Multiple copies of the PPTA file

Mar 19, 2012

Anne Strehler
By Anne Strehler

I notice that as I save my Powerpoint presentation multiple copies of the PPTA file are being created at the same time.

My PPTX file is called ChemHygiene_Module1_V5.pptx and I have the following PPTA files

ChemHygiene_Module1_v5.ppta

ChemHygiene_Module1_v5-old.ppta

ChemHygiene_Module1_v5-old1.ppta

ChemHygiene_Module1_v5-old2.ppta

Most of these ppta files were created at the same time and are the same size - most of the time.

In addition to that the size of the ChemHygiene_Module1_v5.ppta indicates that I have lost the audio in this file - it should be in the region of 21MB, but is only 345 KB. I have had this problem before and found the audio in one of the PPTA files that get 'renamed' with the 'old' in the filename. The audio was recovered by renaming files and getting rid of the seemingly corrupt file.

Now, no matter how many times I do this - I get these multiple ppta files and every now and then lose the audio in the PPTA file.

I am a MAC user, run Windows using parallels, and run Articulate '09 on WindowsXP. I have been working like this for 3 years now and have never had this problem before.

Any suggestions as to why this is happening?

13 Replies
Anne Strehler
12 years ago03/20/12 at 9:33 am (UTC)

Hello Peter

I am familiar with this article - have read it numerous times and applied the steps there - with success - when there was only ONE 'old' file being created.

At this stage I am pretty sure that none of the conditions that are given there for the cause of this 'old' file being created exist. Because of all the technical problems I have with this tool, when I work in Articulate I turn off all other applications and shut down as many background processes that I can and I still get this problem - which is now not one 'old' file being created but multiple files at the same time.

This article does not explain this phenomenon. It also provides no help regarding which if the many files to select at the 'new' ppta file. How do we know they are exactly the same?

I also do NOTHING else on my computer when I publish.

I am now assuming that there is some other corruption in the file and we are going to re-create the entire course. Unless re-installing Articulate might be a solution to try first.

Anne

Cookie Rietveld-Kirwan
12 years ago04/06/12 at 10:05 am (UTC)

Hi,

Has this issue been resolved?

I'm having the same problem. It seems that whenever I edit a quiz, I get a new "old ppta" file, lots of them, which I notice when I go to synch the audio & narrations and there is no narration. I end up deleting all but the first old ppta file, copying the name from the pptx file, pasting it to the ppta file and re-opening the project. However it keeps happening.

I've read the article you point to above, but this has been happening on this project file for quite some time... any ideas?

Thanks again, very much, for any suggestions!

Cookie

Barb Bodemer
almost 12 years ago04/29/12 at 4:16 pm (UTC)

I've been experiencing the exact same problem!  I've spent weeks building this project and lost the audio 3 times. The project deadline is here so spent my entire weekend doing final tweeks - and BAM! for the 4th time - it's  gone. I'm supposed to show the project to the VPs tomorrow but it looks like I will have nothing to offer but excuses for all my hard work. I am at an utter and complete loss. It appears to be a known issue for many users yet all I see in response is "submit a ticket". Come on Articulate - you HAVE to do better than that!

Peter Anderson
almost 12 years ago04/30/12 at 8:57 am (UTC)

Hi Barb,

I want to apologize for the issues you've experienced. It looks like our support team has already shared with you some common reasons and solutions for missing audio, and Cleo will continue to work with you to get your situation resolved. These types of issues are generally system-specific and we're always eager to help get them resolved on a case-by-case basis if the troubleshooting article doesn't help. 

Erin Jones
over 11 years ago10/08/12 at 3:45 am (UTC)

I noticed it has been 5 months since the last reply - has this issue been resolved? I am experiencing the exact same problems as Anne and Cookie. I have decided after loosing audio everytime i use Articulate (each day I get multiple .ppta files and i have no idea what triggers it) that I will wait till the final publishing to add it...but man is this frusturating!  If there has been any improvement in the product or a solution found (I have already gone through the common reasons and none apply to my situation) I would love to know it. Thanks

Peter Anderson
over 11 years ago10/08/12 at 7:47 am (UTC)

Hey Erin, welcome

Sounds like what you're experiencing is a bit unusual. We'd love to be able to take a closer look at your files and try to determine why you're running into those issues. Are you able to send us your project files so we can help clear things up? Please create an Articulate Presenter package, then upload the zip file to our server. You can review how to do this here: 

 

Send to Articulate Presenter Package – Articulate Presenter ’09 Help

 

Upload the resulting zip file from your computer to our server using this upload form: 

 

Articulate Support - Upload Your Files for Review 

 

Thanks!

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