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Greetings!
"Nothing can go wrongo...I am in the
Congo!"
This Raffi verse (from the song "Joshua
Giraffe" on the Baby Beluga CD) is
wonderfully ironic. Anyone who has given more
than two PowerPoint(r) presentations will laugh
at the irony, remembering their last surprise.
This feature article will share some tips for
preventing the inevitable problems we all
share when we give digital presentations via
a projector.
"Buy" insurance
The cheapest insurance you can buy
against surprises is to show up one hour
early to
install, connect, test, practice EVERYTHING.
An hour is not enough time to fix everything,
of course, but it's better than showing up 15
minutes before your
presentation.
Prepare digitally
You'll need media insurance. Write your
slideshow on a flash memory stick and
be sure to include linked files. Also create
a DVD or CD including your show and
linked files. (One computer I encountered
had only a CD drive, so the DVD I had brought
didn't work.)
Also, in case the computer you must use
doesn't have your version of PowerPoint (PP)
or doesn't
have PP at all, consider creating a PDF
alternative. Or use PP Packaging
(formerly Pack 'n Go) on the PP File menu so
the file will play on any computer running
Windows, even without PP installed.
Always bring a hard copy of the presentation,
printed on one side only, in case you need to
make quick copies.
Finally, consider storing your presentations
on a remote site that you can access
in a pinch.
Prepare equipment
Bring the following with you:
- Extra battery or batteries for your
remote
- Extra bulb for projector (or request this
if you don't own the projector)
- Warranty information for laptop and
projector
- Support numbers for laptop and projector
- Duct tape to secure cables on floor
(unless you like tripping over them)
Troubleshoot projector
No projection? Check lens cap, power cords,
power switch, sleep mode, DVI or VGA cable?,
and cable connection.
Still no projection?
- Check bulb and replace if necessary.
- Sync to source or input button.
- Try different connection (video?).
- Power down, reconnect, wait 30 seconds,
turn on again.
- Call support.
Troubleshoot computer/notebook
Laptops have a three-way toggle:
- Laptop screen only
- Projector screen only
- Both laptop and projector screen
(preferred)
Check your computer's documentation, or
experiment (the toggle is the Function [FN]
key and either F3, F4, F5, F7, F8,
or F10).
If all this fails to fix the problem, completely
disconnect computer and projector, turn both
on, connect to projector first and then to
computer.
Troubleshoot remote
Remember the battery or batteries you
brought? Replace them.
Still no remote? Check that nothing is
between the remote and your line of sight to
the laptop or computer.
Disaster averted!
Just last week, the projector provided by my
client had no bulb in it! A replacement bulb
had been ordered, but not yet installed. We
borrowed another projector, but Murphy's law
suggests that this incident was
not an aberration. Getting there one hour
ahead meant we started the class on time.
Thanks for your input on our survey last month
Briefly, here's what you said:
- Most of you wanted to receive the
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information is very or somewhat relevant.
- You suggested future articles: Training tips,
helpful hints to remember English rules,
statistics and research findings, tips on
"canned" communication, more business writing
tips.
Thanks for your time in filling out the
survey, and watch for future articles that
you asked for!
You can always send comments to me at www.textdoctor.com.
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It's practical, hands-on training you access
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I'll ask
you to interact with me whenever possible,
and you
can always type in questions for me to answer
in the
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For more information, go to The Text Doctor's Website
Don't see a Webinar listed that you'd like to take?
Send me an e-mail (efrick@textdoctor.com) or
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The Text DoctorŽ
Creating better writers
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phone:
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