PPT97: Error Saving PowerPoint 97 File in PowerPoint 4.0 Format

ID: Q170327

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft PowerPoint 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

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

   Either the file name is too long or PowerPoint is missing necessary 
   files to complete this operation. Please run Setup and install Program 
   Files.

CAUSE

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

WORKAROUND

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.

STATUS

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

MORE INFORMATION

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:

   The file 'C:\Path\FileName.ppt' already exists. Do you want to 
   replace the existing file?

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.

Additional query words:

Keywords          : kbinterop kbdta kbconversion
Version           : WINDOWS:97
Platform          : WINDOWS
Hardware          : x86
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: November 25, 1998