Slides flicker when published
Feb 17, 2011
This is being a real bugbear on a couple of courses (both of which comprise many modules) so I need to find a fix real soon.
The problem is that several slides flicker (once) when they load - almost as if to say the objects for that slide are too big (in terms of file size).
Am trying to create the effect of a static background (usually using master slide layouts, but sometimes mixing these up with an object on top). Therefore the aim is to have literally a static background (that doesn't flicker) and gives the illusion of all the navigation being done within a single slide.
Can't find a fix to this no matter what I do, e.g.
- save backgrounds as JPGs (loss of detail is bad enough to swallow, but doesn't fix the problem anyway)
- save backgrounds as PNGs (great quality but naturally don't help with the flickering)
- grouping objects together (typically one or two images + some text boxes + a couple of shapes)
- ungrouping objects
JPGs can be as little as 20-150kb
PNGs anything from 300k-1.2mb
Current version of one such module is 50 slides totalling 5.4mb when published to SCORM (and that includes 1 Glossary and 1 Media Tour). So I'm thinking average slide size if 100k, but even running locally the flickering remains.
Has anybody had this problem and created a workaround?
Any optimal slide sizes/master slide layout background sizes/etc that anyone can recommend?
Or is there something else causing the whole problem?
Thanks
EDIT: if the AP window is 720x540, should this be the max for any images? I know the published window can be made bigger, but does AP simply stretch the output to fit, therefore dropping res? Or does it know there's say a 1024x768 image and actually display it at 1024x768?
8 Replies
I would suggest you submit a case by following the steps below.
Please create an Articulate Presenter package, then upload the zip file to our server. You can review how to do this here:
http://www.articulate.com/support/presenter09/?p=457
Upload the resulting zip file from your computer to our server using this upload form:
http://upload.articulate.com/
Please be sure to include a description of your issue, your version of PowerPoint, version of Windows and version of Presenter '09 which you can find in Help and Support -> About Articulate Presenter. Please also include the URL for this thread so we can follow up with you in the forums.
Good idea Justin - just completed the upload but forgot to include spec:
Win 7 Pro 64bit
PPT 2007
AP Studio 09
Thanks
Great! I'll keep an eye on your case and see what we figure out.
Hey Simon,
I haven't confirmed this but here's something that actually worked in my quick testing. If you apply the same slide master to the whole presentation, there is no flicker. I think because there are two slide masters Presenter is loading each background slide every time it loads a new page.
I'm still looking at it (will look at it more tomorrow) but right now it looks like you might have to do one of two things:
I'll let you know if we can come up with something else.
Is that because the Slide Master caches for the learner? If so, would having multiple master slides achieve the same caching benefit instead of 'just' using slide layouts?
1. Can't live with the flicker - not in either course (one is for global resale so has to look the part)
2. Using one slide master is possible so long as (children) layouts also load instantly (without flickering). Otherwise it's a case of using multiple SMs surely?
Thanks Justin - I'll have a play in the morning.
Hey Simon. I've been playing with your slides for quite a bit and I think I have it figured out. Your slide masters aren't really usable I don't think with this current presentation. I'm building out a new blank presentation with fresh slide masters that seems to work. I can send you that, You are going to have to copy the elements of your presentation to the new presentation, though, so there is going to be some work involved.
Also, it looks like you applied different backgrounds to different slides depending on the number of pages you are displaying behind the top page. That's not really how I would do that. I would use the same master for all of those slides and then have the pages be objects on your slide, not in the slide master. I think that's part of the problem.
If you needed to create an effect where the pages were in the slide master you would need to create a new and unique slide master for each slide that has a unique number of pages behind it.
If you want, I can set up a web conference with you to show you everything I'm talking about and hopefully it will point you in the right direction.
Hi Justin. Thanks for your help with this.
That's pretty much the conclusion I've come to this afternoon (I think), having experimented with this all day. I'm literally in the process of publishing (for about the tenth time!) right now - so will hopefully know in a few mins. Either way, I'd still be interested in seeing your interpretation - you guys know more about how best to utilise SMs so your method may well be bulletproof.
Like you say, there are flaws with the use of SMs in my draft, but that was partly because I was confusing myself with how best to mimic the layouts. My aim is to have the SMs load immediately so there is no flicker. However, even in my last test, I still found the occasional flicker - which didn't make sense.
Thanks again - will post an update shortly. If you get a minute to send those files could you please do so? Can then discuss a web conf if need be from there
EDIT: I bet the slides look a right mess with that default font - I forgot non-standard fonts don't carry over in the output.
Just sent you a PM with the link to the package I worked on. Let me know how it goes!
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