More about links...

[Dianne]

We recently upgraded from Office 2000 to Office 2003.
I had training presentations that had been linked and were working
before this. Now they don't work and I get a message that says that the
linked file is unavailable and cannot be updated -- althoufg it's in
the same location! Additionally, when I attempt to link new
presentations I get a message that it's not possible to create a link
to the selected files. My resident IT folks have been unable to help.
What's happening?

 

[Guest]

Does this info about this free add-in help:

PPTools FixLinks prevents broken links when you distribute PowerPoint ...
www.rdpslides.com/pptfaq/FAQ00437.htm

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

We recently upgraded from Office 2000 to Office 2003.
I had training presentations that had been linked and were working
before this. Now they don't work and I get a message that says that the
linked file is unavailable and cannot be updated -- althoufg it's in
the same location! Additionally, when I attempt to link new
presentations I get a message that it's not possible to create a link
to the selected files. My resident IT folks have been unable to help.
What's happening?

This may be the side effect of a bug in PPT2003.

The fix is to open PPT, choose Help, Check for Updates and let the Office
updater do its thing.

The root problem, I'm guessing, is that 2003 as shipped (ie, before any
service packs/updates) was often unable to open files from earlier versions of
PPT and sometimes not even files it'd just saved.

That would, I think, account for both links to PPTs failing and your being
unable to insert new ones.

 

[Dianne]

Thank you, it now works! All problems in life should be so easily
solved! I wonder why my IT guys didn't have this solution?

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

Thank you, it now works! All problems in life should be so easily
solved! I wonder why my IT guys didn't have this solution?

You beat them here and asked first!

Give 'em a break, though. They probably have to ride herd on a quarter bazillion
different programs. We do daily battle with PowerPoint and that's it. ;-)

'Course, if you feel the need to rub it in just a wee little bit ... we'll
understand.

 

[Echo S]

However, the IT guys need to know that it's important to install at least
SP-1 for Office 2003. I agree that I wouldn't expect them to know the exact
solution for this problem, but I *would* expect them to know to apply the SP
to Office immediately after installation. It shouldn't get to the user
without it.

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP]
http://www.echosvoice.com
Fixing PowerPoint Annoyances
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/powerpointannoy/
How to Prevent PowerPoint Overload (March 23 webcast)
http://tinyurl.com/bp2h8

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

However, the IT guys need to know that it's important to install at least
SP-1 for Office 2003. I agree that I wouldn't expect them to know the exact
solution for this problem, but I *would* expect them to know to apply the SP
to Office immediately after installation. It shouldn't get to the user
without it.

AMEN to that.