"PowerPoint couldn't translate this file" error message when you open PowerPoint 7.0 presentation in PowerPoint 97 (217904)

SYMPTOMS

When you try to open a Microsoft PowerPoint 7.0 for Windows 95 presentation in PowerPoint 97, you may receive the following error message:

PowerPoint couldn't translate this file.

However, you can open this file for editing and save changes in PowerPoint 7.0 for Windows 95 without receiving any errors.

NOTE: In most cases, you will be unable to save the PowerPoint 7.0 presentation from PowerPoint 7.0 for Windows 95 as a PowerPoint 4.0 for Windows presentation. You will receive an error message similar to the following:

c:\Windows\Temp\Presentation1.ppt

Sorry, PowerPoint could not translate this file.

Followed by:

Sorry, either the filename is too long or PowerPoint cannot find the
viewer, which it needs to save in PowerPoint 4.0 format. If the name
is correct, you should run setup and reinstall to get the viewer.

WORKAROUND

Method 1: Manually Correct the Damaged Presentations

To manually correct the damaged presentations, follow these steps:

Open the presentation in PowerPoint 7.0 for Windows 95.
On the View menu, click Slide Sorter.
On the Edit menu, click Select All.
On the Edit menu, click Copy.
On the File menu, click New. Select a new blank presentation, and click OK.
On the View menu, click Slide Sorter.
On the Edit menu, click Paste.
On the File menu, click Save, type a new name for the presentation, and click Save.

At this point, you should able to open this new presentation without an error in PowerPoint 97.

Method 2: Tool Available for Download

The utility discussed in this article is provided "as is" and Microsoft does not guarantee that it can be used in all situations. THIS METHOD IS NOT SUPPORTED BY MICROSOFT TECHNICAL SUPPORT, USE THIS UTILITY AT YOUR OWN RISK.

If you have a large number of presentations that exhibit this problem and need to be translated for PowerPoint 97, there is a utility available for download that will automate this process.

The PowerPoint 7.0 Template Replacer automates PowerPoint 7.0 for Windows 95 by using Visual Basic for Applications. This utility requires PowerPoint 7.0 to be installed on this computer and running in memory when the it is being used.

NOTE: This utility will not work with PowerPoint 97 for Windows. The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:

Download Pp7fix.exe 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.

MORE INFORMATION

How to Use the PowerPoint 7.0 Template Replacer

To use the PowerPoint 7.0 Template Replacer utility, follow these steps:

Start Microsoft PowerPoint 7.0 for Windows 95.
Start the PowerPoint 7.0 Template Replacer utility.
Type the file path to the location of the PowerPoint 95 presentations in the first box, or click Browse to locate the folder.
Type the file path to the folder location where you want the repaired presentations to be stored in the second box, or click Browse to locate the folder.
Type the file path and file name of the PowerPoint template you want to have the utility replace for each presentation in the third box, or click Browse to locate the folder.
Click Go!

NOTE: This utility will update the all presentations to use the same template. If you point this utility to the same template that you used previously to create these presentations, the utility may not be successful in removing the corruption. For best results, please use the Blank Presenation.pot template located in the c:\MSOffice\Templates folder.