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think-cell's Save Slides... shows error when saving to OneDrive or SharePoint

Problem

This problem occurred with particular versions of Office 365 and Office 2016 Click-to-Run. Saving to other locations worked with the same versions.

Solution

Microsoft fixed the issue with the update to at least Version 1911 (Build 12228.20364). This version was distributed in Microsoft's Current Channel updates as of December 10, 2019. The Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel received the fix on July 14, 2020 with Version 2002 (Build 12527.20880).

Please see Microsoft's Install Office updates for how to see your Office version, update channel, and the update options you have.

Until your Office has updated to a fixed version, do not save to Microsoft OneDrive or SharePoint with think-cell's Save Slides.... Saving to other locations works, and you can then move the file.

Explanation

think-cell uses a programming function provided by PowerPoint, .SaveCopyAs, to save the selected slides as a new presentation. Depending on the affected Office version, there were two possible outcomes when saving to OneDrive or SharePoint. With Office versions below 1707 (Build 8326.2070), PowerPoint may crash. With versions above 1707 (Build 8326.2070) but below 1911 (Build 12228.20364), PowerPoint may not crash but the file may not get saved. Both errors can be reproduced without think-cell in affected Office versions as follows

Reproduction without think-cell

  1. Open an affected version of PowerPoint with a new, empty presentation.
  2. In PowerPoint, go to Insert > think-cell > Tools Tools Menu icon. > Deactivate think-cell.
  3. Press Alt + F11 to open Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications.
  4. In Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications, press Ctrl + G to open the Immediate window.
  5. Determine your OneDrive folder in Windows, typically the folder you previously tried to use when the error happened.

  6. Copy and paste the following code to the Immediate window, replacing the quoted path information with the one from your computer:

    ActivePresentation.SaveCopyAs "C:\Users\USERNAME\ONEDRIVE_PATH\FILENAME.pptx"

  7. Press ENTER

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