PowerPoint can't open the type of file represented by [FILENAME]

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Possible causes:

If you're using PowerPoint 2007

PowerPoint 2007 cannot open PowerPoint 95 files. Even if the file was created in PowerPoint 97, 2000, 2002 or 2003, if it was saved as a PowerPoint 95 file, PowerPoint 2007 will not be able to open it and you will receive this error message.

To correct the problem, open the file in PowerPoint 95, 97, 2000, 2002 or 2003. The choose File | Save As and save the file as a Presentation (*.PPT). Don't just save ... that will simply save the file in its original format.

If you're using PowerPoint 2003, 2002 or 2000

If you try to open a PPT 2007 format file with PowerPoint 2003, 2002 or 2000, you may receive this or a similar error message like

Can't read the outline... no text convertor is installed for the file type

If you are using PowerPoint 2003, 2002 or 2000 and are trying to open a file created in PowerPoint 2007, you may receive this error message.

Install the compatibility pack, which will let 2003, 2002 and 2000 users open 2007 file formats.

See also

Note that an incomplete installation of the compatibility pack will also cause this error message when using File | Open to open PPTX files. You may be able to double-click the file to open it, though.

Note also that you must install all critical Windows updates and all Office updates in order for the Compatibility Pack to run correctly.

Unfortunately, however, this error message is often the sign of a completely corrupt file. Try the suggestions in Recovering a corrupt presentation.

You use PowerPoint 2003 but haven't updated it

• From the main menu bar, choose Help, Check for Updates
• This takes you to The MS Office Online Downloads page
• Near the top of the page, you'll see a "Check for Updates" link under the Office Update headline. Click it.
• Install the "Office 2003 Critical Update: KB828041"

Note: If you have disabled Online Content, Check for Updates won't work. To re-enable it:

• Choose Help, Customer Feedback Options
• Click Online Content in the list on the left
• Put a checkmark next to "Show content and links from Microsoft Office Online"
• Click OK
• Quit and restart PowerPoint. Help, Check for Updates should now take you to the correct web site

The file is corrupted

PowerPoint files can be corrupted in a variety of ways. See Don't use PowerPoint for anything serious until you've done this for a dose of recommended preventive medicine.

It's also good practice to ZIP PowerPoint files before emailing them, if possible.

See Recovering a corrupt presentation for some possible workarounds.

The file was created in PowerPoint 2002/XP and password protected

See PowerPoint 2002 (XP) vs PPT2000/PPT97 incompatibilities
The password protection feature was introduced in PowerPoint 2002 (XP). Earlier versions can't open password-protected files. No Mac versions of PowerPoint can open password protected files.

Possible solutions:

• Have the file's author open and resave the file without a password.
• If you have access to a computer with PowerPoint 2002 or later, try using it to open the file. Depending on the password protection level, you may be able to view and print the file, even if you don't know the password.

Microsoft has a knowledgebase article, You receive a "PowerPoint can't open the type of file" error message when you open a PowerPoint presentation in a version that is earlier than PowerPoint 2002 that offers a few more details.

The file's on a network drive and is open in a Mac version of PowerPoint

We ran into this problem when we had a file open in Mac PowerPoint X and tried to open it also in PowerPoint 2003 (from the same network shared folder). After we closed the file on the Mac, there was no problem opening it in PowerPoint on the PC.

If PowerPoint displays only part of your chosen file for [FILENAME] see Editing the Open action for PPT (and other) files

Another possible cause of problems: according to the IE.TXT file shipped with MS Internet Explorer 5:

"If you install Internet Explorer 5 as part of Microsoft Office 2000 and then uninstall Internet Explorer 5, Microsoft PowerPoint may be unable to open certain files. To correct this, reinstall Internet Explorer 5."

We'd guess that installing a later version of Internet Explorer would work as well, but it might be safest to install 5 then upgrade to a later version if desired.

"Can't access [filename]..." error messages

If the message you see is

PPT2003 - Can't access [filename] because the filename is invalid

then please see PPT2003 - Can't access [filename] because the filename is invalid.

"Can't read the outline, no text convertor is installed ..." error messages

This is usually an indication that your PowerPoint file has somehow become corrupted.

Try the suggestions in Recovering a corrupt presentation.

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