If you’ve created a presentation that you want friends or coworkers to run and view, you can set up the show so that it runs automatically. You can save it either in the PowerPoint 2007 format, which requires the user to have PowerPoint 2007 installed to be able to view the show, or in the PowerPoint 97–2003 format, which allows the show to be viewed with earlier versions of PowerPoint or with the PowerPoint Viewer.
With your show completed, and saved, point to Save As on the Office menu, and, in the gallery that appears, click PowerPoint Show to display the Save As window.
In the Save As Type list, select the appropriate format:
PowerPoint Show to save the show in the PowerPoint 2007 format
PowerPoint 97–2003 Show to convert the show to the earlier format
If you saved the show in the 97–2003 format, inspect the results of the Compatibility Checker that was run automatically. Click Continue to complete the conversion if the changes are acceptable; otherwise, click Cancel. Distribute the file, and have your viewers double-click the show’s file to run the show.
"Taking Your Show on the Road" for information about packaging a show if it includes links to other files as well as information about including the PowerPoint Viewer with the show.
"Checking the Compatibility" for information about saving files in previous formats and using the Compatibility Checker.