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Collapsible table of contents for Microsoft Producer

Sat, 18/03/2006
stuart
Template with table of contents in the collapsed or hidden state
This is the template in the collapsed or hidden state

I have been trialling the use of Microsoft Producer at work, as a means of delivering training to our operators. In general people really like the system, but they didn't like the templates that are supplied - the general consensus is that the table of contents (TOC) on the left hand side of the screen takes up too much space.

I did some research on the web and couldn't find any templates that improved on this, so I have developed my own (see a demonstration) (you might prefer to open this link in a new window) which I've put on the web for download.

 

My modified version allows you to hide or collapse the panel to a narrow strip, allowing the slides to expand and fill the remaining space. You can then restore or show the panel when you want it back.

The template is made of three parts:

  1. A template folder containing the necessary CSS files
  2. A customised default.htm file
  3. A customised gogoprod.js file

There is a readme file in the download, but basically you install the template, create your presentation using it, and then publish as normal. You then use the customised .htm and .js files that are supplied to replace the regular ones that Producer uses. Then, when you play back, the show and hide functions are enabled.

We are now using this as the standard template and it's working really well. If you download it and then use it I'd love to know how you get on and what you think, so please leave a comment!

As an aside, the template doesn't have to use < and > as the symbols. Someone asked me if it was possible to use an image. The answer is yes it is!

AttachmentSizeHitsLast download
Collapsible TOC Template.zip71.64 KB2164 weeks 6 days ago

Comments

Wed, 03/05/2006 - 15:04 — Mike (not verified)

Can't get this to work

I really want it to work, but it wont. I've followed your directions - installed template, re-opened producer, used template (both in an existing and new presentation), copied the 2 required files to the correct directory. When I run the production, I get the correct collapsable template now, but the area where the slides are supposed to be is blank. I can click on any slide in producer, but nothing shows up in the slide view. I was wondering if any other users were having similar problems and if so, what's the fix? I have been trying to figure out an answer to the "MS Producer Template taking up half the screen" issue for awhile now and this seems perfect! Thanks!!!

-Mike Berger

Wed, 03/05/2006 - 16:15 — Mike (not verified)

Disregard that last comment

Sorry about that last comment - Let's just say it was user error and leave it at that.... Actually, the file was "locked" in windows because it was downloaded from another computer and wouldn't work properly. After unlocking the file, the template works PERFECTLY. Thanks again for this template!!!

Wed, 03/05/2006 - 18:46 — stuart

Glad you got it working!

And thanks for the feedback :-)

Thu, 23/03/2006 - 00:02 — Peter (not verified)

Collapsible TOC

WOW!

What a great tool! Thanks for sharing.

Tue, 30/05/2006 - 11:52 — Anonymous (not verified)

Collapsible TOC

Where is the actuall < > controls that opens and closes the TOC. I would like to rename those to something else. Like "Collapes TOC and Video", is that possible?

Thanks

Tue, 30/05/2006 - 13:20 — Robert (not verified)

Collapsible TOC

Ok, i think I was able to resolve where the actuall < > controls are. What I did was to make a gif image that reads "Collapse TOC and Video" and "Restore TOC and Video" and replace the next and previous gif images in my template folder. This seems to work pretty good!

My next question is in regards to a dynamic template change. I use (2) templates in my presentations. A 320x640 w/html with the 320 for Video. Then I have 640 video and 320 ppt template. Have you done any work with Dynamic template changes?

Wed, 23/08/2006 - 02:20 — Dave (not verified)

I made it work with video

Hi, thanks very much this mod. It's great. I made some changes to support video as well. I don't know that much about Producer (I just started using it last month) or CSS or Java (I used to be a C programmer however) so bear with the limitations.

I used the 640x480 video template (with the TOC) and when the TOC is collapsed, it zooms to 800x600. I modifed the template to position the media controls in the same place as the other template as well. I record the video at 800x600 and when it shows at 640x480 it is dynamically scaled. It fully works with the other template (template changes, dynamic template changes, zoomed or not, backward, forward, etc.).

Problems:
I must manually replace the "collapsible TOC.css" after publishing (maybe becuase I must reload the template into the project...).

Anyway, since I can't upload a file, I'll just summarize all the changes:

Ok, not since the code triggers a "terminated because of suspicisous content" message.

I guess if Stuart emails me, I'll send him the code...

Mon, 05/06/2006 - 16:03 — stuart

No, not yet

Sorry for the delay in writing a reply - things are a little busy with Abigail!

So far I haven't done anything using dynamic changes and the collapsible template. In theory it should work, as the code that handles the show and hide feature is in default.html, which is separate from the templates which is all in .css files.

I have thought about trying this - the one problem I can imagine is the collapsed / shown state not being preserved between template changes, but it might just work without any problems.

I will get round to testing it out at some point, but not in the immediate future I'm afraid!

Tue, 06/06/2006 - 12:04 — Robert (not verified)

collapsible template

Thanks Stuart

This is good post presentation feature that I think alot of people would like to see. Good luck with the baby and I'll check back later.