Re: Viewing powerpoint files

["E.L. Meijer \(Eric\)" <tgakem@sg10.chem.tue.nl>]

> Is there a utility to view MS powerpoint files? Do I have to install
> that monster of StarOffice for this perpose? ;^)

It depends on what you call `view'.  Our secretary sometimes insists on
sending lecture programs in powerpoint files per email (yuck, bleah),
and all that matters is the text.  In that case a simple

strings <file.ppt> | less

will show you the text most of the time, after you scroll through a few
pages of junk.  The text is usually somewhere at the bottom.  Funny
thing is that you can often see older versions of the text that are
invisible in powerpoint.

HTH,
Eric

-- 
 E.L. Meijer (tgakem@chem.tue.nl)
 Eindhoven Univ. of Technology
 Lab. for Catalysis and Inorg. Chem. (SKA)