Opening an XML Presentation

Open XML in Earlier Versions

If you saved a presentation with PowerPoint 2007 in the default XML format (.pptx) and a co-worker wanted to open it up in an earlier version of PowerPoint, you have two different options. You can either save the presentation again using the PowerPoint 97-2003 file format, or use converters to open it in the earlier PowerPoint version.

Microsoft provides converters you can use with Office 2000, Office XP, and Office 2003 programswith the latest Service Pack installedto open up Office 2007 files. To use the converters, you go to the Microsoft Office Downloads and Updates Web site, and then download and install the Compatibility Pack for Office 2007. You can access the Microsoft Office Web site from PowerPoint 2007. Click the Office button, click PowerPoint Options, click Resources in the left pane, and then click Check for Updates. If you try to open a PowerPoint 2007 file in an earlier version before you install the converters, the earlier program provides you with instructions to download and install the Compatibility Pack.

After you install the converters, earlier versions of PowerPoint automatically convert and open PowerPoint 2007 presentations, so you can edit and save them. Remember that some of the new PowerPoint 2007 features, such as SmartArt graphics and WordArt style, are not recognized in earlier versions. Some objects are converted to bitmaps to maintain their appearance.