You can inform them that ODF format (ISO/IEC 26300:2006) will work best. They can udit/create these files with OpenOffice.org (windows version) - you can even supply the files.
Warn that not all (
legacy) power point presentations will convert perfectly, though they can still be used.
But I know what you mean.
The 10 second pause is is default for all automatic odp files. It is managed with the "feature" previously discussed. I still don't understand why you cannot use it. Or do you mean that you are playing the ppt files without converting them?
Odd that the timings in automated slide-shows would be ignored - means you'll end up redoing them by hand.
The macro method you mention is from this:
http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/.../Presentations
... pause(long) is an application rather than a document feature. Changing the default pause will do what you want though - sort of.
Most effective method:
Convert the uploaded PPT file to ODF, modify the ODF, show the ODF
I repeat: you will not get this effect removed with a macro.
Remember that MS format "support" in OOo is still mostly a matter of reverse engineering. That MS have historically changed small details in their implimentation just to make this hard. It is even possible that the missing timings are restricted to the application that runs the presentation and not stored in the file at all.
I'll bet the presentations play differently in different versions of powerpoint.
Note: the 10s delay added to looping ppt files is a formal issue
http://www.openoffice.org/issues/show_bug.cgi?id=88112
... you'll want to vote for it.
http://209.85.173.104/search?q=cache...ient=firefox-a
... notes on using MS Office with OpenOffice. It is of particular interest to you because it details gotchas in importing powerpoint to impress.
The behavior of the pause page is discussed in the user guide:
http://documentation.openoffice.org/...ide2_draft.pdf