How to open PowerPoint 97 files in earlier versions (158285)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft PowerPoint 97 for Windows
  • Microsoft PowerPoint for Windows 95
  • Microsoft PowerPoint for Windows 4.0
  • Microsoft PowerPoint for Windows 4.0a
  • Microsoft PowerPoint for Windows 4.0c
  • Microsoft PowerPoint for Macintosh 3.0
  • Microsoft PowerPoint for Macintosh 3.0b
This article was previously published under Q158285

SUMMARY

This article describes how to open a Microsoft PowerPoint 97 presentation, so that you can edit it in other versions of Microsoft PowerPoint.

MORE INFORMATION

Open a PowerPoint 97 presentation in PowerPoint 7.0

To open a PowerPoint 97 presentation in Microsoft PowerPoint 7.0, use either of the following methods.

Method 1: Save the PowerPoint 97 Presentation in PowerPoint 7.0 Format Without Converting MSGraph

Note You can also use this method if you want to open the file in Microsoft PowerPoint 4.0 for the Macintosh or PowerPoint 4.0 for Windows, if you have installed the PowerPoint 7.0 translators for PowerPoint 4.0 on your computer.
  1. Create (or open) a presentation in PowerPoint 97.
  2. On the File menu, click Save As.
  3. In the Files Of Type list, click one of the following formats:
    • PowerPoint 95 (*.ppt)
    • PowerPoint 95 & 97 (*.ppt)
  4. In the File Name box, type the file name that you want to use, and then click OK.

Method 2: Save the PowerPoint 97 Presentation in PowerPoint 7.0 Format and Convert MSGraph

Note To perform these steps, you must have the Office 97 Service Release 1 (SR-1) installed on your system.

For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

172475 OFF97: How to obtain and install MS Office 97 SR-1

  1. Create (or open) a presentation in PowerPoint 97.
  2. On the File menu, click Save As.
  3. In the Files Of Type list, click the following format: PowerPoint 95 with Graph 5.0 (*.ppt)
  4. In the File Name box, type the file name you want to use, and click OK.

Method 3: Obtain the PowerPoint 97 Binary Converter for PowerPoint 7.0

The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:
DownloadDownload the Pp8to7.exe package now.
For additional information about how to download Microsoft Support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

119591 How to Obtain Microsoft Support Files from Online Services

Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help to prevent any unauthorized changes to the file. After you download the file, double-click it to install the converter.

Open a PowerPoint 97 Presentation in PowerPoint 4.0

To open a PowerPoint 97 presentation in PowerPoint 4.0 for Windows or PowerPoint 4.0 for the Macintosh (without using the PowerPoint7.0 translators), use either of the following methods.

Method 1: Save the PowerPoint 97 Presentation in PowerPoint 4.0 Format Without Converting MSGraph

  1. Create (or open) a presentation in PowerPoint 97.
  2. On the File menu, click Save As.
  3. In the Files Of Type list, click PowerPoint 4.0 (*.ppt).
  4. In the File Name box, type the file name you want to use and click OK.

Method 2: Save the PowerPoint 97 Presentation in PowerPoint 4.0 Format and Convert MSGraph

Note To perform these steps, you must have the Office 97 Service Release 1 (SR-1) installed on your system.

For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

172475 OFF97: How to obtain and install MS Office 97 SR-1

  1. Create (or open) a presentation in PowerPoint 97.
  2. On the File menu, click Save As.
  3. In the Files Of Type list, click PowerPoint 4.0 with Graph 5.0 (*.ppt).
  4. In the File Name box, type the file name you want to use and click OK.

Method 3: Obtain the PowerPoint 97 Translator for PowerPoint 4.0 for Windows

Method 4: Obtain the PowerPoint 97-98 Import Converter for the Macintosh

The following files are available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:

DownloadDownload the Pp8_68k.hqx 680x0 version of the converter package now.
DownloadDownload the Pp8_ppc.hqx PowerPC version of the converter package now.
For additional information about how to download Microsoft Support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

119591 How to Obtain Microsoft Support Files from Online Services

Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help to prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.

After you download the file, decode the .hqx file.

Open a PowerPoint 97 Presentation in PowerPoint 3.0

To open a PowerPoint 97 presentation in PowerPoint for Windows version 3.0 or PowerPoint for the Macintosh version 3.0, follow these steps:
  1. Create (or open) a presentation in PowerPoint 97.
  2. On the File menu, click Save As.
  3. In the Files Of Type list, click PowerPoint 3.0 (*.ppt).
  4. In the File Name box, type the file name you want to use and click OK.
Note PowerPoint Help contains additional information about saving presentations in PowerPoint 97 and 95 formats.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:8/17/2005
Keywords:kbdownload kbconversion kbfile kbGraphxLink kbinfo kbinterop KB158285
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