Solved: Save as in Powerpoint 2003 show

[Raggy]

How do I initiate a save as dialogue in a show as I want a text box contol which has text entered by the user saved to a new file and not overwriting the existing show file as there will be a few people opening the file at the same time otherwise I will only havethe last person to finish text as it asks to save any changes on exit. Would like to have the save as on load or or on exit from the show if possible. Looked all over for a solution but got nowhere so far.:(

[Raggy]

Eventually found I cannot get the 'save as' to work in a Show, however, if it has to be a presentation, can I:
a) somehow start it straight in to a presentation when double clicked as a show would and
b) when they end it it exits out of PP instead of to the pp editor screens

[John Wilson]

Do you want to save a copy of the presentation or just the text in the control text box as a text file?

[Raggy]

What I really want to do is have a default powerpoint with a text box on, the children open it up, but rather than type in the box and then save changes on exit and save over each otrhers work, I want them to be able to open it up, then do a save as (or copy the whole file some how then re-open the new one with a new name of their choice) so that they are working on their own copy. Maybe its too much to ask ppt to do? If I cant it means giving each child a copy of the presentation each (a lot of work!). I could use word etc but I want to include video and pictures etc to use as a basis\cue for their writing while they do it. Hope that explains what I need.

[John Wilson]

Did you try RIGHT click the file > properties > tick READ ONLY?

[Raggy]

Yes tried making it read only as we normally place the files on a restricted access drive so that all the templates are kept un altered. If I make a ppt show read only it just quites without any prompt to save etc. If its a normal ppt and its read only it asks to save changes but the child see's the file in the editor (which I'm trying to avoid) and they have to go in to the editor first to view the presentation. Tried also starting it from a shortcut with the \s option which starts it as a show automatically..great... but when they exit if its read only it just quits without any saving option, but if not read only they just get the option to save over the original template (and hence anyone elses work that has been saved previously). Essentially I want to have the child just see the presentation and any save dialogue boxes but not the editor screen. Hope you can help.

[Raggy]

Right, seem to have solved it, even getting a save in show mode. Captured the name of the presentation then called a browse for folder dialogue, mated the two bits of info together and called an activepresentaion.saveas with that info. Made a button to go to the next slide only enabled when they had selected and saved so no work could be done untill they had save the file to their own work area still maintaining the blank master.