PPT4: PowerPoint 7.0 Translator for Mac PowerPoint 4 Available

ID: q133803

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft PowerPoint for Macintosh, version 4.0

SUMMARY

Microsoft PowerPoint 4.0 is unable to open PowerPoint for Windows 95, version 7.0 files directly. Microsoft has made translators available that allow Macintosh PowerPoint 4.0 (Power Macintosh or 680x0) to read files created in PowerPoint for Windows 95. These translators are available from the Microsoft Software Library:

~ Pp7trans.hqx
For more information about downloading files from the Microsoft Software Library, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q119591 How to Obtain Microsoft Support Files from Online Services
For more information about the converters, decode the .hqx file and consult the Readme files provided with the converters.

The "More Information" section" of this article covers the following topics:
  • Decoding the Translators


  • Configuring PC Exchange on Your Macintosh


  • Installing the Translators


  • Opening PowerPoint 7.0 Files



MORE INFORMATION

Decoding the Translators

Files with the .hqx file name extension are not self-extracting files. The .hqx extension designates a file as being BinHex (binary/hexadecimal) encoded. BinHex encoding is a technique that allows Macintosh files to be stored on file systems that either strip or ignore the resource fork.

After you download the Pp7trans.hqx file, you will need to decode the BinHex file format. Do not attempt to use the translator until it is decoded. Microsoft does not manufacture a BinHex decoder. You will need to obtain the decoder from a third-party vendor.

For additional information about downloading and decoding BinHex files, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q141862 How to Decode .hqx Files Downloaded from Online Services

Configuring PC Exchange on Your Macintosh

  1. In the Control Panels folder (in the System Folder), double-click the PC Exchange icon.


  2. Click the Add button.


  3. In the MS-DOS Suffix box, type:
    PPT


  4. In the box that contains the directory structure of your Macintosh, locate and select the PowerPoint 4.0 program. (By default, PowerPoint is located in the Microsoft PowerPoint 4 folder.)

    The Application Program field, at the top of this dialog box, should indicate that PowerPoint is selected.


  5. Click and hold the drop-down arrow for Document Type.

    This should reveal a list of types.


  6. From the list of types, select:
    SLD3
    NOTE: Document Type is case sensitive. Do not select sLD3.


  7. Click OK.


  8. Close the PC Exchange control panel.


PC Exchange is now configured for use with PowerPoint files transferred to the Macintosh from a floppy disk.

Installing the Translators

  1. The PP7TRANS folder contains both the 680x0 and PowerPC versions of the translator. To determine the appropriate translator to install you will need to know which version of PowerPoint 4.0 you are running (680x0 or PowerPC). Use the steps below to determine the version of PowerPoint:
    1. Start PowerPoint. If PowerPoint is already running, skip to step c.


    2. Click the Cancel button to bypass the startup screens.


    3. On the Apple menu, click About PowerPoint.


    4. Look at the first line in this dialog box. If you are using the Power Macintosh version of PowerPoint, the dialog box will display a message similar to "Microsoft PowerPoint Version 4.0 for the Power Macintosh"; If no text appears after the version number, you are running the 680x0 version of PowerPoint.




  2. Drag the appropriate translator into the Microsoft PowerPoint 4 folder.
    PP7TRANS (The PowerPC version)
    PP7TRANS (The 680x0 version)


When the translator is correctly installed, the "PowerPoint 7.0 Files" command will be displayed in the List Files Of Type drop-down menu.

Opening PowerPoint 7.0 Files

  1. On the File menu, click Open.


  2. From the List Files Of Type drop-down list, select PowerPoint 7.0 Files.

    NOTE: The translator will not function if this step is not done.


  3. Find the file and select the 7.0 presentation.

    If the 7.0 presentation does not appear in the Open dialog box when you select PowerPoint 7.0 Files, the 7.0 presentation does not have the correct type and creator. In order to work, the PowerPoint 7 translator (pp7trans) requires that the presentation file have the following type and creator: 
    
Type:    SLD3
Creator: PPT3
    Type and Creator fields are case sensitive. All alpha characters should be in upper-case letters.

    If the presentation is located on an MS-DOS-formatted floppy disk, the solution usually involves configuring PC Exchange to work with .PPT files. However, if the presentation is transferred to the Macintosh by some other method or if it already resides on the Macintosh other steps must be used.


  4. Click the Open button.


The presentation should be translated to the Macintosh format.


REFERENCES

For additional information about opening PowerPoint 7.0 files on your Macintosh, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q88082 PPT: Error Opening Untranslated Presentation
Q139151 PPT: 7.0 Translator Requires Correct Type and Creator
Q139915 PPT4: Contents of PowerPoint 7.0 Translator Disk (for Macintosh)

Additional query words: 4.00 macppt kbconversion mac translator convert winppt powerpoint7 Q141862 Q119591

Keywords : kbfile kbinterop kbnetwork kbdta kbconversion
Version : MACINTOSH:4.0
Platform : MACINTOSH
Issue type : kbinfo


Last Reviewed: November 11, 1999
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