Compatibility Pack Functionality

[StevieB]

Hi, We need to convert PPT to PPTX files in batch and the compatibility pack
command:
PPCNVCOM.EXE -oice c:\inputfile.ppt c:\outputfile.pptx
works really well for PPT to PPTX conversions. However, we cannot get it to
work the other way round i.e. for PPTX to PPT file conversions - it produces
no output or error message.

Will it also work for PPTX->PPT and, if so, what switch parameters should we
use to replace the '-oice'?
Thanks, Steve.

 

[StevieB]

Hi Steve,
Thanks for replying but no, there does not appear to be help of any sort for
PPCNVCOM.EXE and, as far as we can see, it is completely un-documented. Is
there someone in MS we can talk to about this issue, please?

Incidentally, we definitely want to avoid using OLE on the server for all
kinds of reasons and using PowerPoint manually is not an option, so it will
be excellent if we can get PPCNVCOM.EXE working 'PPTX to PPT'. It works
perfectly the other way round and, logically, it should work both ways since
PPT 2003 provides this functionality seamlessly via the Compatibility Pack.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give,
Steve.

 

[StevieB]

Wow, I had no idea you guys were volunteers - well done!
However, how can we put this question to the MS guys that support
PPCNVCOM.EXE?

Thanks, Steve

 

[StevieB]

Thanks, Steve,

That's very kind. Here's hoping!

Steve.

 

[StevieB]

Hi Steve,
I'm afraid not - this is about converting PPT to the newer PPTX file format.
We need to do it the other way round, in batch, on a server, without using
OLE or PowerPoint. In other words, PPTX to PPT.

Can your buddies say if PPCNVCOM.EXE is capable of this and, if not, suggest
how to down-convert PPTX to PPT I wonder?
Many thanks, Steve.

Thanks, Steve,

That's very kind. Here's hoping!

My buddies sent me a bunch of links to TechNet that may help; I've added them to
the FAQ. Have a look at the first one on this page. It might be just the thing:

Migrating to Office 2007 - Guides for IT Professionals
http://www.pptfaq.com/FAQ00967.htm

Steve.

Wow, I had no idea you guys were volunteers - well done!
However, how can we put this question to the MS guys that support
PPCNVCOM.EXE?

If you have a support contract, it might include this type of support, or you might be
able to open a normal paid support incident. But hold off on that ... I've passed the
question up the line to a contact at MS, asking for any docs that might be available on
PPCNVCOM.EXE

Let's see if they have anything for us.


Thanks, Steve

:

 

[StevieB]

Thanks, Steve. This is a tricky one - here's hoping PPCNVCOM.EXE isn't a
1-way trapdoor!

 

[StevieB]

HI Steve,
Just wondering if you've heard anything from MS yet?
Thanks, Steve.

 

[Steve Smegner]

Greetings,
Moving to any of the newer formats like PPTX enables functionality not
available in previous formats. For PPTX there are things like Smart ART, data
connections, etc. Going forward from PPT to PPTX is safe but going backwards
strips out the new functionality or might not be possible. So going backwards
was not deemed as a very useful situation.

My question would be why convert it to PPTX if you are going to convert it
back? Both Office 2003 and 2007 can work with PPT files without conversion.

Steve Smegner
Application Development Consulting Group

 

[StevieB]

Hi Steve (and Steve!),

I understand the startegic arguments which are well put. However, if I could
just bring this back to the original question (which still awaits an answer),
it is this:-

"We need to convert PPT to PPTX files in batch and the Compatibility pack
command:
PPCNVCOM.EXE -oice c:\inputfile.ppt c:\outputfile.pptx
works really well for PPT to PPTX conversions. However, we cannot get it to
work the other way round i.e. for PPTX to PPT file conversions - it produces
no output or error message."

"Will it also work for PPTX->PPT and, if so, what switch parameters should we
use to replace the '-oice'?"

The fact is, we are in urgent need of the answer to this question for a
project we're working on, so anything you can provide by way of PPCNVCOM.EXE
(or similar but definitely not Office Automation) would be greatly
appreciated.

Many thanks in advance of your helpful answer..

StevieB (definitely too many Steves around here!)

 

[StevieB]

Hi Steve,
It's been a while and we're still in need of the command-line routine to
convert PPTX to PPT files. To recap, the file conversion string:

PPCNVCOM.EXE -oice c:\myfile.pptx c:\myfile.ppt
as described in:
http://www.oooninja.com/2008/02/office-compatibility-pack-review.html
and other places, does not work. We urgently need a resolution to this
problem so please, is there anything at all you can do to help?

Many thanks, Steve.

 

[StevieB]

Hi Steve,
It's been a while and we're still in need of the command-line routine to
convert PPTX to PPT files. To recap, the file conversion string:

PPCNVCOM.EXE -oice c:\myfile.pptx c:\myfile.ppt
as described in:
http://www.oooninja.com/2008/02/office-compatibility-pack-review.html
and other places, does not work. We urgently need a solution to this
problem so please, is there anything anyone can do to help?