PPT: Double-Clicking Filename Opens Wrong Version of PowerPoint (130158)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft PowerPoint for Windows 95
  • Microsoft PowerPoint for Windows 4.0
  • Microsoft PowerPoint for Windows 4.0a
  • Microsoft PowerPoint for Windows 4.0c
  • the operating system: Microsoft Windows 95
This article was previously published under Q130158

SYMPTOMS

When you double-click a file to open it, a different version of PowerPoint than you expect starts.

CAUSE

This behavior occurs if you have multiple versions of PowerPoint installed on your computer. When you run a version of PowerPoint, it registers itself in the Windows registry and takes ownership of files that have the .ppt extension and certain system registration entries. If you then run a different version of PowerPoint, it registers itself. It owns the files having the .ppt extension and system registration entries until you run another version of PowerPoint. This means that if you double-click a file with a .ppt extension, the most recently run version of PowerPoint tries to open the file.

WORKAROUND

If you want to open the PowerPoint presentation in a specific version of PowerPoint, follow these steps:
  1. On the Windows Start menu, point to Programs and then click Windows Explorer.
  2. Open the \Windows\SendTo folder.
  3. Create three shortcuts--one for each version of PowerPoint you have installed on your computer. To do this, follow these steps:
    1. On the File menu, point to New, and then click Shortcut.
    2. In the Command Line box in the Create Shortcut Wizard, type the path and file name for the Powerpnt.exe file you want to use. Or, click Browse, select the Powerpnt.exe file you want to use, and click Open.
    3. Click Next.
    4. On the "Select a Title for the Program" panel, type the description you want to use, and then click Finish.
    5. Repeat steps a through d for each version of PowerPoint.
After creating the shortcuts, you can select the version of PowerPoint you want to open the file by following these steps:
  1. Right-click a presentation file, and then click Send To on the menu that appears.
  2. Select the version of PowerPoint you want to open the file.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:8/16/2005
Keywords:kbinterop kbprb KB130158
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