PPT97: Error Opening Playlist File With Long File Name (171632)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft PowerPoint 97 for Windows

This article was previously published under Q171632

SYMPTOMS

When you open a playlist (.lst) file, which lists presentations whose file names include spaces, you receive the following error message:
PowerPoint Viewer cannot read <filename.ppt>.
where <filename.ppt> represents a word in the filename. For example, If the first file in the playlist file is

My New Presentation.ppt

you will receive the following three error messages:
PowerPoint Viewer cannot read My.ppt
PowerPoint Viewer cannot read New.ppt
PowerPoint Viewer cannot read Presentation.ppt

CAUSE

PowerPoint Viewer 97 reads the file name up to the space and then attempts to open the file. Because the file does not exist, the error message appears.

RESOLUTION

To work around this problem, insert quotation marks around the file name. For example, change a playlist file that looks like this:

My New Presentation.ppt
test.ppt
My best presentation ever.ppt

to:

"My New Presentation.ppt"
test.ppt
"My best presentation ever.ppt"

For more information about creating play lists, click the Office Assistant, type playlist, click Search, and then click to view "Create a play list to run presentations from the PowerPoint Viewer."

NOTE: If the Assistant is hidden, click the Office Assistant button on the Standard toolbar. If Microsoft Help is not installed on your computer, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

120802 Office: How to Add/Remove a Single Office Program or Component


Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:11/9/2000
Keywords:kberrmsg kbprb KB171632