I need help with stupid PowerPoint (this must be easy)

[Mike Lowe]

Ok, I use PowerPoint literally all day just about every day for work. I know what I'm doing with it for the most part, but don't understand this:

At home I use 2007. I can easily use the feature "autofit text to fit placeholder" and everything is peachy. At work, I use 2003. The feature still works but ONLY in certain parts of my document. For instance, I'll have three text boxes and it will work on 1-2 but never all three. Even if I copy and paste a WORKING text box, and retype the text, it simply wont allow me to autofit.

I hate this as it creates extra tedious work every single day. I've searched the help section and I've searched online. I'd be happy to email anyone one of the files I'm talking about so that they can see what I mean. It's seriously ridiculous. How do I FORCE PP to do this for a text box? I have the option checked to do this but the little icon in the bottom left of the box does not show up on the text box that is not working; the option simply doesn't exist.

Help! I'm going to go crazy haha!

[dolfin]

pm sent

[Mike Lowe]

Wow, the PP gods must not have been happy with me because now I have a document that is corrupt and wont open. Actually, it might not be corrupt but here is the message I get and it's not one I usually get when I've had corrupt files before:

"PowerPoint can't read E:Journalism/Journalism/ppt"

Help! Anyone know of some free software that handles this? I need this in like 2-3 hours! Yikes!

FYI: I'm using 2003 at work but the file is a 2007 I believe and I do have compatability installed and I've used it many many times before.

[dolfin]

You might go ahead and send me the file and I'll see if I can open it. I've 2010, 2007, 2003, etc. Maybe the creating app can open it.

[Mike Lowe]

Sent!

[3ric]

You could download OpenOffice Impress, it's compatible with both versions and can save the file in the 2003 format

Impress (http://www.openoffice.org/product/impress.html)

[Mike Lowe]

dolfin and I haven't had luck in recovering the file manually...if anyone else is willing to work some magic, I'd be grateful!

[Mike Lowe]

You could download OpenOffice Impress, it's compatible with both versions and can save the file in the 2003 format

Impress (http://www.openoffice.org/product/impress.html)

I couldn't find a download link for this...do you need an account or something?

[3ric]

Sorry I wasn't more clear, Impress is part of the OpenOffice package, but you can choose to install that only and leave out the other parts.

Download :: Bouncer (http://openoffice.bouncer.osuosl.org/?product=OpenOffice.org&os=winwjre&lang=sv&version=3.1.1)

[Mike Lowe]

Before I try Bouncer...my problem isn't saving it in a different format, it's simply trying to open the file anyway shape or form. I've tried on 2 computers, one with Vista and 2007 Office and another, at work, which has XP and 2003 Office. I also installed Open Office at work but no luck.

Man, I just wish someone had access to some software to fix this file because none of them seem to be "money back guaranteed" or anything like that.

I'd rather pay it forward than pay some dude and his company $100 to maybe fix a PowerPoint presentation.