoint Presentation).

If your computer does not have a Viewer installed for use during the Pack and Go process, you can search for and download one from Microsoft on the Web by clicking DOWNLOAD THE VIEWER during the packing process or by going to http://search.microsoft.com/ and following the below steps.

  1. Go to the Microsoft Search website

  2. In the Search for text box, type PowerPoint Viewer
    For greater ease in searching, you may want to specify which version of PowerPoint you want (e.g., PowerPoint XP Viewer). For more information on different versions of Viewers, see Tips for Using PowerPoint Viewer.

  3. Press [Enter]
    OR
    Click GO

  4. From the resulting list, click the desired option

  5. Follow the on screen instructions for downloading and installation
    You will be prompted to provide a folder in which to install the PowerPoint Viewer.

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