Does SongShow Plus™ support Microsoft 365?

 Applicable SongShow Plus Versions:
This article applies to all versions of SongShow Plus.

Many people still use Microsoft PowerPoint (PPT) for building slide show content. SongShow Plus can, in many cases, use the native PowerPoint files using the built in 3rd party support plug-in when a supported version of Microsoft PowerPoint is installed. There are, however, several limitations and restrictions to using this and it is not the most compatible with SongShow Plus.

NOTE: Using native SongShow Plus files create in the Slide Builder are infinitely more versatile and reliable. Training can be provided for this and is the ONLY solution that SongShow Plus has control over.

Preferred Solution:
Use the powerful and feature rich Slide Builder that comes with SongShow Plus to create your slide shows. This tool is available to all SongShow Plus users (Projection and FREE Workstations) and eliminates the need for the use of Microsoft PowerPoint.  Slide Builder is fully compatible with SongShow Plus and does have import tools to convert PowerPoint slides to static image files or videos.  You can also use the included Slide Show Artisan tool. 

The Short Answer - Microsoft 365 is and it's updates are unpredictable and inconsistent for use with SongShow Plus - We do not recommended it.

The "Why"...

Microsoft 365 is a hybrid form of Microsoft Office. At its core, Microsoft 365 (formerly known as Office 365) is a cloud-based subscription service that bundles together Microsoft's productivity apps with cloud storage and security tools. Instead of buying software once and installing it from a disc, you pay a monthly or annual fee to always have access to the latest versions. While it does have other components, the Productivity Apps are what we are concerned about. These are the classic tools you likely already know, like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. Depending on your subscription plan, you can install the full premium versions locally on your PC or Mac, or use simplified versions in a web browser.

Online - It can be used 100% online , however, any of the online version are NOT sufficient to use with SSP.  They may appear to be local but all operations are done online.  There is no way for SSP to interact with the online version for PPT use. 

Local Use - The deployment of local Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365) apps updates is handled in the background by Microsoft's Click-to-Run technology.  By default, the update process is designed to be completely silent, but under certain conditions—such as when a user leaves an Office app open for days or when an IT administrator enforces a deadline—the user will receive notifications.

How Office 365 Updates Are Deployed - Unlike traditional Windows updates, Microsoft 365 updates do not use Windows Update or WSUS to download individual patches. Instead, Microsoft releases a fully updated version of the entire Office suite to its Content Delivery Network (CDN) every month.  The local deployment relies on a three-step cycle: Detect, Download, and Apply.  Detection (The Scheduled Task): When Office is installed, it creates a Windows scheduled task called Office Automatic Updates 2.0. This task runs regularly in the background to compare the local version of Office against the update source. 

• Downloading: If a newer version is detected, the files are downloaded silently in the background into a temporary folder. 
• Applying the Update: Once downloaded, the system attempts to install the updates. Updates can only be applied when all Office applications (including Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, etc.) are closed. 
• Common Deployment Methods Used by IT Admins:
  • Directly from the Microsoft CDN (Default): Devices download updates directly from the internet. 
  • Local Network Share (ODT): Admins use the Office Deployment Tool (ODT) to download updates to a local network share, and devices pull updates locally to save internet bandwidth. 
  • Microsoft Intune / Configuration Manager (SCCM): Admins manage precisely when updates are released, allowing them to test updates on a pilot group before deploying them to everyone.
• Does the User Get Notified? No, not under normal circumstances. If a user regularly closes their Office apps or shuts down their computer at the end of the day, the updates will install silently in the background. The user will never see a prompt.

How do I check if/when my version was updated? 

As noted above, Microsoft 365 apps do update automatically, but their updates do not appear in Windows Update history. Office has its own update mechanism and its own update logs, separate from Windows. Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise/Business (and personal subscriptions) use Click-to-Run updating. Click-to-Run updates do not show up in Windows Update history because they are delivered directly from Microsoft’s CDN, not through Windows Update. 

Steps to check updates:

• Open PowerPoint.
• Go to File > Account.
• Look under Product Information.
• You will see:
• About PowerPoint > shows the current version and build number.
• Office Updates > shows “Updates were last installed…” with a date.

If this article does not resolve the issue, contact the Support Team.

(SW35)