PowerPlugs: Animator
Technical Support — Frequently Asked Questions

Please review these questions and answers to see if your question is answered on this page. If you question is not addressed here, please read the Help documentation that accompanies your software or see the contact information for our Technical Support department.

Downloading and Installation
1. What should I do when I've purchased PowerPlugs: Animator , but I receive an error message when trying to download the software?
2. How do I install PowerPlugs: Animator ?
3. Can I install PowerPlugs: Animator without Administrator rights?
4. How do I uninstall PowerPlugs: Animator ?

System Compatibility
1. What versions of Windows are PowerPlugs: Animator compatible with?
2. What versions of Microsoft Office (PowerPoint) are PowerPlugs: Animator compatible with?
3. What do I need to do if I upgrade to a later version of PowerPoint?

Usability
1. How can I Preview Animator effects before I apply them?
2. How do I remove Animator effects from my presentation?
3. How do I send my presentation with Animator effects to someone?

Miscellaneous
1. Using PowerPlugs: Animator with PowerPlugs: Video Backgrounds
2. Dual monitor mode
3. How do I reset the PowerPlugs: Animator tool bar?
4. Can I use Flash animations in PowerPoint as well as PowerPlugs: Animator effects?
5. Why does PowerPoint leave a presentation called ~temp.ppt when I close my presentation?

Downloading and Installation
1. What should I do when I've purchased PowerPlugs: Animator, but I receive an error message when trying to download the software?
Attempting to download files through a broadband connection (i.e. cable modem or DSL), or a company network's Internet connection, can occasionally interfere with your ability to access the FTP links (which CrystalGraphics provides in your purchase confirmation email). It may generate error messages, and perhaps restrict your ability to download the software you've purchased from CrystalGraphics.

Please refer to our Download FAQs Web page for detailed assistance on resolving internet/file download problems.

2. How do I install PowerPlugs: Animator ?
Before you proceed with installing PowerPlugs: Animator onto your hard drive, go to the Tools menu of PowerPoint, and select Macro>Security. If the security level is set to "High," change it to Medium (or Low). Then, close PowerPoint. If your computer is configured in a networked Windows environment, check with your system administrator to make sure that your local PC is granted full administrative rights -- at least during the installation of PowerPlugs: Animator (your normal user rights privilege level can be set back to normal after installation). And, it is also a good idea to temporarily disable your anti-virus software.

If you have downloaded PowerPlugs: Animator onto the local drive of your computer, locate the downloaded file on your computer, then double-click the file to begin installation.

If you are installing PowerPlugs: Animator from a CD-ROM, an Autorun screen should display after you insert the CD into the CD-ROM drive. Just click the Install button to proceed with installation. If you do not see an Autorun screen display upon inserting the CD in the drive, go to the Windows Start menu and select "My Computer." Select your CD-ROM drive and locate a file called Setup.exe. Double click on this file. Setup.exe will install the Animator files onto your local hard drive. It will also automatically install it into PowerPoint.
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3. Can I install PowerPlugs: Animator without Administrator rights?
No. Your user account on your machine must have the right to install software. Otherwise, PowerPlugs: Animator cannot be installed. You must either enable Administrator rights to your user account or log on with an account with Administrator rights to install PowerPlugs: Animator on your machine.
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4. How do I uninstall PowerPlugs: Animator?
You can uninstall PowerPlugs: Animator by either running the "Uninstall Animator " program in the PowerPlugs: Animator program folder on the Windows Start menu or using the Microsoft Windows Add/Remove Programs utility located in the control panel. PowerPoint should not be running during uninstallation.

If you wish to reinstall PowerPlugs: Animator once you have uninstalled it from your hard drive, follow the steps outlined in “How do I install PowerPlugs: Animator ?” (above).
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System Compatibility
1. What versions of Windows is PowerPlugs: Animator compatible with?
PowerPlugs: Animator runs with Windows 2000 - Vista.
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2. What versions of Microsoft Office (PowerPoint) are PowerPlugs: Animator compatible with?
PowerPlugs: Animator works with PowerPoint 2002 (Office XP) - PowerPoint 2007.
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3. What do I need to do if I upgrade to a later version of PowerPoint?
When you upgrade to Office XP (PowerPoint 2002) or Office 2003, open PowerPoint and go to the Tools menu. Select Macro>Security and change the security level from High to Medium (or Low). Then, close PowerPoint. Run the Reconfigure program that is included with PowerPlugs: Animator . Go to Start Menu>Programs>PowerPlugs>Animator. Click on Reconfigure . First click on the "Remove PowerPlugs from PowerPoint" button and then click on "Add PowerPlugs into PowerPoint." This enables the PowerPlugs interface to be added into the new version of PowerPoint that you just installed. (If a message appears about "Disable or Enable Macros," select 'Enable Macros.') Open PowerPoint thereafter and you should then be able to use the Animator tools.

If the above steps are followed and you are still unable to use the PowerPlugs tools in PowerPoint, go to PowerPoint's Tools menu and select Add-ins ... Verify that PowerPlugs: Animator is listed in the "Available Add-ins" list. Highlight PowerPlugs: Animator in the list. Then, select Remove . Thereafter, select Add New and browse to the following location -- C:\Program Files\PowerPlugs. Select POWERPLUGS ANIMATOR.PPA, then click OK and close the Add-ins dialog box. You should then be able to use the Animator tools shortly thereafter.
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Using Animator
1. How can I preview Animator effects before I apply them?
Using the Animator dialog box, each time that you click on an effect style, a small animation preview will play. Click again to repeat the preview.

If you would like to preview the animation on your actual slide, click "Slide Show Preview", and you will see your slide in the actual slide show (using PowerPlugs View Show with Effects). After it plays, you may return to Animator by pressing ESC or going to the end of the show.
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2. How do I remove Animator effects from my presentation?
When you want to remove the Animator effects from one or more slides, select the slide/s in PowerPoint and click Add animation. Using the PowerPlugs: Animator dialog box, click the Remove button, and it will remove all effects from the selected slide or slides. You may also pick "No animation" in the Style list, then Apply. This also removes the effects.
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3. How do I send my Animator-enhanced presentation to someone?
Use PowerPlugs' “Pack with Effects” tool to pack up your PowerPlugs: Animator -enhanced presentation. The Pack with Effects tool packs up the PowerPlugs Player and Animator source effects and other resources so you can send your presentation to others and they can play it on computers that may not have PowerPlugs: Animator installed.
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Miscellaneous
1. Using PowerPlugs: Animator with PowerPlugs: Video Backgrounds
PowerPlugs: Video Backgrounds displays semi-transparent graphics (any objects that aren't 100% opaque or 100% transparent) as a gray shape. Some of Animator's effects use a fade effect that is momentarily semi-transparent. If this is noticeable, you may prefer to omit a video background from that slide, or set the video background to “static.”
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2 . Dual monitor mode
If your computer is configured for Dual Monitor mode (using Windows display settings to “extend Windows desktop” onto a second monitor or projector), then most animation (not just PowerPlugs: Animator ) will be less smooth, especially when Video Backgrounds are playing. We recommend that you reduce the resolution of your slideshow display, or turn off Dual Monitor mode and use your secondary display in “clone mode.”
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3 . How do I reset the PowerPlugs: Animator tool bar?
If the PowerPlugs: Animator toolbar should disappear, first make sure that it is a checked using the PowerPoint View/Toolbars menu. If not, click on it to activate it. If it does not appear there, go to Windows Start/All Programs/PowerPlugs , locate Animator , and click Reconfigure and then Add . This should restore your toolbar.
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4 . Can I use Flash animations in PowerPoint as well as PowerPlugs: Animator effects?
Flash animation can only be used in a presentation with Animator effects if the PowerPoint Macro Security level is set to Low. If this is not possible, it is best not to use the two together.

This limitation is true for all objects inserted into PowerPoint as controls, such as the Calendar control and a variety of ActiveX controls. Flash objects are inserted as controls, whether manually or using FlashReady.
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5 . Why does PowerPoint leave a presentation called ~temp.ppt when I close my presentation?
PowerPoint will leave a temporary file open if are running in a dual monitor configuration and you close your presentation by using the ESC key or by clicking on the black screen at the end of the show. You must close the show, instead, by clicking on End Show in Presenter View. (It's possible that this temporary file may be displayed in other unusual circumstances, too.)

You may delete the temporary file after you finish your presentation. There is no need to save it.
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