Detecting missing embedded media links programmatically or..

Paul · External Since: Dec 17, 2003 Posts: 17

I have about 100 PowerPoints that were submitted to me and I'd like to know
if there's an automated method to scan these for links to external media
such as video and audio, so that if there is a problem I can go back to the
author and obtain the media file. I understand I can open each PPT
manually, and play the slideshow and look for a missing file error message
from PPT, but would like a more efficient method if possible. It also seems
if the media was inserted with play-on-click option instead of automatic
play, no error message for the missing media appears when clicked.
(PowerPoint 2007 SP2)

-- Paul

John Wilson · External Since: Jul 08, 2006 Posts: 1968

This is just air code but should check the active presentation

Sub link_chex()
Dim oshp As Shape
Dim osld As Slide
Dim opath As String
Dim strMsg As String
On Error Resume Next
For Each osld In ActivePresentation.Slides
For Each oshp In osld.Shapes
If oshp.Type = msoMedia Then
If oshp.MediaType = ppMediaTypeSound Then
opath = (oshp.LinkFormat.SourceFullName)
If opath <> "" Then 'not linked
Err.Clear
GetAttr (opath)
If Err <> 0 Then strMsg = strMsg & vbCrLf & "Slide " & osld.SlideIndex _
& " Sound - " & oshp.Name & " has a missing link!"
End If
End If
End If
Next oshp
Next osld
MsgBox strMsg
End Sub

On www.pptfaq.com programming there are routines for checking a folder full
of presentations - just add this code and see if that helps.
--
john ATSIGN PPTAlchemy.co.uk

Free PPT Hints, Tips and Tutorials
http://www.pptalchemy.co.uk/powerpoint_hints_and_tips_tutorials.html

"Paul" wrote:

> I have about 100 PowerPoints that were submitted to me and I'd like to know
> if there's an automated method to scan these for links to external media
> such as video and audio, so that if there is a problem I can go back to the
> author and obtain the media file. I understand I can open each PPT
> manually, and play the slideshow and look for a missing file error message
> from PPT, but would like a more efficient method if possible. It also seems
> if the media was inserted with play-on-click option instead of automatic
> play, no error message for the missing media appears when clicked.
> (PowerPoint 2007 SP2)
>
> -- Paul
>
>
> .
>

Steve Rindsberg · External Since: Apr 02, 2004 Posts: 8464

In article <9-qdnfbStL5ePXnXnZ2dnUVZ_sCdnZ2d DeleteThis @supernews.com>, Paul wrote:
> I have about 100 PowerPoints that were submitted to me and I'd like to know
> if there's an automated method to scan these for links to external media
> such as video and audio, so that if there is a problem I can go back to the
> author and obtain the media file. I understand I can open each PPT
> manually, and play the slideshow and look for a missing file error message
> from PPT, but would like a more efficient method if possible. It also seems
> if the media was inserted with play-on-click option instead of automatic
> play, no error message for the missing media appears when clicked.
> (PowerPoint 2007 SP2)

The free PPTools FixLinks demo will give you a report of all the links (action
settings on shapes and hyperlinks) in the presentation and tell you whether
the link is valid (ie, the linked file is where PPT expects to find it).

It pops this up into a text file in Notepad. You'd be able to copy/paste any
relevant bits directly into your email to the author.

http://www.pptools.com/fixlinks/

==============================
PPT Frequently Asked Questions
http://www.pptfaq.com/

PPTools add-ins for PowerPoint
http://www.pptools.com/

Paul · External Since: Dec 17, 2003 Posts: 17

>> I have about 100 PowerPoints that were submitted to me and I'd like to
>> know
>> if there's an automated method to scan these for links to external media
>> such as video and audio, so that if there is a problem I can go back to
>> the
>> author and obtain the media file. I understand I can open each PPT
>> manually, and play the slideshow and look for a missing file error
>> message
>> from PPT, but would like a more efficient method if possible. It also
>> seems
>> if the media was inserted with play-on-click option instead of automatic
>> play, no error message for the missing media appears when clicked.
>> (PowerPoint 2007 SP2)
>
>
> The free PPTools FixLinks demo will give you a report of all the links
> (action
> settings on shapes and hyperlinks) in the presentation and tell you
> whether
> the link is valid (ie, the linked file is where PPT expects to find it).
>
> It pops this up into a text file in Notepad. You'd be able to copy/paste
> any
> relevant bits directly into your email to the author.
>
> http://www.pptools.com/fixlinks/
>

FixLinks looks interesting ... any way to have this report on a bunch of
PPTs at once ?

Steve Rindsberg · External Since: Apr 02, 2004 Posts: 8464

> FixLinks looks interesting ... any way to have this report on a bunch of
> PPTs at once ?

Currently, no, though I'm looking into it as a feature enhancement.

I can be bought thought. <g> Sometimes we do custom versions of the add-ins
that include special features like this. If you'd like to discuss something
like that, give me a shout. steve at-sign pptools dot com

==============================
PPT Frequently Asked Questions
http://www.pptfaq.com/

PPTools add-ins for PowerPoint
http://www.pptools.com/

Steve Rindsberg · External Since: Apr 02, 2004 Posts: 8464

In article <VA.000053b3.7989119f.RemoveThis@localhost.com>, Steve Rindsberg wrote:
> > FixLinks looks interesting ... any way to have this report on a bunch of
> > PPTs at once ?
>
> Currently, no, though I'm looking into it as a feature enhancement.
>
> I can be bought thought.

"thought" --> "though"

Paul · External Since: Dec 17, 2003 Posts: 17

Thanks much, I ended up using a modified version of your code to check the
PowerPoints and it worked quite well.

.... and I used Steve's FixLinks to double check my programming <g>

Many thanks to you both!

-- Paul

"John Wilson" <john AT technologytrish.co DOT uk> wrote in message
news:5148C3BF-AB43-4FED-884C-C408F05B3F56@microsoft.com...
> This is just air code but should check the active presentation
>
> Sub link_chex()
> Dim oshp As Shape
> Dim osld As Slide
> Dim opath As String
> Dim strMsg As String
> On Error Resume Next
> For Each osld In ActivePresentation.Slides
> For Each oshp In osld.Shapes
> If oshp.Type = msoMedia Then
> If oshp.MediaType = ppMediaTypeSound Then
> opath = (oshp.LinkFormat.SourceFullName)
> If opath <> "" Then 'not linked
> Err.Clear
> GetAttr (opath)
> If Err <> 0 Then strMsg = strMsg & vbCrLf & "Slide " & osld.SlideIndex _
> & " Sound - " & oshp.Name & " has a missing link!"
> End If
> End If
> End If
> Next oshp
> Next osld
> MsgBox strMsg
> End Sub
>
> On www.pptfaq.com programming there are routines for checking a folder
> full
> of presentations - just add this code and see if that helps.
> --
> john ATSIGN PPTAlchemy.co.uk
>
> Free PPT Hints, Tips and Tutorials
> http://www.pptalchemy.co.uk/powerpoint_hints_and_tips_tutorials.html
>
>
>
> "Paul" wrote:
>
>> I have about 100 PowerPoints that were submitted to me and I'd like to
>> know
>> if there's an automated method to scan these for links to external media
>> such as video and audio, so that if there is a problem I can go back to
>> the
>> author and obtain the media file. I understand I can open each PPT
>> manually, and play the slideshow and look for a missing file error
>> message
>> from PPT, but would like a more efficient method if possible. It also
>> seems
>> if the media was inserted with play-on-click option instead of automatic
>> play, no error message for the missing media appears when clicked.
>> (PowerPoint 2007 SP2)
>>
>> -- Paul
>>
>>
>> .
>>
>