PPT To Video Scout tutorial: automated conversion of powerpoint (PPT) presentations into AVI, MPEG, FLV (flash video) video using command-line interface of PPT To Video Scout

This page provides information on command-line interface parameters of PPT To Video Scout. Command-line interface can be used to automate conversion of Powerpoint presentations into video using PPT To Video Scout.

First download and install PPT To Video Scout

IMPORTANT: To use command line interface automation in registered version you have to purchase one of the following license types:

Command Line License - allow to use command line program automation on one single workstation only
Developer License - allow to use command line interface and re-distribute program along with your end-user desktop application software without any additional royalties
Web License - allow to install and use program on one single web-server

For more information about these licenses please visit http://bytescout.com/purchase_ppttovideoscout_developer.html

Command Line interface parameters:

/H - run program in automated mode
/S - set output video width and height in form of WIDTHxHEIGHT, for example: /H320x240
/F - set output video FPS. For example: /F15
/N - do not capture sound
/T - set path to temporary folder to store intermediate files. For example: /T"c:\temp\"
/V - set part of video codec name so program will search codec in list of available codecs and will select this codec to compress final video. For example: /VDivX
/C - conversion mode. (1 - realtime (default), 2 - frame by frame conversion without sound). For example: /C or /C1
/A - don't auto close conversion - user will be required to click "Stop" or conversion can be stopped using global timeout parameter (see /G parameter)
/G - global timeout in seconds.For example /G200 - auto-stop conversion after 200 seconds. /G equal to /G600 (stop conversion after 600 seconds)
/P or /PN - force "next slide" button every N seconds for example /P3 - force play button every 3 seconds. /P = /P10 (force "next slide" every 10 seconds)
/L"filename" - write log file to filename. /L uses default filename = {APPDATA}\SWF To Video Scout\Log.txt
/K"customcaption" - set custom caption for conversion wizard UI window (Developer License is required for this parameter)

Example #1 - converting PPT to MPEG:

// convert first 120 seconds of PPT into MPEG video with 300x300 dimensions and 15 FPS using built-in
// MPEG conversion, write log file into default log file location
// /P parameter is used to set default slide advance time so slides are changed automatically every 10 seconds or earlier if slide advance time is less than 10 seconds

PPTToVideoScout.exe "C:\My Presentation\Sample.ppt" "C:\Converted\SamplePresentation.mpg" /H /S300x300 /V#MPEG /L /F15 /G120 /P10

Example #2 - converting PPT to FLV (flash video):

// convert first 120 seconds of PPT into FLV video with 320x240 dimensions and 15 FPS using built-in
// FLV conversion, write log file into default log file location
// /P parameter is used to set default slide advance time so slides are changed automatically every 10 seconds or earlier if slide advance time is less than 10 seconds

PPTToVideoScout.exe "C:\My Presentation\Sample.ppt" "C:\Converted\SamplePresentation.FLV" /H /S320x240 /V#FLV /L /F15 /G120 /P10

NOTE: to play FLV you can use either free FLV player engine or convert produced FLV to single SWF flash movie using SWF Scout lib

Log File Constants

Program writes a log file (check /L command line parameter)

Following error names are used to indicate errors in a log file:

ERROR_OK - conversion successfull
ERROR_POST_PROCESSING_ABORTED - post-processing aborted by user clicked "Cancel" button
ERROR_CAN_NOT_COPY_INTERMEDIATE_FILES - can not copy intermediate files into final video file
ERROR_DLL_REQUIRED_NOT_FOUND - not able to find filter ascapscout.ax or not installed
ERROR_CONVERSION_STOPPED_BY_GLOBAL_TIMEOUT - conersion will continue but it was stopped by global timeout timer (see /G command line parameter)
ERROR_LARGE_OUTPUT_SIZE_DECREASED_TO_SCREEN - conversion will continue but output video dimensions were decreased to fit the screen
ERROR_SOURCE_FILE_IS_ZERO_SIZE - conversion can not be done as input file is zero size

ERROR_POWERPOINT_NOT_INSTALLED - powerpoint not installed
ERROR_CAN_NOT_INITIALIZE_POWERPOINT - can not initialize powerpoint during conversion
ERROR_CAN_NOT_OPEN_POWERPOINT_DOCUMENT - can not oper powerpoint document

Read more about licensing options for command-line interface of PPT To Video Scout