How do I upload large PowerPoint files into Blackboard?
From BbWiki
If you need to upload a PowerPoint presentation into Blackboard and the file is too large (which can easily be the case if it's an image-heavy file), you can easily do a couple of things.
In PowerPoint 2007 on a PC (but not a Mac), you have the option of compressing the images in your file. Depending on the level of compression, you can reduce your file size by well over 50%. In your presentation, select an image in a slide. The Format menu will appear. Under Format, choose Compress Pictures. If you want to compress all pictures, leave "Apply to selected pictures only" unchecked. Click on the Options button to choose the type of compression (print, screen, or e-mail).
On both a PC and a Mac, you can save a presentation as a PDF and reduce the file size.
On a PC: The Save to PDF option may be available on your computer already (if you have Adobe Acrobat, for instance). Choose Save As; if there is no option to save as PDF, you can download a free plugin at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=4D951911-3E7E-4AE6-B059-A2E79ED87041&displaylang=en
Another free download that allows you to print a file to a PDF file is CutePDF: http://www.cutepdf.com/
The Acrobat and Microsoft PDF plugins both allow you to save the file optimized for minimum file space. In order to cut down on printing if students print out your files, you can also choose to save the file as a handout with up to 9 slides per page (this is available from the "Options" link on the Save As dialogue box for the Microsoft Plugin; if you're using the Adobe PDF converter, choose Print, and then find Adobe PDF. From the Print dialogue box, you can choose to save as slides, handout, etc.)
On a Mac: Save your file as a PDF. Open the PDF file in Preview. Go to File/Save As. Change Quartz Filter Line to "Reduce File Size." Save.
Bryn Mawr College: If you need additional assistance with PowerPoint and Blackboard, please contact Camilla MacKay (cmackay@brynmawr.edu, x7910) or Del Ramers (dramers@brynmawr.edu, x7917) in Visual Resources. If your file is still too large even after compressing images and saving as PDF, you can further reduce it by manipulating the file using Adobe Acrobat Professional. All the public computers in Visual Resources have Acrobat installed.
