The Short Answer
An ODP file is a digital slideshow. It is exactly like a Microsoft PowerPoint file, but it is made for free, open software. ODP stands for OpenDocument Presentation. You use it to show slides, pictures, and text to an audience.
ODP: OpenDocument Presentation
The open standard for slides.
PresentationsOpenOfficeLibreOfficeImpress
Discover the free and open source alternative for creating professional presentations with the OpenDocument standard.
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Tech Guide
File Formats
.ODP
What is an ODP File?
A simple, clear guide to open-source presentations. Learn what they are, how to open them, and why they might be better than PowerPoint.
Why "Open"?
"Open" means no single company owns this file type. You do not have to pay a yearly fee to use it. Anyone can build a computer program that opens, reads, and saves an ODP file.
ODP vs. PowerPoint (PPTX)
Feature
.ODP
.PPTX
Cost to Use
100% Free
Requires Paid License
Who Owns It?
The Public (Open Source)
Microsoft
Best Software
LibreOffice Impress
Microsoft PowerPoint
The Box Trick
Did you know an ODP file is actually just a folder in disguise? If you change the file name from presentation.odp to presentation.zip, you can open it like a regular folder!
Inside, you will find all your words saved as simple text, and a folder full of your exact pictures. It is not magic; it is just very neat organization.
presentation.zip (unzipped)
- content.xml (Your words)
- styles.xml (Your colors)
- Pictures/
- slide1-photo.jpg
Who Uses ODP Files?
Schools & Students
Because LibreOffice is 100% free, schools use ODP files so every student has the tools they need without buying expensive software.
Governments
Governments use open files because they want to make sure public records can still be read 50 years from now, no matter what companies exist.
Linux Users
People who use open-source operating systems like Linux rely on ODP as their main way to create and share presentations.
How to Open an ODP File
You do not need to buy anything to open an ODP file. Choose any of these free options:
LibreOffice Impress
Best ChoiceGoogle Slides
Works OnlineOpenOffice
Good OptionMS PowerPoint
Usually WorksThe Good
- It is totally free. You will never be asked to enter a credit card or buy a yearly subscription to make these files.
- It will last forever. Because the code is open, computers will always know how to read these files.
- Works without internet. You download the free software to your computer and work offline anywhere.
The Bad
- Formatting changes. If you open an ODP file in Microsoft PowerPoint, sometimes words and pictures move to the wrong spot.
- Fewer built-in designs. The free software has fewer pre-made pretty templates compared to paid tools.
- Confusion. If you email it to someone, they might not know what an ODP file is and ask you for help.
The Best Way To Share an ODP
If you are sending your presentation to a teacher, boss, or friend, they might not have the right software. Do this instead to make sure it looks perfect:
1
Finish your slides in LibreOffice Impress.
2
Click "File", then click "Export As".
3
Choose "Export as PDF" and send that file!
Note: PDF files do not play animations, but they lock your pictures and words in place so they never move around on another person's computer.
How To Make Your Own ODP
-
1
Download LibreOffice
Go to the official website and download the free program for your computer.
-
2
Open "Impress"
LibreOffice has many tools. Click the one called "Impress Presentation".
-
3
Save Your Work
When you click save, it automatically becomes an .odp file ready to use.
Where Did ODP Come From?
Early 2000s
People realized that one single company (Microsoft) controlled almost all office documents in the world. This was risky.
2005
A group of smart people created the "OpenDocument" standard. It was a promise that files should be like public roads: free for anyone to drive on.
Today
ODP is an official international standard (ISO/IEC 26300). Entire countries legally require their government offices to use these open files.
Can I Open It On My Phone?
Yes! You do not need a big computer to view your slides. You can open an ODP file right from your pocket.
Search your app store for Collabora Office. It is a free app for both Apple and Android phones that reads ODP files perfectly.
Slide 1
Why Is My File So Heavy?
The Problem
ODP files usually hold a lot of pictures. If you put a giant 10-Megabyte photo from your digital camera into your slide, your presentation file gets very heavy and slow.
The Fix
Right-click any picture inside LibreOffice Impress and select "Compress". This shrinks the photo size without making it look bad on a screen.
Working With Friends Online
You do not have to email the file back and forth to work together. Several free internet tools let you and your friends edit the same ODP file at the exact same time.
Nextcloud
A free, private cloud you can use to host and edit office files.
Google Drive
Upload your ODP here, and Google will let you edit it with others.
Collabora Online
A browser-based version of LibreOffice made for teams.
Moving Pictures (Animations)
Just like PowerPoint, ODP files can make text fly in from the side, or make pictures fade away. These are called Animations. The movement between one entire slide and the next is called a Transition.
Rule of thumb: Keep it simple! Too many spinning words will make your audience dizzy.
Making It Look Beautiful
A blank white slide is boring. You can change the background, colors, and fonts using something called a Master Slide.
If you edit the Master Slide, it magically updates the design on every single slide in your file all at once. This saves you hours of work.
Need free, pretty designs?
Search "LibreOffice Templates" onlineHelping Everyone Read It
Some people use special computers that read the screen out loud to them because they cannot see well. ODP files have tools to help these machines.
- Alt Text: Always right-click your pictures and type a description. If someone cannot see the picture of a dog, the computer will read your description out loud.
- High Contrast: Do not use light gray text on a white background. It is too hard to read. Use dark text on light backgrounds.
The Format Swapper
.PPTX
.ODP
If your boss gives you a Microsoft PowerPoint (.pptx), you can open it in LibreOffice and click "Save As" to instantly turn it into an ODP file. You can also do the exact reverse!
Printing Handouts
Sometimes you want to give the audience paper copies of your slides so they can take notes with a pen.
Bad Idea
Printing one giant slide per page wastes too much paper.
Good Idea
When you print, choose "Handouts" to put 4 or 6 small slides on a single page.
Quick Fixes (Troubleshooting)
Q: My video won't play inside my slide!
A: Videos inside files can be tricky. Make sure the video file is saved in the exact same folder on your computer as your ODP file before you add it.
Q: The fonts changed when I sent it to my friend!
A: If you use a special font that your friend does not have on their computer, it will change. You can fix this by exporting it as a PDF (see the sharing rules above).
Q: Can I put music in the background?
A: Yes! You can insert an audio file so that music plays while you show your pictures to the audience.
Are ODP Files Safe?
Yes, they are very safe. Because an ODP file is built using simple text and pictures, it is very hard for bad people to hide computer viruses inside them.
Older file types used to allow hidden "macros" (secret code) that could hurt your computer, but ODP files are built to be much safer and cleaner. However, you should still only open files from people you trust.
Ready to try it?
Stop paying for presentation software. Start using ODP files to make slides that belong entirely to you.
More in this series
Master more skills with other tutorials from the Presentations series.
Data Engineering
- DB: Generic Database File: The universal data container.
- SQLite: Portable Database: A database in a single file.
- SQL: Structured Query Language: The language of data.
- CSV: Comma-Separated Values: The universal data exchange format.
Spreadsheets
- NUMBERS: Apple Numbers Spreadsheet: Visual data storytelling.
- XLSM: Macro-Enabled Spreadsheet: Excel with automation power.
- ODS: OpenDocument Spreadsheet: The open spreadsheet standard.
- XLS: Legacy Excel Spreadsheet: The foundation of digital spreadsheets.
- XLSX: Modern Excel Spreadsheet: The data powerhouse.
Presentations
- ODP: OpenDocument Presentation: The open standard for slides.
- PPT: Legacy Presentation: The classic slide deck format.
- PPTX: Modern Presentation: The gold standard for slide decks.
Word Processing
- WPS: WPS Office Document: The lightweight contender.
- PAGES: Apple Pages Document: The designer's word processor.
- ODT: OpenDocument Text: The open text standard.
- DOC: Legacy Word Document: The classic document format.
- DOCX: Modern Word Document: The standard for office documents.
- RTF: Rich Text Format: The universal translator.
Digital Publishing
- TEX: LaTeX Document: The mathematician's choice.
- PDF: Portable Document Format: The digital paper standard.
Software Engineering
- TSX: TypeScript XML: The modern web component.
Markdown & Text
- MD: Markdown: The programmer's writer.
- TXT: Plain Text: The simplest file in the world.