Powerpoint - please can anyone help me access 97-2003 version slides on vista? My uni presentation depends on this!

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I have been such an idiot and have saved a really important presentation for uni under the 97-2003 version of Powerpoint completely forgetting that for some reason I can only access full screen slides on my Vista version. Because of this I can not access the notes viewer or any powerpoint apps to change the settings (the only way I can do anything is to right click and it just brings up a general menu and nothing related to powerpoint. Does anyone know what I can do about this as I really need to finish my presentation and really don't want to have to start again.

Thanks!

Can you explain in a bit more detail what's happened?

What machine did you save the presentation on? I presume you meant that you saved it in the 97-2003 format (.ppt and not .pptx).

What does you mean by "I can only access full screen slides on my Vista version"?

Do you mean you only have Powerpoint viewer on your Vista machine, not the full program?
Or do you mean that you have double clicked on your 97-2003 version & it has opened in PowerPoint viewer - because that appears to be the default way a .ppt (as opposed to a .pptx) opens on my Vista pc which has Office 2007.

If you do have the full Office 2007 installed, you should be able to open the file in edit mode by right clicking on the file name in Windows explorer & choosing Open with.. - & choosing Powerpoint instead of Powerpoint viewer.

I solved the immediate problem by emailing a uni mate with the powerpoint as an attachment and they then sent my text back to me so all is ok for this presentation.

However, this is affecting all powerpoints from uni because the ones they send are all the 97-2003 version. Basically, what is happening is that I have Vista and any powerpoint in the older version is only accessible on full screen mode meaning there is no option to access any powerpoint menu options. When I completed my presentation yesterday I wrote it on my own pc but made the fatal error of saving it in 97-2003 mode which then meant I was no longer able to access the text part, only the slide itself. I was advised at uni to first save any powerpoints I receive from them which should then enable me to access the notes viewer but this did not work either which means I am unable to print off a lot of uni presentations as it will only enable me to print 1 slide to one page. I do have Powerpoint viewer too but do not use it.

I know I am being really unclear but I don't know how to better explain it. Thanks for persevering so far and for trying to help me

PS - the uni presentations usually have full colour backgrounds which is why I am reluctant to print as it will use most of my ink for one presentation!

Google Docs will read .PPT - there is a 10MB file size limit. See Google Docs Help. I don't know if it will enable you to see all notes but is worth a try.
Could also try opening with OpenOffice (Impress).

What version of Powerpoint do you have?
When opening a PPT file, are you double clicking the icon, or are you loading Powerpoint and then selecting File, Open?

Also look carefully at the file extension... is it a PPT or a PPS? If a PPS it will load in Show mode, so to change that try following these instructions.

I'm still confused by your saying "I have Vista and any powerpoint in the older version is only accessible on full screen mode" because I have Vista too, and can open 97-2003 powerpoint files in edit mode. The default way of opening them (ie the way that happens when you double-click on the file) is full-screen, because it automatically opens with Viewer, but if I use the right click method I described above, it opens properly in Powerpoint. You can also use the right click method to change the default program to Powerpoint.

The other thing I'm wondering is whether instead of saving as a 97-2003 it was actually saved as a Powerpoint show, or a Powerpoint 97-2003 show, both of which do only open in slide show mode. What is the file extension? (the letters after the dot at the end of the file name)

Rustybear - I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, !!!! The penny has finally dropped and what you said above works. Whoop! I can now use powerpoint properly which is going to make my life so much easier. Thank you so much

Badgerspaw and Nannynick - thank you as well. I really am very grateful for you taking the time to help me

[smile