Microsoft KB Archive/189828

= PPT97: Double-Clicking File Opens Wrong Version of PowerPoint =

Article ID: 189828

Article Last Modified on 11/9/2000

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft PowerPoint 97 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q189828





SYMPTOMS
When you double-click a file to open it, a different version of PowerPoint than you expect starts.



CAUSE
This behavior occurs if you have multiple versions of PowerPoint installed on your computer. When you run a version of PowerPoint, it registers itself in the Windows registry and takes ownership of files that have the .ppt extension and certain system registration entries. If you then run a different version of PowerPoint, it registers itself. It owns the files having the .ppt extension and system registration entries until you run another version of PowerPoint. This means that if you double-click a file with a .ppt extension, the most recently run version of PowerPoint tries to open the file.



WORKAROUND
If you want to open the PowerPoint presentation in a specific version of PowerPoint, follow these steps:  On the Windows Start menu, point to Programs and then click Windows Explorer. Open the \Windows\SendTo folder. Create three shortcuts--one for each version of PowerPoint you have installed on your computer. To do this, follow these steps:  On the File menu, point to New, and then click Shortcut. In the Command Line box in the Create Shortcut Wizard, type the path and file name for the Powerpnt.exe file you want to use. Or, click Browse, select the Powerpnt.exe file you want to use, and click Open. Click Next.</li> On the "Select a Title for the Program" panel, type the description you want to use, and then click Finish.</li> Repeat steps a through d for each version of PowerPoint.</li></ol> </li></ol>

After creating the shortcuts, you can select the version of PowerPoint you want to open the file by following these steps:
 * 1) Right-click a presentation file, and then click Send To on the menu that appears.
 * 2) Select the version of PowerPoint you want to open the file.

Additional query words: 4.00a 4.00c 8.00 ppt97 Win95 right-click mouse step on properties ppt95

Keywords: kbprb kbusage KB189828

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