In Windows 2000, XP or Server 2003, go to your Start menu and
choose Run. In the resultant dialog box, type 'iexpress'
without the quotes. This will open the IExpress Wizard,
one of Windows' undocumented secrets. Since IExpress is a series
of wizard driven screens, each step below includes an actual
screenshot.
Create a new self extraction directive file in IExpress. Choose
Next.
IExpress wants to know how you would like to package your files.
Choose the first option that says 'Extract files and run an installation
command'. Click 'Next'.
Give your intended package a name - this could be anything
descriptive you choose. Click 'Next'.
In this screen, IExpress needs to know if we require a confirmation
prompt when the end-user activates the finished package - since
we want the finished standalone EXE to function as transparently
as possible, we'll choose the 'No Prompt' option. Click 'Next'.
You can choose to display a license agreement - for this tutorial,
I have opted not to display a license - click 'Next'.
This screen is probably the most important within the entire
IExpress Wizard sequence. Click the 'Add' button and navigate
to the folder created in Part
I. Add all the files within that folder and click 'Next'.
In the install program options, just type in 'pptview.exe sample.ppt'
without the quotes, where sample.ppt is the name of your PowerPoint
presentation. At all times, especially when you are creating
new presentations or linking media to presentations, try using
the old DOS 8.3 naming structure where the actual file name does
not exceed 8 words and the extension does not go beyond 3 words.
Click 'Next'.
Alternative: You might want to use the constant 'pptview.exe /L /S
playlist.txt'. That will open the playlist created in Package to Folder.
Less likely to have typos on the user's part if they just cut and paste.
Also, the /S switch tells the Viewer to open without a splash screen. Much
cleaner for a self-executing file.
In the next screen, opt to hide the installation program's
window. Click 'Next'.
Since we want the entire process to be as transparently invisible
to the end-user as possible, we'll opt to include no message.
Click 'Next'.
You need to provide a path and name for your finished standalone
EXE presentation now. Place it in the same folder as the presentation
(or anywhere else) and give it a small name, preferably something
that uses the old DOS 8.3 file naming convention.
Within other options, check the box that hides the file extracting progress
animation. Uncheck the other box that allows you to store files using long
file names within the package, since I've suggested you already use the 8.3
file naming convention for all files in this tutorial. Click 'Next'.
Choose not to restart the system since we are not installing
any system files - click 'Next'.
It's a good idea to save all the wizard settings as a self
extraction directive (SED) file - choose a name and file location
before you click 'Next'.
There's nothing to change in this screen unless you want to
go back and change any of the settings. Click 'Next'.
Click the Finish button - this will activate a DOS/command
window that will compress all actual files down to almost 50%
and create a standalone EXE that contains everything - the presentation(s),
linked files and even the Viewer!
