File Types That Can be Opened in PowerPoint 2010 for Windows

We already created a tutorial on the file types that PowerPoint 2010 can save to, but when you go and look at the file types that PowerPoint 2010 can open, you'll find that the list of file types is not exactly the same. Several file types may be common but there are some surprises that you should explore. When you access the Open dialog in PowerPoint 2010, you can choose the file type you want to open (see Figure 1).

Figure 1: Open file type

Have you ever wondered what all those file types are? Should you even be concerned about them at all? We suggest you take a look for yourself:

1. All Files

Essentially any file you throw at PowerPoint, just in case you want to try your luck!

2. All PowerPoint Presentations

Since all these files are covered in later categories, we don't cover them here, please see subsequent category listings.

3. Presentations and Shows

These are default PowerPoint file formats:

PPTX (PowerPoint Presentation)

This file type is the default open option in PowerPoint 2007 and later. It is based on XML and can be distinctly identified as different from the older file formats for PowerPoint because it has four letters rather than three, for example PPTX rather than the older PPT format.

PPT (PowerPoint 97–2003 Presentation)

This file type was the default format for presentations created in PowerPoint versions 2003 and earlier. Most of the time, this is known as the PowerPoint 97 to 2003 format (or the PowerPoint 97 to 2004 format if you include Mac versions of PowerPoint).

PPTM (PowerPoint Macro-Enabled Presentation)

This is identical to the PPTX file format other than the fact that file type creates presentations with macros enabled.

PPSX (PowerPoint Show)

This file type comprises presentations that have been saved as a slide show. In all respects this is the same as a PPTX file, but when double-clicked, this opens in Slide Show view rather than Normal view. If you use the Open dialog, it opens in Normal view. See our PPT vs. PPS (or PPTX vs. PPSX) article.

PPS (PowerPoint 97–2003 Show)

This file type comprises presentations that have been saved as a slide show in PowerPoint 97 to 2003, in all respects this is the same as a PPT file, but when double-clicked, this opens in Slide Show view rather than Normal view. If you use the Open dialog, it opens in Normal view. See our PPT vs. PPS (or PPTX vs. PPSX) article.

PPSM (PowerPoint Macro-Enabled Show)

This file type comprises presentations that have been saved as a slide show with macros enabled, and works in the same way as PPSX files.

4. PowerPoint XML Presentations

This signifies XML (PowerPoint XML Presentation) presentations saved in an XML format for use in an XML information storage system.

5. PowerPoint Templates

Typically these files open as editable templates when you use the Open dialog box. On the other hand, if you double click these files, they open as new presentations based on the template:

POTX (PowerPoint Template)

This file type is a template that you can use as a starter for future presentations. This file format works with PowerPoint 2007 and subsequent versions of PowerPoint.

POT (PowerPoint 97–2003 Template)

This file type is a template in PowerPoint 97 to 2003. You can still open and use these in newer versions of PowerPoint.

POTM (PowerPoint Macro-Enabled Template)

This file type is a template in the same way as POTX files, but with macros enabled.

6. All Web Pages

HTM/HTML (HyperText Markup Language)

These denote static web pages but for the most part, these were meant to be PowerPoint presentations that are saved as web pages by PowerPoint. When Microsoft released Office XP (that included PowerPoint 2002), they decided to make HTML output one of the main file formats for PowerPoint, and these files could be opened and edited like normal presentations in PowerPoint. They could also be opened in Internet Explorer and viewed like full screen presentations. Unfortunately, that was a half baked concept that did not work out, and HTML is no longer a file format that PowerPoint 2010 saves to, but for reasons of compatibility with older versions, the open option for HTML still works.

HTML output generally consisted of a single HTML file and a folder of the same name that contained all supporting files.

MHT/MHTML (Web Archive)

Same as HTML above, but this created a single MHT or MHTML file rather than a single HTML file with a folder containing supporting files.

7. Office Themes

These are THMX (Office Theme) files, choosing this option creates a new presentation based on the choosen Office Theme.

8. All Outlines

These are all outline formats that PowerPoint can import to create slides. All text in an outline is imported as text placeholders, see Text Boxes vs. Text Placeholders.

TXT

Text files, typically created by Notepad in Microsoft Windows (or TextEditin Mac OS X)

RTF (Outline/RTF)

Rich Text Format files

DOC

Word 97 to 2003 files

WPD

Corel WordPerfect files

WPS

Corel WordPerfect files

DOCX

Word 2007 and later versions create these files

DOCM

Same as DOCX above, but includes macros

9. PowerPoint Add-Ins

PPAM (PowerPoint Add-In)

This file type opens presentations as an add-in that includes custom commands or VBA code. Typically used in PowerPoint 2007 or later versions.

PPA (PowerPoint 97–2003 Add-In)

This opens presentations as an add-in that you can open in PowerPoint 97 to 2003. Typically used in PowerPoint 2003 or earlier versions.

10. Open Document Presentations

This opens ODP (OpenDocument Presentation) files, such as those created by Google Docs or OpenOffice.