Opening powerpoint while running an obs

minix0210

New Member
What will happen if I open a powerpoint file (running as slide show) while OBS is running (and outputting to a projector) ? Will my obs projector output stop to accomodate the powerpoint or the powerpoint will only show on the local desktop?
 

Lawrence_SoCal

Active Member
I'm not sure ... how is your PC connected to Projector? is your PC configured with Projector as 2nd monitor?
Let's assume Projector is a simple 2nd monitor on computer (not network connected, or something else)
What will happen depends on how you have configured PowerPoint (or any other app). If an app opens up and displays on Monitor 2, then will be shown (be that full screen or a window, again per App setting, or Window position as retained by Operating System)
With more specifics, I or others can provide more specific feedback. But if a traditional display connection for Projector, this is an OS question, not OBS... I think {could easily be wrong}
 

minix0210

New Member
Thanks. My pc is not on the network and will connect to the projector as a 2nd monitor. I posted my question yesterday because I am not sure of the outcome since the projector is not yet available (in transit to my location). Anyway, for an update, I tested it myself after the projector arrived. The PowerPoint is configured to be shown in the projector (not through OBS). After running PowerPoint and starting the slide show, the PowerPoint took over the output. Is this the default behavior? Or can OBS be configured to not allow / or allow (depends on your choice) a projector to be taken over by an external app (like PowerPoint)?
 

Lawrence_SoCal

Active Member
OBS has no control over other apps. The Operating System does
I use PowerPoint in a windowed slide show (not full screen) and then use Window capture (older style so cursor doesn't appear)
So in your case you've set PowerPoint (probably a default behavior, you can control) as to where / how it displays. OBS simply Windows or Display Captures as you configure
If you don't want PowerPoint to take over 2nd monitor/display (Projector in your case), then configure (slide show Settings) PPT accordingly
 

minix0210

New Member
I do want powerpoint to take over, and I'm glad windows just did that without asking me to shut down OBS first. I really thought that windows will prefer already existing running app. Another good observation is that after the slide show, the projector switches back to OBS automatically.
 

JimH

New Member
I save my ppt slides as images, then import those into OBS scene as a slide show. I prefer adding each slide rather than the folder because it gives me more control. I then go into setting/hotkeys and setup my hotkeys in the section for the powerpoint slides. This works for me and allows me to access everything via OBS.
 
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