Hi Smiley,

We have tried Powerpoint in the past, but found that you couldn't scroll enough names to make it useful.  But I have found that Impress, which is OpenOffice.org's version of presentation software works nicely.  You can track your names in Excel and then just copy the column of names and paste into Impress. 

OpenOffice is a free program found at www.OpenOffice.org
Here are some instructions:

Luminaria Scrolling Display

In Excel, once you've completed your Data Entry:

Filter for unique records

1. Select the column or click a cell in the list you want to filter.
2. On the Data menu, point to Filter, and then click Advanced Filter.
3. Do one of the following.
• To filter the list in place, similar to using AutoFilter, click Filter the list, in-place.
• To copy the results of the filter to another location, click Copy to another location. Then, in the Copy To box, enter a cell reference. 
4. Select the Unique records only check box.

If using 2 columns (First Name and Last Name) Sort by Last Name

1. On the Menubar, click Data - Sort...
2. If you have a Header row, be sure to click the My list has Header row.

Merge First and Last Name Columns

1. Use the formula:

 =A2&" "&B2 (if A the first name column and B is the last name column and you are starting in the 2nd row) and then drag that formula down to each of the remaining rows so that they become: =A3" "&B3, =A4" "&B4, and on down.

Remove Extra Spaces:

Once you've merged columns, you may have extra spaces between First and Last Names.  Use the following formula to trim extra spaces.

1. In the column to the right, we want to use a new formula.  Click in the first cell and then in the formula box, type: 

=TRIM(C2)  (where C is the column you want to work on and 2 is the row you want to change) 

1. Then grab that formula and drag all the way down the column

Copy Text from Excel to Impress

1. Open Impress
2. Open Relay Luminaria presentation
3. From Excel, select column to copy,
4. Copy,
5. In Impress, create Text Box
• From toolbar on the bottom of the program, click on the T
6. Paste copied text into Text Box in Impress

Format Text Box:

1. Select Text Box
2. From the MenuBar, click Format - Paragraph 1 ½ lines
3. Alignment - Center (if you so choose)
4. OK

Format Text

1. Format - Text  
2. Text Animation tab

• Scroll Through
• Uncheck Pixels and set to .01
• OK

Now, for the caveats:

Even though you can see your show scrolling names while you are working on it, you will want to test your show to be sure it really works by clicking on the Slide Show button.  

I have Vista and XP on 2 different computers and OpenOffice's Impress 2.2 works great until I hit Slide Show...and the names don't scroll.  However, 2.1 works like a dream.  2.3 is now out and I have't had a chance to try it.  I'll give that a shot tonight.

Good Luck!

I'm not sure how many names that you are talking about.  We had over 9,100 luminaria for our 2007 Relay.  We do not read our names because we have so many.  However, we have tried for the last couple of years to have the names scroll on power point.  This has yet to work.  I'm not sure of the solution to your question, but when you find out please let me know.  Thank you.