Prevent PowerPoint from pausing when focus is lost

Question

I've written an app that allows me to start multiple PowerPoint presentations, each on its own monitor (this particular config has 4 monitors). The problem I have now is that only the presentation that has focus has any animation. The other 3 pause until they receive focus via mouse click.

Is there any way to keep this pause behavior from happening? (trick PowerPoint into thinking that all 4 retain focus, or anything else to accomplish 4 simultaneously animated presentations...)

Answer 1

I haven't been able to duplicate your environment, but I do know that you can run at least two presesentations at the same time on a single monitor - auto advance tranisitions based on slide timing - and they will continue even if one window loses the focus. Animations, however, wait their turn and will only advance after the next transition/animation is finished, even if it is in another window.

To test this, create a presentation with 3 slides, giving a name of something like "MySlides.pptx". Add some pictures and animations and slide transitions that advance based on timing, not mouse click.

In PPT2007, go to Slide Show | Set Up Slide Show and then under Show Type, click Browsed by Individual. Press F5 to ensure it runs as expected. Press Esc.

Then duplicate the deck, giving a new name of something like "MySlides2.pptx". With both decks now open, navigate to each and press F5. You should see both of them running.

In PPT2010 you can save decks as WMVs, so that may also be an option when it becomes available.

Answer 2

Hello,

I had similar error.

In my case I have a desktop with dual output video card in reception one monitor is used by the secretary for normal working and the other output is for a powerpoint promotional display on the wall for customers.

The slideshow would start in full screen mode and play okay, but as soon as the focus moved off the promo screen onto the secretaries screen the slideshow would pause and resuming if i put focus back onto the promo screen again.

Following Otaku comment I changed to browsed by individual. Instead of the slideshow starting in full screen it has a title bar at the top, however it will autoscroll now even if I take focus away from the promo screen.