PowerPoint Notes

Quite often, you might have received a PowerPoint presentation with a PPS or PPSX extension rather than the normal PPT or PPTX extension - here's more info.

First, let me tell you a little about the extensions:

• PPT is the default file extension for saving presentations in PowerPoint 2003 and earlier versions.
• PPTX is the default file extension for saving presentations in PowerPoint 2007 and later versions.
• PPS is the the show mode extension in PowerPoint 2003 and earlier -- these files run in "play-presentation" mode when double-clicked.
• PPSX does the same thing in PowerPoint 2007 and later -- it runs in "play-presentation" mode when double-clicked.
  

• Technically there is no difference between PPT (or PPTX) and PPS (or PPSX) files.
• With PPT and PPS files, you can actually rename the extensions whenever you want and the presentation file will remain the same.
• With PPTX and PPSX files, you cannot rename at will -- but trust me, they are the same!
  

• By default, PPT and PPTX files open in edit mode within PowerPoint allowing you to use all the menus and commands.
• By default, PPS and PPSX files open in slideshow (play-presentation) mode, and you see no PowerPoint interface. When the presentation finishes or you manually exit using tthe ESC key, PowerPoint also quits.
  

• Just drag and drop the PPS or PPSX file from Windows Explorer into an empty PowerPoint window.
• Launch PowerPoint and open a PPS or PPSX using the File/Office Button | Open option to edit a presentation.

Labels: basics, file_formats, powerpoint

9 comments

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Mac Powerpoint 2004 will not quit at end of .pps file. Is ther a work around for this?

# posted by  Anonymous : 10:08 PM

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I really like the way of explaining in a simple manner.
Thanks.

# posted by  Mohammed : 9:34 PM

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Thanks so much!

# posted by  Amy : 2:39 AM

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It is also possible to edit the Registry key HKCR\.pps (and HKCR\.ppsx) to change the Content Type (I also changed the (Default) entries, not sure if this was necessary) to the same as in the HKCR\.ppt (and HKCR\.pptx) keys. This causes Explorer to treat .pps and .ppsx files as though they were .ppt and .pptx files, without the need to actually rename them. This is particularly helpful when opening attachments directly from email messages, where there was no intent to save the files first (and therefore no option to rename them first). If you actually want the .pps or .ppsx to display as the show, just hit F5 once PowerPoint opens.

# posted by  Jay : 2:01 PM

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I haven't tried what Jay suggested here, but in case you do, I strongly recommend that you backup your system and registry before making any changes within the registry!

# posted by  Geetesh : 1:35 PM

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Thanks a lot. Very helpful.

# posted by  Lisa : 5:14 AM

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Very well explained.

Thanks
Roshni

# posted by  roshni : 10:55 AM

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Very helpful and simple explanation -thanks!

# posted by  Kelley : 8:38 PM

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thanks.. it was exactly what i needed to know. short and concise.

# posted by  jolene : 10:18 PM

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