HowToDisplay

.ppt files - Microsoft PowerPoint document files

Suppose you are unable to view a file properly. You discover the type of the file is .ppt or "Microsoft PowerPoint presentation".

How do you display a .ppt file (or a related file, such as a .pps, .pot, or .lst file) properly?

1. Method 1: Download and use the Microsoft PowerPoint Viewer

   1. If appropriate, read about and download the appropriate version of the Microsoft PowerPoint Viewer-related software for free:

      • "PowerPoint Viewer 2007", or
      • "PowerPoint Viewer 2003"
        • and, if you wish to use the PowerPoint 2003 Viewer to view PowerPoint 2007 presentations, "Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats"
   2. Install the Microsoft PowerPoint Viewer-related software.
   3. Use the Microsoft PowerPoint Viewer-related software to open and to display .ppt files.

2. Method 2: Use OpenOffice.org software to view a converted copy

   If (for example)

   • you are not able, allowed, or willing to use Method 1, and
   • you can access the World Wide Web,

   then you might prefer to use Method 2 to try to convert the .ppt file and to view the results. For this method, select one of these options:

   • Option a. Download and install OpenOffice.org

     1. If appropriate, use a "Download" link at OpenOffice.org to download (a stable version of) the OpenOffice.org software suite for free.
     2. Install the OpenOffice.org software.
     3. Use the OpenOffice.org software to open and to display .ppt files.
     4. You might also use the OpenOffice.org software to make or to edit .ppt files.

   • Option b. Download a portable version of OpenOffice.org

     1. If appropriate,
        • Use a "Download" link to download the Standard Edition of the PortableApps.com Suite, which might include a version of OpenOffice.org Portable, and/or
        • Use a "Download" link to download OpenOffice.org Portable
     2. Install the downloaded software onto an USB flash drive, a portable media player, or another appropriate destination.
     3. Use the OpenOffice.org Portable software to open and to display .ppt files.
     4. You might also use the OpenOffice.org Portable software to make or to edit .ppt files.

   • Option c. Download and make a LiveCD that already includes OpenOffice.org in a ready-to-use form

     1. If appropriate, download the disk image file (a .iso file) for a stable, released version of a LiveCD, such as
        • Ubuntu - Desktop Edition, especially if you prefer to be able to work multilingually, or
        • SimplyMEPIS
     2. Use CD recorder software (if your computer does not have CD recorder software that can properly burn image files, perhaps download and install CDBurnerXP Pro, if appropriate) to burn the downloaded disc image file (.iso) onto a blank CD-R (or CD-RW) disc.
     3. Reboot the computer, while the CD-R (or CD-RW) disc (also known as a LiveCD) is in the bootable CD-RW (or similar) drive (if the computer does not boot using the LiveCD, perhaps adjust the CMOS BIOS settings for, for example, the Boot Sequence appropriately).
     4. Do not use the Install or MEPIS Install icon (or command), if you are unaware of the implications or not properly prepared. If you wish to use OpenOffice.org, you do not need to use the Install or MEPIS Install icon (or command).
     5. Use the OpenOffice.org software to open and to display .ppt files.
     6. You might also use the OpenOffice.org software to make or to edit .ppt files.
     7. Save your work onto a floppy disk(s), an USB flash drive, or another appropriate removable medium. Alternatively, if appropriate, upload your work (for example, as a file attachment for an outgoing message from a World Wide Web-based e-mail account).
     8. When you are finished, select the Restart or Restart computer icon (or command). When appropriate, remove the LiveCD, and allow the computer system to return to the operating system that was being used before you inserted the LiveCD.

This page was updated on September 14, 2007.

Copyright © 1998-2007 by Barry G. Wong. All rights reserved.