Line spacing

  • Thread starter Thread starter Neil
  • Start date Start date
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Neil

how do I change the default line spacing for all paras in a presentation (or
template)? I'm using PowerPoint 2003
 
Thanks for telling us your version. This really helps! It's a little
different in 2007

Text in Placeholders:
Go to the slide master (View > Master > Slide master) and change the line
spacing there.

All Other Text:
Draw a shape (not a textbox), add text and adjust line spacing. Right click
and select 'AutoShape Defaults'. If you do this with a textbox it will work
but all future shapes are likely to inherit the no fill / no line that
textboxes normally have!
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Thanks John
I'm building a template file for a client, and trying to set the 'space
before' to 0 line/point rather than the 0.5 which it is set at now for all
new text blocks that are inserted.
I've tried what you suggested but with no success, perhaps I'm not
understanding you correctly. Do I do this "with a shape (not a text box)" or
"do this with a textbox".
I can see the tick box 'Default for new objects' in the 'Format autoshapes'
dialogue which I suspect is the same as the right-click. But there's no box
like this on the 'Line spacing' dialogue.
Thanks for your time, cheers
Neil
 
Thanks John
I'm building a template file for a client, and trying to set the 'space
before' to 0 line/point rather than the 0.5 which it is set at now for all
new text blocks that are inserted.
I've tried what you suggested but with no success, perhaps I'm not
understanding you correctly. Do I do this "with a shape (not a text box)" or
"do this with a textbox".
Click to expand...

With a shape. Ie, insert a rectangle, add text to it, format to taste.
I can see the tick box 'Default for new objects' in the 'Format autoshapes'
dialogue which I suspect is the same as the right-click.
Click to expand...

Either's good.
But there's no box
like this on the 'Line spacing' dialogue.
Click to expand...

Yep. You'd do the default setting after setting line spacing to taste,
applying it and dismissing the Line Spacing dialogue.
 
Thanks Steve
In PPT 2003 on the master slide I inserted a rectange, entered text (it was
already 1,0,0 in line spacing and the text was centred). I adjusted to left
margin and did 'Set Autoshape Default'.
I inserted a text block, entered text (it was 1,0.5,0 in line spacing). I
reset to my preferred 1,0,0 in line spacing and did 'Set AutoShape Default'.
On returning to slides from Master rectangles are still centred (1,0,0 line
spacing) and text blocks are still 1,0.5,0 line spacing.
Is there anywhere else that overides these preferences. I have a few
templates on my PC.
Thanks for you time, regards
Neil
 
Neil,

I'm guessing that you set the line spacing while text was selected, or while
the text insertion cursor was in the text box. That sets spacing for only the
current selected paragraphs but not for the shape as a whole; on the other
hand, AutoShape Defaults only use shape settings.

Give it another try but this time, click in the text, then press ESC to select
the shape CONTAINING the text. Set line spacing as desired, then set defaults.
 
Sorry Steve
This is what's happening:
PowerPoint 2003, in Master view of template ...
- I'm drawing a rectangle shape, entering text, it's coming out already
'line spacing 0 before paragraph' - that's what I want in shapes
- I'm drawing a text box, entering text, it's coming out already 'line
spacing 0.5 before paragraph' - I want it to be 0 in text boxes also
- I'm doing as you suggest and selecting box containing text and selecting
'line spacing 0 before paragraph', then right-clicking and 'Set Autoshape
Defaults'
- When I return from Master view, shapes have the correct line spacing but
any new text block that is placed still has 'line spacing 0.5 before
paragraph'
- As I said I have a number of templates on my PC, some constructed
professionally by others, is the default setting over-ridden somewhere else?
Sorry this is taking so long, thanks for your time, regards
Neil
 
Sorry Steve
Click to expand...

No problem. I think I was just a little slow on the uptake. In any case, the
lightbulb came on, I see exactly what you mean.

I think the problem is fundamentally this:

BUG!

It's odd that you can set the before/after default spacing for shapes other
than text boxes, but the one place you need it most ... no help.

As a workaround, you might want to try our ShapeStyles add-in
http://www.pptools.com/shapestyles/

The free demo lets you create up to five styles, and styles can include line
spacing.
 
Thanks Steve
I agree, the one place you need it most - no help!
As a workaround I can make a text box with the styles, tabs, bullets and
line spacing I require and teach users to always copy and paste this, not use
a new text box - right?
Alternatively I could download your shapestyle add-in, but I'm building a
template for over 100 users so that might prove complex and not cost effective
I guess this bug won't get fixed will it? Is it solved in PowerPoint 2007?
Thanks for your patience
Neil
 
Thanks Steve
I agree, the one place you need it most - no help!
As a workaround I can make a text box with the styles, tabs, bullets and
line spacing I require and teach users to always copy and paste this, not use
a new text box - right?
Click to expand...

Yep. Getting them to DO it is another story. There's a video about that here:


;-)
Alternatively I could download your shapestyle add-in, but I'm building a
template for over 100 users so that might prove complex and not cost effective
Click to expand...

You definitely wouldn't want to have to install the full ShapeStyles on that
many PCs just so the users can use the styles. OTOH, there's a much lower
priced "lite" version that lets users apply but not create/modify styles.

We have another add-in that takes this a lot farther; give me a shout at steve
at-sign pptools dot com if you'd like more info.
I guess this bug won't get fixed will it? Is it solved in PowerPoint 2007?
Click to expand...

I doubt MS would change this in 2003, but good it seems to be working as
it should in 2007.
 
As about 50% of the things I am trying to do on this site don't work, things
you expect to be quite simple and logic like "new post" I am afraid I'll have
to poast something here as it seems to work.

If on a particular slide I go to line spacing options and select "exactly"
and set some parameters why is it that when I do the the same on the next
slide the spacing looks totally different?
 
Bob the builder said:
As about 50% of the things I am trying to do on this site don't work, things
you expect to be quite simple and logic like "new post" I am afraid I'll have
to poast something here as it seems to work.
Click to expand...

That's why a lot of us use programs called newsreaders to read/post these
messages rather than the web interface.

Have a look here for some alternative ways of using this group:

How do I join the PowerPoint newsgroup?
http://www.pptfaq.com/FAQ00024.htm
If on a particular slide I go to line spacing options and select "exactly"
and set some parameters why is it that when I do the the same on the next
slide the spacing looks totally different?
Click to expand...

I'm not sure, but one possibility is this: most paragraph settings, at least in
PPT pre-2007, affect all of the text in a text box. Tabs and that kinda thing.

But each line can have its own line-spacing settings; if you already have lots
of different text at different indent levels, you'd have a heck of a time
applying the same settings to each line of text.

You might instead try View, Master, Slide Master and set the spacing on the body
text placeholder, where you only need to set the spacing for each bullet level
once.
 
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