Microsoft KB Archive/119845

Knowledge Base

Changing the Working Directory in PowerPoint

Article ID: 119845

Article Last Modified on 8/16/2005

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APPLIES TO

• Microsoft PowerPoint 2.0 Standard Edition
• Microsoft PowerPoint 3.0 Standard Edition
• Microsoft PowerPoint 4.0 Standard Edition
• Microsoft PowerPoint 4.0a
• Microsoft PowerPoint 4.0c
• Microsoft PowerPoint 95 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q119845

SUMMARY

PowerPoint for Windows does not have the ability to specify the working directory (for example, the default directory from which files are opened and to which files are saved) from within the program. However, the Windows operating system provides this functionality.

MORE INFORMATION

To set the default directory in PowerPoint (or any other Windows-based application) to a new directory, do the following:

1. Create the new default directory (if it does not exist). (For example, C:\POWERPNT\DATA).
2. Select the PowerPoint icon from Program Manager.
3. On the File menu in Program Manager, click Properties.
4. Enter the following line in the Working Directory text box:

   c:\powerpnt\data

   Click OK.
5. Run PowerPoint and the new directory will be the default.

Running PowerPoint from Microsoft Office Manager

NOTE: If you run PowerPoint from the Microsoft Office Manager, you must also do the following to set the working directory in the Microsoft Office Manager:

1. Click Office Manager with the right mouse button.
2. Click Customize.
3. Click the Toolbar Tab in the Customize window.
4. Scroll through the list of applications click Microsoft PowerPoint.
5. Click Edit.
6. In the Working Directory line, type the location of your data directory (for example, C:\POWERPNT\DATA).
7. Click OK in the Edit Program Item dialog box.
8. Click OK in the Customize dialog box.

Now when you select the PowerPoint icon from the Microsoft Office Manager, PowerPoint will use your new working directory.

PowerPoint 7.0 for Windows 95

In Win95 select the properties for the PowerPoint icon. Choose the shortcut tab and modify the "start in" directory.

Additional query words: power point powerpnt 4.00c winppt default directory powerpnt.ini defaultdir 2.0 2.00 2.0e 2.00e 3.0 3.00 3.00b 3.0b 4.0 4.00 4.0a 4.00a

Keywords: KB119845

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