Convert SHW to PPT

A .shw presentation may need conversion when recipients use Microsoft PowerPoint or a document system that accepts only .ppt. Converting it also preserves an editable slide deck more effectively than distributing a PDF.

What the SHW format is

.shw is the native presentation format of Corel Presentations, the slideshow application bundled with WordPerfect Office. An SHW file can contain slides, text, images, drawing objects, charts, transitions, speaker notes, and presentation settings. It is mainly found in presentations created with older WordPerfect Office releases, including legacy business, government, and school archives.

What the PPT format is

.ppt is the binary presentation format used by Microsoft PowerPoint 97 through 2003. Current PowerPoint versions can still open it, while older presentation software and document systems may require it. The newer .pptx format is the usual PowerPoint format and generally offers better interoperability and smaller files, but it is not interchangeable with systems that specifically require .ppt.

How to convert SHW to PPT

Using Corel Presentations

1. Install a licensed version of WordPerfect Office that includes Corel Presentations. Use a version capable of opening the particular SHW file.
2. Open Corel Presentations and select File → Open.
3. Select the .shw file. If it is hidden, change the file-type filter to All files or the Corel Presentations format.
4. Review the slides before conversion. Check page dimensions, fonts, line wrapping, images, charts, grouped objects, speaker notes, animations, and embedded media.
5. Choose File → Save As or the program’s PowerPoint export command.
6. Select the PowerPoint 97–2003 file type, commonly shown as PowerPoint 97/2000/2002/2003 (*.ppt), specify a new filename such as presentation.ppt, and save it.
7. Open the resulting file in Microsoft PowerPoint or LibreOffice Impress and inspect every slide in normal and slideshow views.

Corel Presentations is the preferred converter because it reads the native SHW structure before writing the PowerPoint file. Microsoft PowerPoint does not normally open SHW files directly. Menu names and the exact PowerPoint file-type label vary between Corel Presentations versions.

Using alternative software or an online service

LibreOffice Impress can open some legacy Corel Presentations files, but support depends on the LibreOffice version and the SHW document’s features. If Impress opens the file correctly, use File → Save As and choose .ppt; verify the result because unsupported objects may be omitted or repositioned.

Online conversion is practical only when the service explicitly lists SHW as an input format and PPT as an output format. Services such as Zamzar, Convertio, or CloudConvert may change their supported formats, so check the current format list before uploading. Do not upload confidential presentations unless the service’s retention and deletion terms are acceptable, and download and inspect the converted file locally.

If the presentation only needs to be viewed or printed, export it to PDF from Corel Presentations instead of converting it to an editable PPT file. A PDF-to-PPT conversion usually reconstructs slides from positioned text boxes and images, so it can produce poor text editing and inaccurate layouts.

Compatibility and quality limitations

Conversion can change fonts, line spacing, slide masters, gradients, transitions, charts, grouped objects, embedded OLE content, audio, video, and other Corel-specific features. Install the fonts used by the original presentation before opening it; substitute fonts can reflow text and move surrounding objects. Keep the original SHW file unchanged and compare the converted deck slide by slide.

Do not change the filename extension manually: renaming .shw to .ppt does not convert the file. If the destination accepts .pptx, open the verified .ppt in PowerPoint and use File → Save As to create .pptx; check the slides again because this second format conversion can introduce additional changes.