Automatic converison of old PPT-Files

[Bernhard.Schloss]

I have a problem with some old ppt-files (probably 2000 and 2003)
which I cannot open in new Powerpoint releases (2007/2010) anymore. I
guess that the files are not corrupt but it is a downward
compatibility problem.

How can I convert those files in the new format?
Is there any procedure that converts files within in my archive folder
structure into the new format?

 

[Mike Painter]

I have a problem with some old ppt-files (probably 2000 and 2003)
which I cannot open in new Powerpoint releases (2007/2010) anymore. I
guess that the files are not corrupt but it is a downward
compatibility problem.

How can I convert those files in the new format?
Is there any procedure that converts files within in my archive folder
structure into the new format?

I've had no problem with versions prior to 2007 opening in 2007.
Is ther anything unusual in them?
You can probably buy a cheap copy of an older version then cut and paste if
need be.

 

[Bernhard.Schloss]

Hi Mike,

I´m not aware of anything special with those old PPTs. There shouldn
´´t be any technial gadgets or things like that in them. I just filed
them in my archive and when I occasionly look for them again I had
these problems. (This is why I would prefer to automatically convert
all PPTs in my archive. The archive structure is already so deep and
the number of files so big that a manual process would need a huge
effort.)

Regards
Bernhard

 

[Matti Vuori]

I´m not aware of anything special with those old PPTs. There shouldn
´´t be any technial gadgets or things like that in them. I just filed
them in my archive and when I occasionly look for them again I had
these problems. (This is why I would prefer to automatically convert
all PPTs in my archive. The archive structure is already so deep and
the number of files so big that a manual process would need a huge
effort.)

The files might be authored with versions 2000 or 2003 of Powerpoint, but
perhaps the file format is for PPT 97 or other old format - meaning that
2007 cannot open them...

So, you could buy an old version of PPT (2003) and have someone write a
macro to do the conversion. Or you could probably do the same with
OpenOffice Impress.

 

[Mike Painter]

Hi Mike,

I´m not aware of anything special with those old PPTs. There shouldn
´´t be any technial gadgets or things like that in them. I just filed
them in my archive and when I occasionly look for them again I had
these problems. (This is why I would prefer to automatically convert
all PPTs in my archive. The archive structure is already so deep and
the number of files so big that a manual process would need a huge
effort.)

Regards
Bernhard

You almost certainly will need an older version if the files are pre 2000.
At least from 2003 snd probably 2000 they should open in 2007.
The files thenselves may be corrupted.

There may be conversion services available on the web.

There are some scripting languages that would allow (semi) automatic
conversions.
I've used Autoit for some fairly complex operations
http://www.autoitscript.com/autoit3/index.shtml

 

[echos]

These were probably saved as "PowerPoint 97-2003 and 95" format.

Your best bet is to find a copy of PPT 2003 and use that to open the files.
Then save as simply "PowerPoint Presentation." This is the 97-2003 format --
it's the "and 95" part that's the killer here.

Once you install 2003, if it has SP3 installed also, then you'll need the
information here http://www.pptfaq.com/FAQ00916.htm to be able to open and
save these files in 2003 SP3.

 

[echos]

Ah, you'll need some kind of macro, too, to batch-process the files. (Sorry,
I wasn't thinking about that part when I replied earlier.)

http://www.pptfaq.com/FAQ00740.htm will help with that.