You receive a "PowerPoint couldn't open the Visual Basic for Applications project in presentation 'Ppmusic.ppa'" error message when you upgrade from PowerPoint 97 to PowerPoint 2002 or to PowerPoint 2003 (218525)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft PowerPoint 2002
  • Microsoft PowerPoint 2000
  • Microsoft PowerPoint 97 for Windows

This article was previously published under Q218525

SYMPTOMS

After you upgrade to a newer version of Microsoft PowerPoint, you may receive the following error message:
PowerPoint couldn't open the Visual Basic for Applications project in presentation "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\ppmusic.ppa"
To clear the error message, click OK.

CAUSE

The Microsoft PowerPoint 97 Custom Soundtrack add-in is not compatible "as is" with newer versions of Microsoft PowerPoint.

This problem may occur when you upgrade to a newer version of Microsoft Office and the Microsoft Custom Soundtrack Add-In has been installed. Any add-ins that you installed or created in Office 97 for Windows are retained, and the add-ins that are not compatible (such as the Custom Soundtrack add-in), may generate an error message.

RESOLUTION

To correct this problem, you can either remove the Custom Soundtrack add-in, or download and install the updated Custom Soundtrack add-in, replacing the existing add-in.

Method 1: Obtain the Updated Custom Soundtrack Add-in

NOTE: The new add-in can only be installed on a system that contains the old PowerPoint 97 add-in. It cannot be installed stand-alone. The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:
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 the download of Pp2kmus.exe has completed, you must replace the existing Ppmusic.ppa file. To replace the existing Ppmusic.ppa file, with the updated one, follow these steps:

NOTE: Because there are several versions of Microsoft Windows, the following steps may be different on your computer. If they are, see your product documentation to complete these steps.
  1. Click Start, point to Find, and then click Files or Folders.
  2. In the Named box, type Ppmusic.ppa, and then click Find Now.
  3. Write down the folder location where the existing Ppmusic.ppa file is located.
  4. In the Find dialog box, double-click Pp2kmus.exe that you downloaded from the Web.
  5. Read and accept the license agreement by clicking Yes.
  6. Click Browse, locate the folder you that wrote down in step 3, and then click OK.
  7. Click OK to install the updated Ppmusic.ppa add-in file. When you receive the prompt to replace the file, click Yes.
If you have already removed the Custom Soundtrack add-in prior to installing the updated version, you can reload it through the Add-Ins dialog box:
  1. On the Tools menu, click Add-Ins.
  2. Click Add New, locate the folder in which you put the Ppmusic.ppa file, and then click to select it.
  3. Click OK, and then click Close.

Method 2: Remove the Custom Soundtrack Add-in

To unload the Custom Soundtrack add-in:
  1. On the Tools menu, click Add-Ins.
  2. To prevent the add-in from loading when you start PowerPoint, but keep its file name in the Available Add-Ins list, click to select ppmusic and then click Unload.

    To remove the add-in from the Available Add-Ins list and also from the Windows Registry, click to select ppmusic and then click Remove.
NOTE: Unloading or removing the Custom Soundtrack add-in in PowerPoint does not remove it from your computer.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the PowerPoint 97 Custom Soundtrack add-in.

REFERENCES

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

218513 PPT: SNDTRK: Cannot Install PowerPoint Custom Soundtrack Add-In


Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:9/27/2006
Keywords:KbVBA kbopenfile kbUpgrade kbtshoot kbprb kbAddIn kberrmsg kbfile kbGraphxLink kbpending KB218525