XML File Converter for MS 2004

[Tom_Richardson]

Version: 2004
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger)
Processor: intel

I'm a high school teacher.

I write power points on MS 2004 on my Mac and transfer them to my school's PC that has MS 2003.

This worked great, with exception of minor formatting changes, until a month ago. Power points that I previously opened on that PC, along with new ones, would not open - this is disasterous for instruction.

My tech says 1) the school's PC may have had updates that caused the new problem and 2) that I should install the Open XML File Converter for Mac's MS 2004.

I'm concerned that serious side effects may occur with this converter. The docs on it are inadequate on such concerns. What will actually happen in general and for the transfer?

Will MS 2008 solve this problem? Can I transfer from MS 2008 to my PC's 2003?

 

[CyberTaz]

Although it's likely that some sort of change on the PC side has caused the
problem OOXML file format has nothing to do with it unless they have
actually *Upgraded* to Office 2007 - Office 2003 also needs converters to
open Office .___x files. But even PPt 2007 should be able to open your files
just like it opens 2003 files - in "Compatibility Mode"

How are the files being transferred from Mac to PC? If by email it's a good
possibility the security updates to Exchange or security updates to Windows
could be the culprit.. Especially if the recipients are attempting to open
the attachments by double-clicking them in the message rather than saving
them to disk first.

I'm afraid you and our "tech" are going to have to look a bit deeper to find
out what is causing the problem. Identifying exactly what happens when
someone attempts to open one of the files is one of the first steps.

HTH |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[Jim Gordon MVP]

Version: 2004
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger)
Processor: intel

I'm a high school teacher.

I write power points on MS 2004 on my Mac and transfer them to my school's PC that has MS 2003.

This worked great, with exception of minor formatting changes, until a month ago. Power points that I previously opened on that PC, along with new ones, would not open - this is disasterous for instruction.

My tech says 1) the school's PC may have had updates that caused the new problem and 2) that I should install the Open XML File Converter for Mac's MS 2004.

I'm concerned that serious side effects may occur with this converter. The docs on it are inadequate on such concerns. What will actually happen in general and for the transfer?

Will MS 2008 solve this problem? Can I transfer from MS 2008 to my PC's 2003?

Hi Tom,

Give NeoOffice a try.
http://www.neooffice.org/neojava/en/index.php

You can use NeoOffice to open the pesky presentations and then save them
in Microsoft PowerPoint format 97-2003 (which really should be 97-2004
but windows people can't count).

-Jim

 

[Tom_Richardson]

CyberTaz,

I transfer the power points using a flash drive onto the laptop. After showing them, I click and drag them into My Documents. I can still open them on the laptop, connected to the LCD, but can no longer do so on the desktop which hares the network. The laptop is intermittently connected to the Internet and not as subject to updates.

Any ideas?

 

[Tom_Richardson]

Hi Jim,

Thanks for the reply.

The school district prohibits downloading unauthorized software on school computers. Any other ideas?

Thanks,

Tom

 

[Matthew Gardiner]

Hi,

I suggest you get in contact with the school district (who ever is in
charge) and explain the situation.

Matthew