Slideshows within a Powerpoint presentation - possible?

Create a separate presentation for each of the cycling series of photos. Set it to loop until esc.

On your main presentation, insert the looped presentations as icons (Insert > Object > Create from File > Browse to [File Name] > Check Display as Icon (change icon name if you want an identifier) >OK). Insert one object/presentation on each slide from which you wish to launch the "series of photos."  Once inserted, go to Animations > Custom Animation > Add Effect > Object Action Show.

You can either keep the icon on the slide (place it somewhere where it won't interfere with the rest of your presentation) and launch your pres by clicking on the icon or move the icon off the screen and set it to launch on a trigger click of another more actractive object.

Once the series of images is launched and you're ready to return to your main presentation just hit esc. and you'll return...

Sandy Johnson, Microsoft Office PowerPoint MVP

Hi FredChicken,

Here's one way you can do it with custom shows.

Create your talking point slides and place them at the beginning of the presentation (let's call them Section 1, Section 2, Section 3, etc.)

Add a solid black slide at the end of the sections slides, then add all your picture slides. Set the transitions on your picture slides to automatically advance after XX seconds.

Create custom shows to match each Section slide and name them to match the Section slide (i.e. Custom Show 1, Custom Show 2, etc.) See this link for how to create a custom show:http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/powerpoint-help/create-and-present-a-custom-show-HA010096698.aspx?CTT=1

Add an object (like a square) to each Section Slide and use it as the link to start the appropriate Custom Show (also explained in the link above.)  So on Section 1 slide you'll have a link to Custom Show 1, on Section 2 slide, you'll have a link to Custom Show 2, etc. Make sure you select Show & Return.

If you don't want the link object to be seen, make it 99% transparent but remember where it is so you can click on it.

Click Slide Show, Set Up Show and check the box for Loop continuously until ESC.

Run the slide show, on Section 1 slide click the object to start the pictures, hit ESC when you're ready to go to the next Section, click to advance to Section Slide 2, click the object to start Custom Show 2, hit Esc when you're ready, repeat as needed.