When I open a PowerPoint file from my Dropbox, the formatting is messed up. Is there a way to avoid this without saving the PPT as a PDF?

[Mark]

Dropbox does not alter file formats or file setups. 

What can happen though is that differing versions on different machines cause issues OR the web version of office opens it. 

If you download it to a machine with the same version of office on (and same fonts etc.) all will be fine

[Suzanne P.13]

Actually, I do have the same version of PowerPoint on both computers and the same operating system and I'm still having this problem.

[Mark]

Its something specific to your machine set up then I'm afraid Suzanne. 

Dropbox cannot alter files (it doesn't know how to!). It simply syncs exactly the same as a USB pen would do it.

[Trulite_Safety]

I am uploading PPT files.  When I look at them in Drop Box, they are PDF's.  I am trying to get a co-worker to download the file.  But, its no use if all he can see is the PDF.  What am I doing wrong?

[Rich]

What he's seeing is just the file preview. Have him click the blue Download button in the top right corner of the page. It will download the original PPT file. If he uses the browser's save functionality all he will be saving is the PDF preview.