[Solved] Old Powerpoint files

[martinjbuckley]

Is there a way to open old Powerpoint files with OpenOffice 3.4.1? I've tried converting them with Zamzar to ppt 97-2003 format but I still can't open them. Many thanks.

[acknak]

How old?

I've loaded .ppt files from MS Office 2000, maybe even the version before that--I can't remember for sure.

If you want to check, maybe the easiest thing is if you can attach a sample presentation file here so we can give it a try.

[RoryOF]

Do you get any message when failing to open them?

[chacmol]

I have the same issue, i sent an archive (attached in post) but they cant read it, they are using Power Point 97-2003, can someone please help me convert this file, confirm it is readable Power Point 97-2003 and come back to me please, i really apretiate it.

[thomasjk]

If I remember Microsoft had a compatibility pack that allowed older versions of MS Office to read the new file formats. I can read this with Libreoffice 3.5.6. Otherwise save as 97/XP/2000 .ppt.

[FJCC]

I can open the file in AOO 3.3 but not in MS Office 2007. I saved the version I opened in AOO as a .ppt and that can be opened by MS Office 2007. My converted file is attached.

[acknak]

I have the same issue, i sent an archive (attached in post) but they cant read it, ...

Sorry, but I don't think that's the same issue: your file is in the new MS Powerpoint format, not an old one.

[martinjbuckley]

Sorry for the late response. The error I get is: Version Incompatibility. Incorrect file version". I've attached one of the files that I can't open. Many thanks.

[PGAGA]

The file is not a Powerpoint file but a Word 97 file. Change the extension to DOC and it will open.

Phil

[acknak]

Ouch. Same here: neither LibO nor OOo will open it.

I didn't know that was possible

Here's what info "file" can get out of it:

• $ file Quotes.ppt
  Quotes.ppt: Composite Document File V2 Document, Little Endian, Os: Windows, Version 4.0, Code page: 1252, Title: Useful Quotations, Author: Martin Buckley, Template: u:\powerpnt\default.ppt, Last Saved By: Martin Buckley, Revision Number: 12, Name of Creating Application: Microsoft PowerPoint 4.0, Total Editing Time: -5340337d+-04:-57:-58, Last Printed: Fri Oct 14 16:33:44 1994, Create Time/Date: Thu Oct 13 18:19:46 1994, Last Saved Time/Date: Wed Apr 28 20:10:50 1999, Number of Pages: 10, Number of Words: 137

Did you try the Zamzar site?Yes, I see now that you already went there.

[martinjbuckley]

Tried Zamzar again and the files seem now to be correctly converted and can be opened with AOO3.4.1.
Thanks,
Martin