Open source Powepoint alternative for public display?

Hi,

I want to put up a screen in a public location to show information about our company. The content of the display will change on a fairly regular basis.

I would like the scren to show a powerpoint presentation containing a single slide.

A user would then edit the slide on a regular basis to update tyhe information.

Problem is that in order to restart the slide show they would have to log on at the machine in question - they wouldn't be able to t/s into it as that will 'kick out' the local user making it impossible to display the presentation anymore.

How can I get my (editable) powerpoint or similar to display on the machine, while still allowing it to be managed with terminal server/remote desktop?

Thanks.

# Solution 1

You can use the free powerpoint viewer on that PC and edit them on another that has the full powerpoint/office install on it.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=048DC840-14E1-467D-8DCA-19D2A8FD7485&displaylang=en

And for managing it, use VNC. It will just remote control the console session and leave the display visible instead of returning it to the login prompt.
http://www.uvnc.com/download/1055/1055full.html

# Solution 2

Power point viewer 2003 and 2007

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=428D5727-43AB-4F24-90B7-A94784AF71A4&displaylang=en

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=048DC840-14E1-467D-8DCA-19D2A8FD7485&displaylang=en

# Solution 3

Or, you can use OpenOffice.org. One of its components is called Impress, and it's similar to Poierpoint, and free, and open source.
http://www.openoffice.org/

# Solution 4

I think what you need is a multi display system...I can recommend maxivista server or maxivista pro. I believe it has all the features you need...Though, it isnt open source. You can try the 30-day trial download.

Good luck.

# Solution 5

quick follow up! you can try teamviewer, its free for personal/commercial use. Very easy and kinda similar to VNC but I believe the presentation feature is what you want to try it out. www.teamviewer.com

# Solution 6

I don't understand the question. Are you asking if there is a good open source alternative for PowerPoint (based on the subject title), or are you asking how to edit a slide remotely and then have it displayed?  If it's the latter that you're asking about, why are you using PowerPoint if it's just one slide? Why are you referring to it as a "slide show" if it's only one static image (is it static?)? Is the "user" who edits the slide the same person each time, or will there be multiple users from many locations? Based on your clarifications, I might (or might not) have some suggestions.

# Solution 7

"...or are you asking how to edit a slide remotely and then have it displayed?"

YES.

"why are you using PowerPoint if it's just one slide?"

Because I MIGHT want to have two or more slides at some point in the future. But this is not important, so if there's a good alternative that only displays ONE image then that's ok. But they need to be able to easily edit the text, which is why powerpoint springs to mind.

"Why are you referring to it as a "slide show" if it's only one static image"

Dunno. I Guess I are stoopid.

"Is the "user" who edits the slide the same person each time"

YES. Same user, from the same computer, every day/time.

# Solution 8

Ok, I *think* I understand your problem. I suggest that the local computer be set up so the user has permanent remote access at any time (in other words, the "locel user" doesn't have to manually allow the access each time). Then, the user needs only log into the local machine whenever he needs to, make the changes, and exit. If might make things easier if you don't use PowerPoint, since -- as you point out -- there might be a problem with displaying it full screen and then log out remotely. You might get around this problem (if it indeed is a problem), by leaving the display as a PDF, or even an image.  The user can change the text in the template document (perhaps a Word documment), and then create a PDF each time from that.  Another alternative is to create the Word doc, and then save it as an image, which you can display, perhaps even as a desktop image that will simply remain after the remote logout.

I hope some of these suggestions make sense in your situation. If not, let us know what problems exist with each method. Good luck.

# Solution 9

Open office impress is good solution to be installed on computer to edit the slide show. You can have editable file to work, and export to pps for viewing. There is a linux version available if you wanna try to go completely free. I'm thinking that your sollution is a graphic card with possibility to connect two monitors, one to display presentation and viewable outside, and other to be available for remote connection to computer hidden inside box.

# Solution 10

Try PowerShow: http://officeone.mvps.org/powershow/powershow.html
or this:
http://www.accelerating.org/articles/beyondpresenterview.html

Open Source

What is “open source”? Identify the open source languages. What is the intent, and how should open source product be used/not used?

# Solution 1

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Source

# Solution 2

http://opensource.org/docs/osd

# Solution 3

example of open source is http://oscommerce.com/

# Solution 4

>> Identify the open source languages. What is the intent, and how should open source product be used/not used?

Sounds like a college question :) ?

Open source basically means that the source code of the software/ product/ language is shared with you and the rest of the universe.

It increases the community because it is free, people are able to see the code, write similar products on their own with customizations, tweak it to their needs, contribute towards enhancements in the open-source product, etc.

As long as you have the license to use and distribute them without modifying the source-code, you can include them in your commercial project distributions.

Unix, Linux etc are all open source.... so are languages like Java. Some of the open source products are Eclipse, Netbeans, etc.... as an example, all these products are open source (in Java):

http://java-source.net/

# Solution 5

Open source software is similar in idea to "free software" but slightly less rigid than the free software movement. Users of open source software are (generally) able to view the source code, alter and re-distribute open source software. There is however less of an emphasis in the open source movement o­n the right of information and source code to be free and in some cases companies are able to develop proprietary products based o­n open source o­nes.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&defl=en&q=define:Open+source&sa=X&oi=glossary_definition&ct=title

or search with google  exactly like  define:Open source will give plenty of results


how to use can find here at http://www.opensource.org/licenses/lgpl-license.php
a plenty of text how to use and distribute etc etc

sun4sunday
sun4sunday

# Solution 6

"open source languages?"  That doesn't quite seem right to me...

Do you mean programming languages or  human languages?  All human languages are open source, in a way.

Any language that has a public standard is one that can be used in Open Source.  C, Assembler, etc.

Some higher-level languages, the so-called "4GL" languages, are Open Source, and are themselves written in C or Assembler.  These include the aforementioned Java, Perl, and the like.  Even closed-source languages like Visual Basic is written in C or Assembler.

That's why one of the sets of core libraries in any Posix-based system are the C libraries.

There are open-source "frameworks" like Mono that let closed-source program binaries (.NET) run, unmodified in many cases.

# Solution 7

No comment has been added to this question in more than 21 days, so it is now classified as abandoned.

I will leave the following recommendation for this question in the Cleanup topic area:
   Split: jkr {http:#18821381} & secondv {http:#18822522} & shinatykt {http:#18824699} & mayankeagle {http:#18825839} & sun4sunday {http:#18841146} & ShineOn {http:#18914855}

Any objections should be posted here in the next 4 days. After that time, the question will be closed.

Venabili
EE Cleanup Volunteer

# Solution 8

Forced accept.

Computer101
EE Admin

How do i increase performance of Java Desktop application dbase con...

Hi :

I am currently working with desktop application , is there any way to capture the data from the database and store it temporarily and use it wherever necessary in the Desktop application.

I mean something that works similar to cache or session in the web application , i need a solution for desktop application.

Thanks in Advance,
silviya

# Solution 1

Hi joanesilviyaj,

  I have attached a snip code that function closely to web session.
It uses hashtable to store data. And you can save the hashtable to
a text file before the application exit and read it again when the
application start.



CODE Snippet :

             
import java.util.*;

import java.io.*;

import java.beans.*;
 

class AppSession

{

	// save session to a file

	static public Hashtable<String, String> getSession(String file) throws Exception

	{

		FileInputStream fstream = new FileInputStream(file);
 

		// Get the object of DataInputStream

		DataInputStream in = new DataInputStream(fstream);

		BufferedReader br = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(in));
 

		StringBuffer sb = new StringBuffer();

		String strLine = null;

		//Read File Line By Line

		while ((strLine = br.readLine()) != null)

			sb.append(strLine);

		//Close the input stream

		in.close();
 

		// decode to hashtable

		ByteArrayInputStream bis = new ByteArrayInputStream(sb.toString().getBytes());

		XMLDecoder decoder = new XMLDecoder(bis);

		Hashtable<String, String> session = (Hashtable<String, String>)decoder.readObject();

		decoder.close();
 

		return session;

	}
 

	// read session from a file

	static public void setSession(Hashtable<String, String> session, String fileName) throws Exception

	{

		// encode to xml

		ByteArrayOutputStream bos = new ByteArrayOutputStream();

		XMLEncoder encoder = new XMLEncoder(bos);

		encoder.writeObject(session);

		encoder.close();

		String encode = new String(bos.toByteArray());
 

		// ensure parent directory exist

		File file = new File(fileName);

		String parentPath = file.getParent();

		if( parentPath!=null )

		{

			File fileParent = new File(parentPath);

			fileParent.mkdirs();

		}
 

		// create file

		FileWriter fstream = new FileWriter(fileName);

        BufferedWriter out = new BufferedWriter(fstream);

	    out.write(encode);

	    out.close();

	}
 

	static public void main(String arg[]) throws Exception

	{

		Hashtable<String, String> session = new Hashtable<String, String>();

		session.put("Key1","Value1");

		session.put("Key2","Value2");

		session.put("Key3","Value3");

		

		// for debugging: before

		System.out.println(session);
 

		// save session

		setSession(session, "c:/session.txt");
 

		// read session

		session = getSession("c:/session.txt");

	

		// for debugging: after

		System.out.println(session);

		

	}

}
           

# Solution 2

joanesilviyaj,

A message has been sent to some of our more experienced experts asking them to review your question. We will check back again to see if you are getting the help you need.

This request included Experts from Open Source Programming, Database, Windows Programming, Programming Languages.

Please do not respond to this comment; we will be monitoring your question for activity from the Experts.

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ModernMatt
Moderator, Experts Exchange
http://www.experts-exchange.com/Q_23967014.html

# Solution 3

Use a cache, such as ehcache for maintaining a local copy.

# Solution 4

Are you maintaining the connection?  Or using a connection pool?

Maybe it's not required

Tim

PS:  If you want and need a cache, objects has pointed you to one of the best ;-)

# Solution 5

Hello bluebelldiscovery:

Thanks for the reply.Let me work on this code and see is that works for my Java desktop Applicaiton.

Thanks a lot for taking a step to reply me...!!!!!!!

silviya

# Solution 6

Hi Silviya

You are welcome. Let me know if you have any doubt.

Community Software

Hi there

Anyone know any good community software preferably (open source) that has a platform (portal) containing forums, advertising/classified, blogs/article, events using single login to access this.

It's like BOONEX.COM sort of speak BUT it'spreferably open source and focused on MEMBER. I don't whether other portal application (JOOMLAH or others) can be focused on the MEMBER.

Thank you

# Solution 1

hi,
If you want to create a social networking site like orkut, facebook, etc... Then Boonex's Dolphin Community Builder would be an idle solution...
It has classifieds and all integrated within itself...
Link: www.boonex.com/products/dolphin/

Else you can use joomla (best opensource CMS) with many modules to customise it to your needs. Well, just consider these famous (both commercial and free ) modules for adding more stuff to your joomla site
* Joomla Community Builder - Community Solution
* Joomla FireBoard - Best Upcoming forum solution
* Classified Ads - Classified extension module
and many more...
Want a demo of some of them? visit this: http://www.joomlaportaldemo.com/

HTH

Community Software