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Type:
Bug
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Resolution: Unresolved
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Priority:
Low
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Component/s: Page - Editor - Cloud
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None
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1
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Minor
Issue Summary
`.pptx` files are OOXML packages (ZIP archives containing XML and media parts). Confluence inspects the internal structure of the archive to identify the file type and render the correct preview.
When a `.pptx` file is saved by a non-Microsoft application (e.g. LibreOffice Impress, online converters), the package places `[Content_Types].xml` as the first entry in the ZIP. Microsoft PowerPoint places `ppt/presentation.xml` first.
When `[Content_Types].xml` is the first entry, Confluence cannot disambiguate the file as a PowerPoint presentation and treats it as a generic ZIP archive (`application/zip`). No preview is generated, even though the file is a valid `.pptx` and Microsoft PowerPoint opens it without issue when downloaded.
Steps to Reproduce
1. Take any valid `.pptx` file produced by Microsoft PowerPoint.
2. Open it in LibreOffice Impress and use *Save As* → `.pptx`.
3. Upload the re-saved file to a Confluence Cloud page.
4. Click the file to view the preview.
Expected Results
The file is recognised as a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation and a slide preview is generated.
Actual Results
The file is treated as a generic archive. No preview is generated; the file viewer displays a generic archive download card instead of slide content.
The misidentification can be confirmed locally:
``
$ file --brief --mime-type re-saved.pptx
application/octet-stream
$ file --brief --mime-type original-from-powerpoint.pptx
application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.presentationml.presentation
```
The differing internal ZIP layout:
```
$ unzip -l affected.pptx | head -5
Length Date Time Name
--------- ---------- ----- ----
13451 01-01-1980 00:00 [Content_Types].xml <-- first entry
885 01-01-1980 00:00 _rels/.rels
$ unzip -l working.pptx | head -5
Length Date Time Name
--------- ---------- ----- ----
4217 01-01-1980 00:00 ppt/presentation.xml <-- first entry
219 01-01-1980 00:00 customXml/item1.xml
```
Workaround
Open the affected file in *Microsoft PowerPoint* (Desktop or Microsoft 365 web), use *File → Save As* to save a fresh copy, and upload that copy to Confluence. Microsoft PowerPoint re-saves the package in a layout Confluence correctly identifies as a PowerPoint presentation.
Renaming or re-uploading the file without re-saving in Microsoft PowerPoint does *not* resolve the issue, because the internal archive layout is unchanged.