What is PPTX?

PPTX (PowerPoint Open XML Presentation) is the default format for PowerPoint 2007 and later. Based on Office Open XML (OOXML), it uses ZIP compression to package XML files, images, videos, and other resources. This makes PPTX files smaller and more robust than legacy PPT files.

PPTX supports HD media, animations, transitions, embedded fonts, SmartArt graphics, and collaboration tools. It's the industry standard for business presentations, education, and professional slide decks worldwide.

Did you know? Over 500 million people use PowerPoint, creating 30 million presentations daily. PPTX files are typically 40-75% smaller than PPT files!

History

PPTX was introduced with Microsoft Office 2007 as part of the shift to Office Open XML formats. The change aimed to improve interoperability, reduce file sizes, and enhance data recovery. In 2008, PPTX became ISO/IEC 29500.

Key Milestones

  • 2006: PPTX format introduced in Office 2007 Beta
  • 2007: Office 2007 released with PPTX as default
  • 2008: OOXML standardized as ISO/IEC 29500
  • 2016: Real-time co-authoring added
  • 2019: SVG support and 4K export added

Key Features

Core Capabilities

  • ZIP Compression: Smaller file sizes
  • XML-Based: Open standard, easier parsing
  • Rich Media: HD video, audio, animations
  • SmartArt Graphics: Professional diagrams
  • Animations & Transitions: Slide effects
  • Collaboration: Comments and co-authoring

Common Use Cases

Business Presentations

Meetings, pitches, and reports

Education

Lectures and training materials

Sales & Marketing

Product demos and campaigns

Conferences

Keynotes and presentations

Advantages

  • Industry standard for presentations
  • Smaller file sizes than PPT
  • Better data recovery
  • Rich multimedia support
  • Cross-platform compatibility
  • Collaboration features

Disadvantages

  • Requires PowerPoint 2007 or later
  • Complex animations may not display correctly in older versions
  • Large files with embedded video
  • Font embedding issues across platforms
  • Compatibility issues with some third-party viewers

Technical Information

Format Specifications

Specification Details
File Extension .pptx
MIME Type application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.presentationml.presentation
Standard ISO/IEC 29500
Structure XML in ZIP container
Developer Microsoft
Format Type Presentation

Common Tools

  • Desktop: Microsoft PowerPoint, LibreOffice Impress
  • Online: Google Slides, Office 365
  • Mobile: PowerPoint mobile apps