Article ID: 176678 - Last Review: March 31, 2006 - Revision: 1.1

Using command-line switches with playlist files

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SUMMARY

Playlist files are text files (with an .LST file name extension) that contain a list of PowerPoint presentations. These files allow the PowerPoint viewer to play multiple slide shows in order. This article describes the commmand-line switches that you can use within a playlist file.

NOTE: Microsoft PowerPoint Viewer 97 also supports command-line switches when started from the Run dialog box, or from a Microsoft Windows 95 shortcut link file.
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MORE INFORMATION

Command lines should use the following format 
   ppview32.exe [command-line switches] "<path\powerpnt file name>"
where <path\powerpnt file name> is the path and file name for the presentation you want to include in the playlist.

The following command-line switches are supported: 
   Switch              Used for
   -------------------------------------------------------------------

   /A or /a            Automatic advance
   /R=n-m or /r=n-m    Slide range
   (where n<=m)
   /L or /l            Loop continuously
   /P or /p            Print, for printing file
   /K or /k            Kiosk password, for setting a kiosk mode for file
   /V or /v            For showing the macro virus dialog box
NOTE: The /v switch does not enable the use of macros, it simply enables a special dialog box to be displayed when opening other documents that might have macros enabled, such as a Word document.

Playlist files used with the Microsoft PowerPoint Viewer 97 do not recognize switches when opened at the command line. However, you can use command-line switches within the playlist file using the format below.

To apply a switch to individual files, use the following format: 
   [switch] <path\filename>
   [switch] <path\filename>
   ...
   [switch] <path\filename>
The following example loops a presentation until ESC is pressed, and then moves to the next presentation and loops it: 
   /L PRES1.PPT
   /L PRES2.PPT
   ...
   /L PRESx.PPT
To apply a switch across a group of files, use the following format: 
   [switch] "<path\filename>" "<path\filename>" ... "<path\filename>"
The following example plays each presentation once, and then begins again after the last presentation has completed: 
   /L "PRES1.PPT" "PRES2.PPT" ... "PRESx.PPT"
Not all command-line switches are available within playlist files. The following switches are supported within .LST files: /A, /R=N-M, /L, /K, and /V.
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REFERENCES

For more information about playlists, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
171681  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/171681/ ) How to create a playlist that loops continuously
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APPLIES TO
  • Microsoft PowerPoint 97 Standard Edition
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Retired KB ArticleRetired KB Content Disclaimer
This article was written about products for which Microsoft no longer offers support. Therefore, this article is offered "as is" and will no longer be updated.
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