PowerPoint can not read file - slides aremissing content or only partly

[johnc]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard)
Processor: Intel

Presentation in both the new and old .ppt format makes Office 10.2.2 report "Can not read xxx file" - but then opens the document. However all tested presentations will have some pages without content - only showing the "master template" background, or has missing elements, as text and/or tables are missing, e.g. tables imported from Word or other graphics.

The tested files works perfectly on PC and Mac with 10.5.8 - so I guess it might be some interplay between the Office Package, Mac Snow Leopard and/or the MacBook Air (from September 2, 2009).

Everything has be installed from fresh copies of disks, several times now, with no avail.

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard)
Processor: Intel

Presentation in both the new and old .ppt format makes Office 10.2.2 report "Can not read

xxx file" - but then opens the document. However all tested presentations will have some
pages without content - only showing the "master template" background, or has missing
elements, as text and/or tables are missing, e.g. tables imported from Word or other
graphics.

The tested files works perfectly on PC and Mac with 10.5.8 - so I guess it might be some

interplay between the Office Package, Mac Snow Leopard and/or the MacBook Air (from
September 2, 2009).

Everything has be installed from fresh copies of disks, several times now, with no avail.

This may result from minor file corruption. Since you have access to a PC version, try the
suggestion here. As improbable as it sounds, HTML "round-tripping" can sometimes clean out
the bad stuff.

HTML "Round-tripping" to repair corruption
http://www.pptfaq.com/FAQ00526.htm

 

[johnc]

Thanks for the suggestion, but it is the same for all the files I have tested, more than 20. There is seems unlikely that all these files, which has been used before, not should have the same issue.

Besides, I also no find that Smart Art Graphics does not seem to work on this computer (Mac Snow Leopard, MacBook Air and Office 10.2.1).

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

Thanks for the suggestion, but it is the same for all the files I have tested, more

than 20. There is seems unlikely that all these files, which has been used before, not
should have the same issue.

If all of the presentations were based on a corrupt template or have been subjected to
some other process that leads to corruption, it could happen to all of them.

It only takes a few minutes to roundtrip a couple of them. If it works, it works. If
not, you've lost a couple minutes. Your call though ...

Besides, I also no find that Smart Art Graphics does not seem to work on this computer

(Mac Snow Leopard, MacBook Air and Office 10.2.1).

Smart Art is new to Office 2007/2008. I wouldn't expect it to work on earlier versions.

 

[johnc]

Thanks for insisting on the "HTML-round-tripping" procedure. I have to give it a try tomorrow at work, have no PC's at home.

Have found that there might be "font" issues involved here (also) - and I have now tired to open the PPT and PPTX presentations from Keynote.

Keynote is more informative when having issues, and reported a number of missing fonts, that was replaced by Keynote itself - and then the most of the slides actually showed up - also the missing graphic elements! Although I not understand how such common fonts as "Arial" could be missing - this and a handfull of other fonts seems to produce the problems. Any suggestions, besides "remove duplicate fonts" with the Font application on the Mac?

 

[johnc]

Issue solved, it seems related to fonts and conflicts between SL, Office and PP and Keynote:

1) went to Fontbook in the Application folder, used it to resolve conflicts.

2)
1. Backup contents from /Users/~/Library/FontCollections and delete its contents
2. Backup contents from /Users/~/Library/Fonts and delete its contents
3. Restart Office 2008 app
Note: ~ is your account. For example, if my account is jb007. #1 will be /Users/jb007/Library/FontCollections

Now PP works fine - although Keynote are missing some fonts - but all my content in the PP slides are back in PP. First step on the road accomplished.

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

Issue solved, it seems related to fonts and conflicts between SL, Office and PP and Keynote:

1) went to Fontbook in the Application folder, used it to resolve conflicts.

2)
1. Backup contents from /Users/~/Library/FontCollections and delete its contents
2. Backup contents from /Users/~/Library/Fonts and delete its contents
3. Restart Office 2008 app
Note: ~ is your account. For example, if my account is jb007. #1 will be /Users/jb007/Library/FontCollections

Now PP works fine - although Keynote are missing some fonts - but all my content

in the PP slides are back in PP. First step on the road accomplished.

Great ... weird that font problems should cause graphics and text to disappear
altogether. I'd expect font substition but not total blank-out.

BTW, since you've got access to PCs, it's easier there to sort out what fonts are
needed/missing for a given presentation. The Format, Replace Fonts dialog will
tell you (and let you choose subbed fonts for the ones that are missing).