Using PowerPoint

Putting up PowerPoint slides (especially before or after a class) is a great idea! However, file size affects server space and the time it takes to download a file. To get an idea of the time needed to download files, go to http://www.onlineconversion.com/downloadspeed.htm and plug in the size of the file to get a projected download time (1 MB = 1024 KB; 1 KB = 1024 bytes). 

For example:

As you can see, even with a fast connection, large files can take a long time to download.

Many PowerPoint presentations are larger than 25 MB!

Here's what you can do to help your users [i.e., students]:

1. Post only PDF, HTML, TEXT, JPEG, or GIF documents to the Web. All other kinds of documents (e.g., Powerpoint, etc.) are far too large to be efficiently downloaded. 
   
2. Remember that ANY document (even PowerPoint) can be "printed" to a PDF document. It will look just like a color-printed version of the document on your screen. To create a PDF document, you will need to have a copy of Adobe Acrobat (not just the Reader) on your computer. For more information about creating PDFs, click here.
   
3. If you have documents with animation that you want to upload, SAVE AS HTML or Web Page. This will retain color, font, and animations. 
   
   For step-by-step instructions on uploading PowerPoint presentations that have been saved as web pages into the Blackboard server, go here.
   
4. Create efficient files for the Web. 

   If creating HTML docs, make sure that any images used are <150 dpi (dots per inch). 

   If using Adobe Acrobat, optimize your files:

   In Acrobat 5.0:
   1. Open the PDF file in Acrobat, and choose Edit > Preferences > General.
   2. Select Options in the left panel of the Preferences dialog box.
   3. Select Save As Optimizes for Fast Web View, and then click OK.
   4. Choose File > Save As.

   In Acrobat 4.x:
   1. Open the file in Acrobat 4.x, and choose File > Save As.
   2. Select Optimize in the Save As dialog box, and then click Save.
   3. Click Yes to replace the existing file

5. If you have a PDF document that is too large, you can "reprocess" it, if you have Acrobat:

   a. save the document on your computer
   b. Select FILE, then PRINT
   c. in the section for name of printer, click on that drop-down box and select ACROBAT DISTILLER
   d. you will be prompted to save the document

   You can see how large a file is by right-clicking on it at the Desktop and selecting Properties (in Windows) or selecting is and choosing Get Info from the File menu (Mac).

6. When scanning, make sure that ONLY the pages that have color (IF that color is needed) get scanned in color and the other pages (without color) get scanned in black and white at no greater than 150 dpi.
   
   Whether you are loading images (JPEG or GIF) or PDF files, there is no need to have anything larger than 150 dpi (dots per inch). The highest resolution you'll see onscreen is 72 dpi.
   
7. When at all possible, direct people to access the online library holdings for journal articles that are online. We should expect students and each other (faculty, staff) to use our online resources and NOT duplicate those by posting them in our courses.
   
8. The UTHSC Library has electronic reserves. They will scan your document and make it available to students electronically - AND you can link to it from your Blackboard site.
   

Many thanks to Cindy Russell for her contributions!