How to Open PowerPoint .PPT files in OpenOffice Impress

If you get a file from someone in PowerPoint format (usually .ppt or .pptx) and you need to open or edit it in LibreOffice or OpenOffice Impress, then here is how to do it.

• In OpenOffice.org, choose File > Open from the menu bar.
• Under File type, choose All files (*.*) or Presentations or Microsoft PowerPoint 97/2000/XP from the drop-down list.
• Navigate to the PowerPoint file, select it, and click Open.

This method can help you to use our free PowerPoint templates and backgrounds from FPPT.com in OpenOffice.

The PowerPoint file can now be edited and saved as an Impress file (.odp) or a PowerPoint file. If you want to save the file as an Impress file, choose OpenDocument Presentation (.odp) as the File Type.

You can convert .odp files to .ppt if you need to get the PowerPoint back. In order to save the PPT file back to PowerPoint from OpenOffice, go to File menu and Save as in OpenOffice Impress and in the dialog that comes up choose “Microsoft PowerPoint 97/2000/XP (*.ppt) as the file type.

Notice that there is no 100% compatibility when exporting OpenOffice presentations to .ppt files but the compatibility is very good and works in most cases, even for complex presentations.