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pdfconversionapi

PPS to PPTX API

POST /v2/convert/pps/to/pptx turns a PowerPoint 97-2003 show into a current .pptx presentation. The sample's 76,288-byte lobby loop returns as a 27,229-byte deck that opens for editing, still with its fades, 8-second timings and loop setting.

Endpoint
POST /v2/convert/pps/to/pptx
Accepts
pps
Sample timing
0.589 s median of 5 runsHow we measure
Request size
Up to 10 MB on the Free plan or 100 MB on paid plans, all files together

Request and response

Every sample below ran against the API before this page was published. Set PDFCONVERSIONAPI_KEY to your key and run it as is.

curl -sS -X POST \
  https://api.pdfconversionapi.com/v2/convert/pps/to/pptx \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $PDFCONVERSIONAPI_KEY" \
  -F File=@riverside-lobby-loop.pps \
  -o response.json

# FileData is base64. Save the first file in converted/,
# or print the JSON error.
if jq -e '.Files' response.json > /dev/null; then
  mkdir -p converted
  name=$(jq -r '.Files[0].FileName' response.json)
  jq -r '.Files[0].FileData' response.json \
    | base64 --decode > "converted/$name"
else
  cat response.json
fi
200 OK0.589 s median1 file, 27 KB
{
  "ConversionCost": 1,
  "ConversionTime": 0.589,
  "Files": [
    {
      "FileName": "riverside-lobby-loop.pptx",
      "FileExt": "pptx",
      "FileSize": 27229,
      "FileData": "UEsDBBQAAAgIAFV3ZF1gxYga…"
    }
  ]
}

Response from our test run on 2026-11-03. ConversionTime shows the median of 5 runs. FileData is shortened here; the real response carries the whole file as base64.

The sample, converted

The same file the code sends. Download the input and the output and compare them yourself.

First page of riverside-lobby-loop.pptx, rendered by the API
Input
riverside-lobby-loop.pps (75 KB)
Output
riverside-lobby-loop.pptx (27 KB)
Source
A five-slide self-running lobby show for a fictional clock museum, made by us and saved as a PowerPoint 97-2003 show with fades and 8-second timings; slide 4 is hidden. (CC0-1.0). How it was made
Made by
2026-11-04, API build 9eeeb0640aba

Parameters

Send these as form fields next to the file. Names are case-insensitive. If you set one of the documented options below that we don't support yet, the request fails with a 400 that names it instead of returning a file made without it.

ParameterWhat it does
PasswordstringAccepted but of no use yet: a show we encrypted returned 422 "the input file is password-protected" even with the right password, so locked shows can't be converted.
FileNamestringName of the .pptx that comes back.

Not supported yet

Setting one of these to anything but its default returns 400.

OptionWhat to do instead
ConvertHiddenSlidesHidden slides are always kept, still hidden. true returns 400 "ConvertHiddenSlides is not supported yet for PPS files"; false is accepted.

What carries over, and what doesn't

Kept

  • Each slide's fade transition and its automatic advance after 8,000 milliseconds
  • The loop setting, stored as loop="1" in the deck's show properties
  • The hidden staff slide, still hidden, and the speaker note on slide 3
  • The tour table as an editable table, the clock picture and the rounded banner
  • The 10 × 6.25 inch slide size and the file's title and author

Lost or not yet supported

  • The show-on-open behavior. The package is saved as an ordinary presentation, not a slide show file, and there is no route that writes .ppsx.
  • Layouts the slides don't use: one master with three layouts remains.
  • The application name in the file, which becomes "PDF Conversion API".

Limits

  • Requests up to 10 MB on the Free plan or 100 MB on paid plans; 120 seconds per conversion, then 504.
  • ConvertAPI has no PPS to PPTX conversion, so options are not compared with its list: unknown names are ignored, and office options this route can't apply return 400 "… is not supported yet for PPS files".
  • Files that are not PowerPoint 97-2003 shows or decks return 422 "it could not be opened as PPS".
  • Encrypted .pps files can't be opened for now: 422, whatever Password you send.

Where teams use it

Editing a show that only opens as a slide show

A .pps starts playing when it is double-clicked, which makes quick fixes awkward. Convert it, change the opening hours or prices, and run it again.

Updating an old kiosk loop to the current format

Bring a 97-2003 show into .pptx so current tools, including our PPTX routes for images, text and PDF, can work with it. The timings and the loop come along.

Questions

Are the slide timings and transitions kept?

Yes, in our test. Every slide of the sample still had its fade and an advance time of 8,000 ms in the .pptx, and the presentation kept its loop flag.

Will the .pptx start as a slide show when opened?

No. The package is saved as an ordinary presentation, so it opens for editing. To get images or a PDF of the slides instead, use /v2/convert/pps/to/png or /v2/convert/pps/to/pdf.

What about .ppsx files?

Those are the newer XML shows and have their own route, /v2/convert/ppsx/to/pptx. This one reads the binary .pps format, and .ppt files too.

Convert your first PPS file in a minute.