PPT97: Error Saving PowerPoint 97 File in PowerPoint 4.0 Format

When you attempt to save a Microsoft PowerPoint 97 file in PowerPoint 4.0 format, you receive the following error message:

This error occurs if either of the following is true:

1. The following two files are missing or incorrectly registered:
   pp7trans.dll
   pptview.dll
2. The following Windows files are missing or damaged:

         compobj.dll          ole2.dll
         ole32disp.dll        ole2nls.dll
         Storage.dll          Typelib.dll
   						

To workaround this problem, complete steps 1 and 2, and then use the appropriate method below:

1. Make sure that the Pp7trans.dll and Pptview.dll files are installed on your computer and that they are both located in (Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\Xlators).
2. Make sure these files are the correct size:

         File Name          Correct File Size
         ------------------------------------
   
         Pp7trans.dll         101KB
         Pptview.dll        1,619KB
   						

Both of these files are installed by default when you select a typical installation of either Microsoft Office or Microsoft PowerPoint.

Method 1: Reinstall PowerPoint

Use the following steps if the files are corrupt or missing, or if they were deleted:

1. On the Windows Start menu, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
2. Double-click the Add/Remove Programs icon.
3. In the list of installed programs, click Microsoft PowerPoint 97 or Microsoft Office 97.
4. Click Add/Remove.
5. Click Reinstall.
6. Click Continue.
7. Follow the instructions on your screen.

Method 2: Reregister PowerPoint 97

To be sure that you are re-registering PowerPoint 97 correctly, you should rerun the PowerPoint 97 or Office 97 Setup program. However, you can reregister PowerPoint by running the Powerpnt.exe file with the /regserver switch, using the following steps:

1. On the Windows Start menu, click Run.
2. Click Browse.
3. Locate the folder that contains Powerpnt.exe. By default, this is the C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office folder.
4. Select Powerpnt.exe, and then click Open.
5. Place the insertion point at the end of the command line. For example, if the command line looks like this:
   "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\Powerpnt.exe"
   change it so that it looks like this:
   "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\Powerpnt.exe" /regserver
   Click OK.

The PowerPoint banner appears for a moment and then disappears. PowerPoint is now re-registered correctly.

Method 3: Check/Configure Virtual Memory Settings

1. Right-click the My Computer icon, and then click Properties.
2. Click the Performance tab.
3. Click Virtual Memory.
4. If the swap file is not set to a hard disk with sufficient hard disk space (at least 5-10 megabytes), free up some space. Or, if you have more than one hard disk, set the swap file to the hard disk that has the most available free space.

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft PowerPoint 97.

Note that if the file has already been saved as a PowerPoint 97 file, you must type a different file name to save it to the same location in PowerPoint 4.0 format. If you do not, you will receive an error similar to the following: This occurs because the extension for both PowerPoint 97 and PowerPoint 4.0 files is .ppt.

The Pp7trans.dll file translates the PowerPoint 97 presentation into PowerPoint 4.0 format. Because Pp7trans.dll is a 16-bit file, PowerPoint 97 cannot communicate directly with it. Instead PowerPoint uses the PowerPoint Viewer (pptview.dll) to communicate with Pp7trans.dll.