PPT97: PowerPoint Viewer 97 Does Not Support Macros

ID: Q170443

The information in this article applies to:

SYMPTOMS

If you open a PowerPoint 97 presentation in PowerPoint Viewer 97 and click an ActiveX control or a shape that has a macro assigned to it, nothing happens.

CAUSE

PowerPoint Viewer 97 does not support macros. Because it is only a file viewer, PowerPoint Viewer 97 cannot modify a presentation; it can only show

or print it. If PowerPoint Viewer 97 did support macros, it would be possible to create a presentation that contained enough macros so that you could create, edit, and save PowerPoint presentations using only the Viewer.

In addition, by not supporting macros, PowerPoint Viewer 97 prevents your computer from becoming infected by any possible macro virus that might be in a presentation.

RESOLUTION

While PowerPoint Viewer 97 does not support macros or ActiveX controls, it does support action settings to run programs and play sounds, hyperlinks, navigation buttons, and slide branching. It also supports the full range of

animation and build effects that are also supported by PowerPoint 97.

STATUS

This feature is under review and will be considered for inclusion in a future release.

Additional query words:

Keywords          : kbviewer
Version           : WINDOWS:97
Platform          : WINDOWS
Hardware          : x86
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: November 25, 1998