Thank you for downloading the autoPPT_freeware program. With it, you'll be able to distribute your PowerPoint slideshows on a CD that will automatically open & run a designated slideshow. It will also detect whether PowerPoint or the free PowerPoint viewer (available from Microsoft) is present on the user's system, and prompt to install it if it's not.

This freeware version includes a nag that will require you to click an OK button to proceed to the program; there is also available a Premium Edition for $11/US that runs invisible. In other words, when you insert your slideshow CD, it will open & run without any interface whatsoever, except to prompt for PowerPoint if it's not present.

To use, simply copy the files on this zip folder to your CD. You'll have a minimum of 4 things:

1.     the autorun.inf file that starts the CD spinning on insertion
2.     the autoPPT_freeware.exe file that begins the slideshow presentation
3.     a folder named "Documents"  (without the quotes) that holds the slideshow itself  (which MUST be named "Document1.pps"  without the quotes)
4.     a folder named "setup"  (without the quotes)  that contains the ppview97.exe  that you must download separately from Microsoft.

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INSTRUCTIONS:  PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL INSTRUCTIONS PERTAINING TO FILE NAMES ARE CaSe-SeNsItIvE !!!
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1.     Open your PowerPoint presentation and save it as a slideshow: from within PowerPoint, click File>>Save as...>> and select 'PowerPoint Show' as type.  Name it "Document1"  (as usual, without the quotes).  Copy it to your Documents folder; it should now be named "Document1.pps" - - 
=>**NOTE THE '.pps' EXTENSION, INSTEAD OF '.ppt'!**<=

2.     Download the PowerPoint Viewer from Microsoft at this web address: (Valid as of 12/03)

http://microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=D1649C22-B51F-4910-93FC-4CF2832D3342&displaylang=en

This is a long URL, so your best bet at success is to copy it from here & paste it into your web browser's address bar. Unfortunately, Microsoft won't allow this file (named 'ppview97.exe') to be included as part of this download package. It is, however, a free download for you, the user.  Be sure to read the rules & instructions concerning this download at the Microsoft site.  After it's downloaded, put it in the folder named setup.

3.     Now copy the autorun.inf & autoPPT_freeware.exe files in this zip folder to the root of your CD.

4.     Burn your CDs and distribute as you see fit!

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More information, as well as the Premium Edition without nags, is available at 

http://graficalicus.com/graffishop/product_info.php?products_id=30

For additional help, please post a question or comment to the graficalicus web & graphics forums at http://graficalicus.com/InvisionBoard/index.php  so others can benefit from your question,  or drop a line to support@graficalicus.com, with 'autoPPT_freeware' somewhere in the subject line.

Thank you for your support, and happy PowerPointing!

the graficalicus web & graphics workshop
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<disclaimer> This software is offered with no warrantee, either implied or stated. The user accepts all responsibility for any damage to software. operating system, or hardware that may result directly or indirectly from using this product.  </disclaimer>
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