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Add-ins
PresentationPoint DataPoint
Reviewed by Geetesh
Bajaj, November 25 2003
See Also: The Kurt Dupont Interview

PowerPoint and Databases
PresentationPoint,
Kurt and DataPoint
Evolving and Applying DataPoint
Continued on Page 2....

PowerPoint and Databases
PowerPoint is omnipresent and everywhere - and there are even
people out there who compare it to death! So, why has this program
escaped all this while from some sort of integration with databases?
It would probably be wrong to say that there has been no use of
PowerPoint with databases in the past. I myself am aware of many
custom solutions built by PowerPoint and database consultants that
have explored amazing uses of the two application flows together.
However, no such solution has been made available to a mainstream
audience - in fact, many mainstream PowerPoint users probably don't
expect any database integration of any sort for PowerPoint slides.
And then comes along DataPoint and tries to change attitudes.
Will this concept succeed? Let's find answers...
Back

PresentationPoint, Kurt and DataPoint
DataPoint is a PowerPoint add-in created by PresentationPoint,
a Belgium based company that was founded in 1998 with a goal is
to build products and consultancy for the aviation market (more
airports than airlines). PresentationPoint builds AODB and FIDS
systems.
AODB stands for Airports Operational Database. It collects, distributes
and validates airport information such as flight info, check ins,
gates, etc.
FIDS stands for Flight information Display Systems. This is a
system that you as a passenger see at every airport - they show
your flight information, boarding status, advertising, etc. This
is also used by staff to know which luggage is going to which aircraft,
flight tracking and delays.
PresentationPoint is headed by Kurt Dupont, Director who was also my contact
for this review. Thank you, Kurt.
For more information, visit the PresentationPoint
site...
Also, do visit this extensive feature
list for DataPoint...
Back

Evolving and Applying DataPoint
I asked Kurt about how DataPoint evolved:
"For several years I was hoping that Microsoft would
include database connectivity into PowerPoint. They did not so
I took
the challenge. After 2 years of investigations and development,
DataPoint has been released. Some testers have been using the
system already for several months."
I also asked Kurt about application areas for Datapoint and he
provided some extensive info. Since most of this is so valuable,
I'm reproducing the entire list here:
- A music hall is using DataPoint to display the play list of
bands, singers together with the schedule. Next to this online
presentation, they use PowerPoint and DataPoint to generate flyers.
- Inform your personnel on the work floor about the current status
of a project/product
- Display the random numbers of a bingo event.
- Someone has collected information in Excel or Access but his
or her boss wants to have a PowerPoint presentation
- Score board for games, elections and votes.
- To maintain a companys product list, prices and stock
information.
- An overview presentation with the status of all ongoing projects
in a company. The information is collected from a Microsoft Project
database.
- To welcome visitors at the reception desk.

The screenshots above show Datapoint working behind the scenes
to output dynamic data driven PowerPoint presentations that deliver
airport flight schedules (left) and weather forecast reports
(right).
Back
Continued on Page 2....

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