Launch a new presentation

[Richard Evans]

When I launch PPT 2003 from the Strart button, it launches with the
last presentation I was working on. How can I launch it with *no*
active presentation?

 

[Richard Evans]

When I launch PPT 2003 from the Strart button, it launches with the
last presentation I was working on. How can I launch it with *no*
active presentation?

This is proving even more troublesome than I thought.

- I launch PPT and it opens with Presentation X, the last one I worked
on.

- I try to create a new presentation by File > New > Blank
presentation and nothing happens. I'm still looking at Presentation X.

- I close X and again File > New > Blank presentation, but it reopens
X.

WTF???

 

[Richard Evans]

- I try to create a new presentation by File > New > Blank
presentation and nothing happens. I'm still looking at Presentation X.

OK, that's not exactly true either. I'm actually looking at two
instances of Presentation X.

 

[Richard Evans]

OK, that's not exactly true either. I'm actually looking at two
instances of Presentation X.

Yet another wrinkle: I start by opening a different presentation,
Presentation Y. I close Y and File > New > Blank presentation and it
reopens Presentation X.

 

[Richard Evans]

Did you close X before opening Y? If not, X wasn't re-opened, it was just
revealed again when Y closed.

I started by opening Y. I then closed it ad tried to Filr > New, upon
which I tehn saw X, which tot hat point had not been opened at all.

The business about it not doing anything when you choose to create a new
presentation ... well actually, if you have the task pane closed, it'll reopen
on New Presentation when you do this, but if it's already open ... nothing
happens. You need to click one of the options under "New" in the task pane.

That's what I'm doing: File > New followed by "Blank presentation"
from the task pane.

No, don't tell me. I already agree. DUHHHHMB interface design. ;-)

Now why it should keep opening with the last-used presentation already open ...
no idea. Is PPT crashing when you quit? If so, it'll try to start up again
with the most recent presentation recovered and open.

Not that I recall.

The only thing I've done recently is install the PPT Viewer, though I
don't think I used it on Presentation X.

 

[Richard Evans]

I think you may have set a default template for new presentations.

I'm surprised you could parse the preceding paragraph. I was typing
with one hand while holding a rather large cat with the other.

Start another presentation, doesn't matter which.
Choose File, Save As
Pick "Presentation Design *.POT" as the Save As type.
Note the folder PowerPoint defaults to for the save.
Look to see if there's file there called "blank.pot"
If so, delete or rename it.

Restart PPT and see if Presentation X has made a graceful eXit.

Yep, that did it. Thanks.

 

[Darrell S]

When I launch PPT 2003 from the Strart button, it launches with the
last presentation I was working on. How can I launch it with *no*
active presentation?

Take a look at the properties of the item you're clicking on. Perhaps it
is a shortcut to that file and it is opening Powerpoint as the program to
edit that file.