Following the previous post, this is another confusing issue I am hearing a lot. Here is the scenario:

- Super cool new 64-bit operating system computer
- Install the latest and greatest MS Office 64-bit
- Attempt to install favorite PowerPoint add-ins and nothing works....

Add-ins need to be written/coded to work specifically with the 64-bit version of PowerPoint. At this moment there are very few add-ins that have 64-bit versions. So, if you are running the 64-bit version of PowerPoint, do not plan on using any add-ins.

This of course will change over time as the add-in developers have opportunity to create 64-bit versions of the existing 32-bit versions (and I am waiting just like you for this to happen!).

- Troy @ TLC

This question, or rather confusion, seems to be coming up quite a bit and I thought it would be good to clarify things.

1. Your computer operating system (Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7) can be either 32-bit or 64-bit. To be 64-bit the computer hardware/motherboard must support 64-bit processing. BUT you can have a 64-bit capable computer running a 32-bit operating system (OS).

2. Office 2010 is available in 32-bit and 64-bit versions. To install the 64-bit Office 2010, the computer must have a 64-bit operating system. AND the 32-bit Office 2010 can be installed on a 64-bit operating system.
- Office 2000, XP and 2007 are only available in 32-bit versions.

Basically, Office and the operating system are separate entities. Just because it is a 64-bit computer, does not mean it must use a 64-bit version of PowerPoint.

- Troy @ TLC

ToolsToo is a productivity add-in for PowerPoint 2007 and 2010. It is a collection of incredibly valuable tools used when designing slides. It adds a full tab full of 20+ tools that I first tested on a test computer and quickly installed on my main computer and have integrated it into my daily production.

Some tools can be found in other add-ins and I cannot function without, such as:
Equal - width, height, size

And there are a number of tools that I am amazed have not been thought of before as they are so incredibly useful. Here are a few of my favorites:

Adjoin

and make line straight (veritical or horizontal)

AND any tool can be added individually to the QAT! As example: make equal width, make equal height and make same size buttons have been added to my QAT.

There is a free version with limited tools, but the $20 full tool set reviewed is highly recommend.

- Troy @ TLC

With Office 2010 now in full release this is one of those great new features that is difficult to explain, but a great asset to the new features of PowerPoint 2010 and several other Office applications. Back in the November Top 15 PPT 2010 features I listed the new Background Removal tool as #11. Tucker Hatfield is the Microsoft Program Manager I was quoting when I said it worked with "magic coding" - his words, not mine.

Around the same time, Tucker had a detailed post on the Microsoft Office 2010 Engineering blog (I know we all read it daily) about the Background Removal Tool. It is worth revisiting to grasp what this tool is capable of. The next few posts here will be examples and tips of my use of the Background Removal Tool.

View Tucker's full post on the Microsoft Blog here.

Tucker also did a follow post on MS Engineering Blog here that went into more detail and a pretty cool example of the Background Removal tool in action.

- Troy @ TLC

I am a huge fan of the PPTXtreme PowerPoint add-ins. They make much of my development time up to 5X more efficient and in some cases make the impractical, practical.

With PPT 2007 a few of the add-ins lost functionality. Namely 'Color Picker' and 'Photoshop Import' (which is one of those HUGE time saver add-ins for me).

Now with my new computers running Windows 7 and PPT 2010 I have the sad reality that none of the PPTXtreme add-ins function... I did some experimenting to try and find a solution like I did with Vista (where I installed outside the 'Programs' folder and then manually added permissions). The bad news is nothing, for me, got these add-ins functioning.

The good news is, it is not entirely PPT 2010 that is the conflict. Here is PPT 2010 opening and a selection of the PPTXtreme Add-ins loading - and working.

In this case it is PPT 2010 installed on a Windows XP Pro OS. My install tricks for Vista have no effect in Windows 7, so the sad reality is Windows 7 + PPT 2010 leaves PPTXtreme unavailable.

I have talked with the PPTXtreme developer and fingers crossed that there may be a round of development going into the add-ins as soon as this summer to update compatability (which would hopefully mean a fall time release).

Stay tuned for a hopeful update later this year.

- Troy @ TLC

The new PPT viewer was released last week and I have spent some time testing presentations with it.

First, this is not a light weight, quick download - but a full application at 60MB! It also needs to be truly installed vs. the previous versions that could be run directly from a CDROM or USB drive.

Aside from those two factors there is nothing but praise for the viewer at this point! It handles ALL animations, transitions, trigger events, media, etc. From what I have tested, it runs everything that the full application runs - yeah!

I do not have a KB article or other official document to verify this, but I was told the PPT 2010 viewer is basically the full PowerPoint application when it comes to viewing a slide show (hence the large install file). This allows the viewer to play everything the full application does AND it does all the backend stuff like hardware acceleration (not available in any previous viewer).

Get it from Microsoft, free here.

- Troy @ TLC

With PPT 2010 the animation has a new trick. When editing a slide the Animation Pane can be opened in its standard right-side position.

But when switching to Slide Sorter view it automatically closes.

It is a minor thing, but the animation pane is of no use in slide sorter view. In all early versions it remained open/visible just taking up screen realestate. And when you go back to editing a slide it appears open again until you close it.

- Troy @ TLC

After installing Office 2010 one of the items I noticed is at launch it lists the add-ins being loaded (previous versions did not display this information).

This is most noticeable the first time the application is launched as each addin is recognized and setup. Subsequent launches go much faster, which is very good.

- Troy @ TLC

This is another option for adding a map to a presentation. Reviewing the PowerPointMaps.com website virtually every country/region is represented.

The site offers 2 types of downloads; free and premium. To download a free version you need to register first. I downloaded a few free maps to review the quality. Unfortunately the free version is unusable as it is a flat .jpg image with the website name watermarked across the middle. Here is one of my free map download of the United States, which has an ad for the premium version with a .jpg of the map (I added the red outline to highlight the .jpg)

The premium maps are vector based with each state/region as separate elements which is very usable. Each premium map is 49euros (approx. $66 U.S.) and is definitely a premium price. You can search for "map" to find reviews of other options.

- Troy @ TLC

A year ago I was happy letting Microsoft's Live OneCare handle the antivirus, update notification, backup duties and firewall management on a dozen computers. Then the service was discontinued and over the past 4-5 months I have migrated to a number of antivirus applications. And I have experienced more computer grief over firewall, virus and other issues as a result.

Well last week the follow-up to OneCare, Microsoft Security Essentials, was released to the public!

This is a FREE antivirus application, based on the same engine as OneCare (which kept all my computers safe and running for 2 years) and has a super easy interface. Microsoft Security Essentials is FREE and can be downloaded from Microsoft here.

- Troy @ TLC