'03/'07 Compatibility Issues

[Zach]

Professionally, we have 3 out of 6 project members that are using PowerPoint
'03, while the other 3 are using '07. We are having a very common, and
aggrivating issue with compatibility that there is really no excuse for:

When a .ppt is made in '07 (Using "Compatibility" mode) even the most simple
and basic text box becomes uneditable in '03. From what I can tell '03 reads
it as some kind of embedded image. And without any seeming explanation, I've
gone through (in '07) and narrowed the "problem" down to a single sentence
within the text box, which was no different from any of the other text.
Obviously an uneditable text box is a major problem for collaboration,
time-sensitive at that. Especially considering these are your most basic
text boxes, default, with Arial text...I mean come ON!?

I am wondering if there is a plug-in for compatibility between '03 and '07
to retain the edit ability of the file between versions. I believe Citrix
had one for awhile, that was free, though cannot find it now.

I can't help but feel disheartened at Microsoft by such a pedantic and
pedestrian problem. I am a full-blooded Microsoft advocate, to expect your
community to defend your practices and software while facing issues like this
is beyond ignorant. And yet you wonder why corporations are migrating to
Symphony, Open Office in droves, while stockpiling XP versions for the
future...we don't trust you, and for reasons such as this. Please help, (or
you know, like, make stuff that works!)

 

[Bill Dilworth]

Hi Zach,



I feel your pain. I also have to bounce back and forth between versions and
have run into this problem many times. The issue is with the new text
effects. Shadows, 3D effects, edging, and such do not communicate back to
2003. This is because the radically changed the text engine. They had a
choice of losing all the visual effects or losing the editability, they
chose the latter. When an unsupported text effect is applied in 2007, it is
sent to 2003 as an image (preserving the visual).



My suggestion would be to migrate everyone to 2007 or roll everyone back to
2003, but not to try to mix the two versions within a collaborative office.
If you cannot get everyone onto the same version, then I would recommend
using a macro to remove everything that will render the text box un-editable
in 2003.



There are other problems with compatibility that seems to be exacerbated by
switching back and forth between versions. Watch out for placeholders, is
all I can say.



Bill Dilworth

 

[Zach]

I can understand a problem arising with drastically different effect, but
these aren't, we're talking default, plane-jane text boxes. Black text,
default font, the whole bit. that is what's the irritating part.

 

[Echo S]

Then you shouldn't be having issues with those.

I've seen times when there's a 3D effect on text and it's almost impossible
to tell it's there. Try selecting the textbox and clicking "clear all
formatting" on the Home tab in the Font group.

If that doesn't work, select the problem text, then right-click and choose
Format Text Effects. Go to 3-D Format. Make sure all settings are 0. If you
click Material and Lighting, can you tell what's selected there?

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP] http://www.echosvoice.com
What's new in PPT 2007? http://www.echosvoice.com/2007.htm
Fixing PowerPoint Annoyances http://tinyurl.com/36grcd
PowerPoint 2007 Complete Makeover Kit http://tinyurl.com/32a7nx

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