Convert PowerPoint - How To (Overview)*

Below is an overview of 'Convert PowerPoint' (CPPT).  To view the complete on-line help, click here.

Contents
 Using the Graphical User Interface
Using the Command-Line Interface
    Setting Up to run from Command-Line
    Command-Line Syntax
    Command-Line Switch Definition

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Using the Graphical User Interface

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Using the Command-Line Interface

You can bypass Convert PowerPoint's user interface by using the command line feature... much like in the good old DOS days.  This can be accessed in several different ways.  Examples:

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Type your command into a Command Prompt window
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Type your command into the Run window (located on the Start menu)
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Call from a batch (*.BAT) file
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Call from a program you wrote

There are two techniques for using Convert PowerPoint from the Command-Line: Issue a Conversion Job command, or a Conversion Task command.  Conversion Jobs use *.SII files, which are built with the Graphical User Interface (GUI).  Once saved, they can be invoked from the GUI or from the Command-Line.  Conversion Tasks require no previous GUI activity, but do require you to specify your conversion in detail.

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Setting up to run Convert PowerPoint from the Command-Line

Do one of the following:

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Set the path in your environment variables to the location of CPPT.EXE

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Copy CPPT.EXE to the same folder that it will be invoked from

Otherwise, you'll see the following error:

"'CPPT' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file."

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Command Line Syntax

Switches in square brackets “[ ]” are optional.  Notes: 1)/G overrides /T, 2)Spaces before switch values are optional (i.e., "/C6" = "/C  6"), 3)Use double quotes around file names.

To run a Conversion Job:
CPPT /J{ConversionJobFile}  [/V] [/L{LogFile}] [/B{LogToJobFile}]

To run a Conversion Task:
CPPT /S{Original File(s)}  /T{Target File(s)} /C#  [/N] [/G]  [/V] [/R] [/L{LogFile}] [/B{LogToJobFile}]

Examples:

CPPT /J"C:\MyJobs\ApplesOranges.SII"

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Command Line Switch Definitions

Switch

Explanation

/B{File}

Creates a Conversion Job (a *.SII file) from the conversion, to allow repeating or redoing the same job later.

/C #

File type of the file(s) specified with the /T or /G switch.  Click here for a list of possible values.

/G

Save converted files to same folder as the original.  Overrides /T.

/J{File}

To specify an existing Conversion Job (*.SII)

/L{File}

To save execution results to a log file (e.g., d:\mylogs\WCE.LOG). See also /V

/N

To specify sheets to convert. Use names of sheets, a numeric index(es), or even ranges of sheets (i.e. "1,4,10-20" and "4-10,9" etc.).  Use "*" for all sheets.

/R

To recursively convert all files in the sub-folder(s) specified.  See /S, /T  and /G for more details on selecting whole directories.

/S{File}

File(s) to be converted.  Can be any file-type that's readable by Excel.
Examples: "D:\MyPPTFiles\MyPPTFile.PPT", "D:\MyPPTFiles\*.PPT".  Output will be saved to location(s) specified with /T switch.  Also see /R.

/T{File}

Target File(s) to be created from conversion. 
Examples: "D:\MyPPTFiles\MyPPTFile.PDF", "D:\MyPPTFiles\*.PDF".  This switch is ignored if the /G Switch is used.

/V

Verbose mode.  Displays a message box indicating how the conversion went.  See also /L.
 

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To view the complete on-line help, click here.

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  *All Graphics reused by permission