The file extension PPS,
or PowerPoint Slideshow,
is an application file
that was created by
Microsoft Corporation
for use with the
PowerPoint slideshow
creator found in its
Office suite. File
extension PPS files
typically represent
application files for
slideshows.
The .PPS file extension
is usually reserved for
Microsoft PowerPoint
slideshows. If you want
to watch a PowerPoint
slideshow presentation,
you must have Microsoft
PowerPoint installed on
your system or the free
PowerPoint viewer found
on the Microsoft Office
website. In addition,
you can download a free
compatible program from
OpenOffice.org called
Impress. Impress can
handle .PPS files with
ease – and it’s free!
Many PPS files come with
a built-in viewer which
means the slideshow will
launch along with a
viewer on any computer
regardless of whether or
not PowerPoint is
installed on that
particular computer.
PPS files can become
quite large because they
can contain multimedia
files including videos,
pictures, animations,
and sound. The more
content included in the
slideshow, the larger
the file size will be.
If you plan on emailing
a .PPS file, keep in
mind that not all users
have broadband e-mail
accounts and may not
appreciate an e-mail
that takes a half hour
or more to download. In
addition, many e-mail
and ISP providers limit
the file sizes of
incoming e-mails.
Because .pps files are
popularly sent virally
over the Internet, you
can’t always be sure who
originally authored the
slideshow. The file
itself could be carrying
a sneaky stowaway:
spyware. Because of the
risk of inadvertently
installing a malicious,
unwanted program, it’s
imperative that you have
adequate security
software installed on
your computer including
anti-virus and anti-spyware
protection.
Many times, the
computer's Windows
operating system doesn't
know how to open .PPS
files. When this
happens, clicking on the
file extension PPS file
in Windows Explorer
doesn't work. This means
that a file association
has gone missing.
File associations become
unlinked for many
reasons ranging from
power surges, corrupt
files, and unexpected
shutdowns to damage done
by malicious programs
like spyware and
computer viruses.
You can re-establish
lost file associations
easily enough if you
want to. All you have to
do is right-click the
file extension PPS that
you want to link with an
existing application.
Next, a small menu shows
itself on the right.
Choose "Open with" from
this menu and then
search through the list
until you find the
desired program for
opening PPS files such
as PowerPoint or
Impress.
Search for the small box
towards the bottom of
the dialog box that
says, "Always use the
selected program to open
this type of file." If
you want this specific
application to always
open the file extension
PPS, place a check mark
in the box.
PPS files are fun to
share with other users
over the Internet as
well as effective tools
to use at business
presentations. When
working with PPS files,
it’s important to know
how to package them for
the particular occasion.
To create PowerPoint
presentations that
include a viewer, use
the Pack and Go Wizard.
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