PowerPoint 2002 to EXE

This article forms Part II of the PowerPoint 2002 to EXE procedure. Read Part I here.

See Also: PowerPoint 2003 to EXE

1. In Windows 2000, XP or Server 2003, go to your Start menu and choose Run. In the resultant dialog box, type iexpress. Doing so 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.
2. Select the Create new Self Extraction Directive file option in IExpress. Chose the Next button.
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3. IExpress wants to know how you would like to package your files. Chose the first option that is Extract files and run an installation command. Click the Next button.
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4. Give your intended package a name. This could be anything descriptive. Click the Next button.
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5. On 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 chose the No Prompt option. Click the Next button.
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6. You can choose to display a License agreement. For this tutorial, we have selected the Do not to display a license option. Click the Next button.
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7. 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 the Next button.
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8. In the install program options, just type in pptview.exe sample.ppt, 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 the Next button.
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Alternative

10. You might want to use the constant, pptview.exe /L /S playlist.txt. This command will open the playlist created in the Package to Folder option and is 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, which is much cleaner for a self-executing file.
9. In the next screen, opt to hide the installation program's window. Click the Next button.
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10. Since we want the entire process to be as transparently invisible to the end-user as possible, we'll opt for the No message option. Click the Next button.
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11. 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.
12. 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 we've suggested you use the 8.3 file naming convention for all files in this tutorial. Click the Next button.
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12. Choose the No restart option since we are installing, any system files. Click the Next button.
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13. It's a good idea to save all the wizard settings as Save Self Extraction Directive (SED) file. Choose a name and file location before you click the Next button.
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14. There's nothing to change in this screen unless you want to go back and change any of the settings. Click the Next button.
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15. Click the Finish button. Doing so will activate a DOS/command window that will compress all actual files down to almost 50% and create a standalone EXE that contains everything including the presentation(s), linked files, and even the Viewer!
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