Alert - Unable to use PowerPoint presentation. Reason: Access Violation

Applicable SongShow Plus Versions: 
This article applies to SongShow Plus 9.x and Later

 * Updates correcting this issue may be available. Ensure that you are using the most current build of SongShow Plus from the Download page before proceeding. *

UPDATE: Before proceeding, review the updates to Microsoft PowerPoint use in SongShow Plus found here.

Symptom:
The alert "Unable to use PowerPoint Presentation. Reason: Access Violation" may occur in the alerts panel for a variety of reasons.  It is possible when any operation in the program panel that causes a PowerPoint file to change extension.  This can also be a false error when an unrelated unhandled error occurs with an unknown file type.  In this case the file will not present or be saved.

Possible Cause:
The root cause of this issue will vary but there are a few known cases:
- Any moving of a PowerPoint file by dragging and dropping to a new location in a program.
- Any incorrect use of filenames in SSP, specifically operations that will modify the file type such as including periods in the file name - this will cause the extension of the file to change and it will not appear in SSP.

Possible Solution:
At this time there is no workaround for PPT files other than doing all move operations before actually presenting the PowerPoint file from the program.  PowerPoint files play as expected in this case.

Regarding the file naming - avoid the use of any special characters when naming files, especially periods.

If this article does not resolve the issue, contact the Support Team.

(TS363)