How to convert old (WW 3.1) to ppt 2000

[Jim V]

I found an old presentation on created in 1995, I am
guessing windows 3.1 or windows for workgroups.
When I try to open it, I receive an error "not in ppt
format"

Does anyone know of a program to upgrade old (really old)
ppt files?

Thanks

 

[Steve Rindsberg, PPTMVP]

I found an old presentation on created in 1995, I am

guessing windows 3.1 or windows for workgroups.
When I try to open it, I receive an error "not in ppt
format"

Does anyone know of a program to upgrade old (really old)
ppt files?

That might have been done in Office 95 but more likely it was 4. I think
some of the older versions of PPT will still open PPT 4 files. Do you have
a copy of Office 97 lying around? Even PPT 2000 will save as PowerPoint 4,
so perhaps it'll read it as well.

 

[villem teder]

That might have been done in Office 95 but more likely it was 4. I think
some of the older versions of PPT will still open PPT 4 files. Do you have
a copy of Office 97 lying around? Even PPT 2000 will save as PowerPoint 4,
so perhaps it'll read it as well.

I think it should, from my experience. Usually you get a message about
updating the file from an older version while the file opens. I'm
pretty sure I've been able to open PPT3 files with XP, these being
actually created in PPT4 and saved as ver3.

Have you tried detect and repair?

Perhaps there are special components that allow backwards
compatability that were not accounted for during installation?

Unfortunately, I don't have PPTXP installed at the moment, so I cannot
go and check my memory. However, tommorrow, I should have access to a
machine with XP and will try opening PPT3 files there.

Villem Teder

 

[Steve Rindsberg, PPTMVP]

I think it should, from my experience. Usually you get a message about

updating the file from an older version while the file opens. I'm
pretty sure I've been able to open PPT3 files with XP, these being
actually created in PPT4 and saved as ver3.

Thanks, Villem.

I've got versions back to 97 on one PC or another, but don't have any sample
files from PowerPointsPast.

 

[villem teder]

snip.............

Unfortunately, I don't have PPTXP installed at the moment, so I cannot
go and check my memory. However, tommorrow, I should have access to a
machine with XP and will try opening PPT3 files there.

Following up, I was able to open PPT3 files, (saved from PPT4) in
PPTXP running under WINXP pro. There was a message that the file was
being updated to a newer version, similar to when opening the same
files in PPT2K.

And I think I once opened these PPT3 files with PPT97. But I went
pretty well from using PPT4/3 to PPT2K directly, with little use of in
between versions.

Villem Teder

 

[Steve Rindsberg, PPTMVP]

Thanks for the followup, Villem.

--

Steve Rindsberg PPT MVP
PPTLive ( http://www.pptlive.com ) Featured Speaker
PPTools: http://www.pptools.com
PPT FAQ: http://www.pptfaq.com