Drastically reduce PowerPoint file size – EASY!
Got a call from a user today:
“I need to send a powerpoint to a grant organization, and it’s got to get there TODAY! I tried sending it but got a message saying that it exceeds the limit for this user. I need you to take that limit off as soon as possible!”
Whoah, whoah – hold your horses. Those limits are there for a reason. How big is the file?
“I don’t know! Can you please just take the limit off?”
Well, let’s see what we can do first. Right click the file and click … [explaining right click vs. left, what tab the file size is listed on under a file's properties window (it's the general tab)...] OK. So the file is 11MB. That’s 7MB more than the limit. Let’s try something:
- Open the document and right click on an image.
- Click “Format Picture.”
- Now click on the tab “Picture.”
- Click Compress
- Select “All pictures in document.”
- Choose a resolution (hint: screen creates a smaller file).
- Check “Delete cropped areas of pictures” and “Compress Pictures.”
- Click OK (and Apply if prompted).
- Save the file. If you’re paranoid, save it with a new name.
So what’s the file size now?
“It says 1.1 em-bee”
You should be able to send it now.
“Wow, thanks!”
Resource used:
Microsoft Office Assistance: Reduce the size of your PowerPoint files
Joel Gibby lives near Portland Oregon and writes about a wide range of technology topics including social media, educational technology, web development, security and networking.
