Joho the Blog
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April 16, 2007
Anyone have any recommendations for a Windows or Linux package that will let me create Flash presentations so I can stop using Powerpoint? Note that I am not trying to import Powerpoint into Flash. I want software that will make it easy-ish to create presentations in Flash, so that I can play them back at 1024x768, complete with snazzy path animation (a must) and special effects. A plain old Flash editor that has a template for presentations would be a start, but I'd like something with effects built in. I'm playing around with Swish (but can't find a presentation template and so far don't see how to run it as Flash instead of Shockwave, but I haven't looked hard.) My preferences: The editor either works in Linux or works in Linux via Wine or CrossOffice (or some other DLL-runner). And I don't want to pay a million dollars for this, since it's likely to be a failed experiment on my part. But if it works, I could switch to Linux on my laptop. Any thoughts? [Tags: powerpoint flash linux presentation_software] Posted
by D. Weinberger at April 16, 2007 11:14 AM
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Comments
The presentation component of OpenOffice can export presentations directly to Flash's SWF format -- no middleware required. Just click "Export..." in the File menu and choose SWF as the format in the dialog box that pops up.
Posted by: Jason Lefkowitz | April 16, 2007 12:34 PM
Jason, thanks, but Open Office doesn't support editable path animation. It also animates waaaaay too slowly on my laptop...much much slower than Powerpoint.
Posted by: David Weinberger | April 16, 2007 01:39 PM
A Mac with Keynote is great for exporting Flash and Quicktime. I use it for producing HD and web quality training videos from a single source. Unfortunately, it doesn't meet your spec.
Posted by: Brad Hutchings | April 16, 2007 02:14 PM
David, this is absolutely not what you've asked for (so feel free to say - "thanks for nothing, you useless Irish git") but while we're on the general topic of creating wizzbang presentations, take 10 minutes to check out the demo of StandOut from Electric Rain. Awesomely lovely - kicks PowerPoint into the proverbial cocked hat.
Once you're all done being inspired and drooly - and to prove that I'm not entirely useless, take a look at Alligator Flash Designer. I've never used it, and don't know if it's quite what you need, but it looks like it might be worth a test drive.
Posted by: Michael O'Connor Clarke | April 16, 2007 02:37 PM
The OpenOffice Flash export also has some troubles with embedded images. At least on a couple of presentations I've tried on the latest NeoOffice build on my Mac.
Posted by: Adam Kalsey | April 16, 2007 08:00 PM
Take a look at Adobe's Captivate. It's not just for screenshots and s/w tutorials.
Actually, it's Flash for the rest of us.
You can produce any size movie and put all kinds of objects into pages. It has a story board, and you can hide "slides" as well. I use it for animated billboards and put in text boxes (and fonts out the wazoo if you've got 'em), object fade in/out, hot spots, links, images, navigation controls, it has it all.
Posted by: Becky Smith | April 17, 2007 09:03 PM
You should try our client, Scrapblog's cool online tool:
http://www.scrapblog.com
(there is an Apollo version coming, too, which will make it easy for you to build the presentations when you are offline - like on a plane)
I have switched some of my presentation making from Keynote to Scrapblog.
Posted by: Tara Hunt | April 21, 2007 04:15 PM