Problems with POT-files on Macs?

[Ute Simon]

Hello,

using PPT 2002 for PC I designed a master slide for a client. Nothing
special: White background, inserted JPG, Arial text. I saved it with the
file extension .POT and mailed it to her.

She says she is using the newest version of PowerPoint for Mac and can't
open this file while her colleagues with PCs have no problems.

Might the file extension be the problem? Should I rename it to .PPT?

Thanks in advance and kind regards,
Ute

 

[Jim Gordon MVP]

Hi Ute,

There are several possibilities here. Like Windows, current versions of
MacOS needs to know what file types to associate with the proper program
to use.

Your correspondent may need to set the associations. In OSX she should
select the .pot file icon (single-click, not double-click) then go to
the File menu and choose Get Info. There's a disclosure triangle next to
"Open With" and she should click the triangle. Then shen should select
"Microsoft PowerPoint" as the application to use to open the .pot file.
Then she should click the "Change All" button where it says "Use this
application to open all documents like this." This is just below the
"Open with" selector.

Doing the above will guarantee that .pot files will be opened by PowerPoint.

The file location is also important. If the .pot file is placed in the
proper directory then the Project Gallery (Mac only) will display it and
also the preview (if the preview option was checked in File>Properties
before the .pot is saved).

If your .pot is a design it should go into this directory:
HardDrive:Applications:Microsoft Office 2004:Templatesresentationsesigns

If it is a Content template it should go here:
HardDrive:Applications:Microsoft Office 2004:Templatesresentations:Content

If it is some other kind of template I suggest putting it here:
HardDrive:Applications:Microsoft Office 2004:Templates:My Templates

I hope this helps you and your correspondent.

-Jim

 

[Ute Simon]

[...]
The file location is also important. If the .pot file is placed in the
proper directory then the Project Gallery (Mac only) will display it and
also the preview (if the preview option was checked in File>Properties
before the .pot is saved).

[...]

Hi Jim,

thanks for these explanations. I discussed them with my client. Obviously
the file location was the problem. She moved the template and everything
works fine now.

Best regards,
Ute

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

Jim, speaking of associations and such, do you know of a handy tool to
view/edit/set creator and file types on a file or files?

There's the util that comes with developer tools but it's a bit clumsy (typing
in all those paths ... sheesh!)

To solve a similar problem involving Word templates, I was able to start Word,
use File, Open and browse to the DOT file, open it, then immediately resave.

That adds the Creator/Type info that Word's looking for.

The same trick would likely work with PPT.

If your .pot is a design it should go into this directory:
HardDrive:Applications:Microsoft Office 2004:Templatesresentationsesigns

If it is a Content template it should go here:
HardDrive:Applications:Microsoft Office 2004:Templatesresentations:Content

If it is some other kind of template I suggest putting it here:
HardDrive:Applications:Microsoft Office 2004:Templates:My Templates

I hope this helps you and your correspondent.

-Jim

--
Steve Rindsberg, PPT MVP
PPT FAQ: www.pptfaq.com
PPTools: www.pptools.com
================================================
Featured Presenter, PowerPoint Live 2004
October 10-13, San Diego, CA www.PowerPointLive.com
================================================

 

[Mickey Stevens]

Check out Super Get Info.
<http://www.barebones.com/products/super/>

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

Check out Super Get Info.
<http://www.barebones.com/products/super/>

Perfect! Thanks, Mickey.

--
Steve Rindsberg, PPT MVP
PPT FAQ: www.pptfaq.com
PPTools: www.pptools.com
================================================
Featured Presenter, PowerPoint Live 2004
October 10-13, San Diego, CA www.PowerPointLive.com
================================================

 

[Harvey Waxman]

Check out Super Get Info.
<http://www.barebones.com/products/super/>

Also this free one which I find excellent:

http://www.frederikseiffert.de/filetype/

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

Also this free one which I find excellent:

http://www.frederikseiffert.de/filetype/

And thanks for that too. Much obliged.