Microsoft KB Archive/190405

= PPT97: Cannot Use Playlist File in PowerPoint 97 =

Article ID: 190405

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 Q190405





SYMPTOMS
When trying to use a playlist (.lst) file in Microsoft PowerPoint you may receive the following error message:

PowerPoint can't read  because the .lst file format is no longer supported. For more information about showing multiple presentations, see PowerPoint Help.



CAUSE
Playlist (.lst) files are not supported in PowerPoint; they are only supported in PowerPoint Viewer.



RESOLUTION
If you want to run a series of presentations as slide shows in PowerPoint, you can use a batch file. To create the batch file, follow these steps:  In a text editor, such as Notepad, create a list of the presentations you want to run. To do this, use the following syntax:

start \powerpnt.exe /s \

For example, if you have two presentations, Myfile1.ppt and Myfile2.ppt, create your list so that it looks similar to this example:

start c:\powerpnt\powerpnt.exe /s c:\powerpnt\myfile1.ppt

start c:\powerpnt\powerpnt.exe /s c:\powerpnt\myfile2.ppt

NOTE: If your path, including the presentation file name, does not follow the MS-DOS 8.3 naming convention (in other words, it is long or contains spaces), enclose the path and file name inside quotation marks, like this:

start "c:\ppt 95\powerpnt.exe" /s "c:\my documents\file 1.ppt"

NOTE: You do not need to enclose a path that follows the MS-DOS 8.3 naming convention in quotation marks. Doing so may cause the batch file to fail. Save this file with a .bat extension. Start Windows Explorer. Right-click the file and then click Properties on the menu that appears. Click the Program tab. From the Run list, click Minimized. Click to select the Close On Exit check box.</li> Click OK.</li></ol>

NOTE: This procedure creates a shortcut to your batch file. You can move this shortcut to your desktop or put it on your Start menu.

To run the batch file, double-click it in My Computer or Explorer, or double-click the shortcut.

The result is very similar to a playlist; the presentations play in order. The only difference is that you will see your desktop for a moment between presentations.

Additional query words: winppt ppt95 ppt7 ppt97 w_powerpt powerpnt play lists .LST ppview97.exe ppview32.exe PowerPoint can t read

Keywords: kberrmsg kbprb kbusage KB190405

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