Master and default layouts

  • Thread starter Thread starter George Perchette
  • Start date Start date
G

George Perchette

Hi

Is it possible to modify the default layouts?

We have clear guidelines how the corporate design should
be adapted to PowerPoint presentations. We have modified
the Master so it corresponds with these guidelines.

Problem: When using the default layouts provided by PPT
for new foils (right margin), PPT interprets the master with
the chosen default layout.

Question: Is there any way to modify these default
layouts? F. e. to set other standards for the top margin of
columns, for the shape and colors of diagramms a.s.o?

Using PPT 2003.

Thanks for any help.

Best Regards, George
 
Is it possible to modify the default layouts?

Yes, but only in the most general sense.

For example, if you do View, Master, Slide Master and change the size/position
of the body text placeholder then add slides of various layouts, you'll see
that the layouts key off the body text placeholder size/position. For example,
add a new graph slide and the graph will be sized to match the body text
placeholder. This might help with the top margin problem you mention.

That's about it, though. You can't modify the individual layouts.

Custom-written PowerPoint add-ins can help quite a bit though. While you can't
alter the layout, you can alter the shapes on individual slides, so it's
possible to write an addin that adds a new slide of a particular type then
moves the various bits around and reformats them to match your corporate
standards.
 
Dear Steve

Thanks for your very helpfull explanations.

Conclusion: An add-in could help ... but there
is no way to prevent users from creating their
new foils by using the standard tools provided by PPT
(... which produce «interpreted» and not fixed
layouts like an add-in).

Is this assessment correct?

Best Regards and many thanks, George
 
George:
Conclusion: An add-in could help ... but there
is no way to prevent users from creating their
new foils by using the standard tools provided by PPT
(... which produce «interpreted» and not fixed
layouts like an add-in).

Is this assessment correct?
Click to expand...

Exactly.

But another step or two might be possible, for example, if somebody else has a
final look at the presentation before it's "published", they might have an
addin that applies the desired formatting to all slides or at least warns them
of slides that the users have tinkered with. The presentation could then be
kicked back to the users for repairs. Of course, that may be totally
impractical depending on your workflow.
 
Dear Steve

Many thanks for your help and the
full information on this subject!

Best Regards, George
 
[CRITICAL UPDATE - Anyone using Office 2003 should install the Critical
Update or Service Pack 1 for Office 2003 as soon as possible. From
PowerPoint, choose "Help -> Check for Updates".]

[TOP ISSUE - Are you having difficulty opening presentations in PowerPoint
that you just created (you can save, but not open)? -
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=329820]

Hello,

PowerPoint does not have the capability of creating/adding custom
placeholders to the slide master and/or creating/adding customer slide
layouts which would take advantage of such custom placeholders.

If you (or anyone else reading this message) feel strongly that some kind
feature for creating custom placeholders and/or slide layouts should be a
built-in feature in PowerPoint, don't forget to send your feedback (in YOUR
OWN WORDS, please) to Microsoft by either:

PREFERRED METHOD:

A) If you are using Microsoft's web-based, online newsreader for Office
communities
(http://www.microsoft.com/office/community/en-us/default.mspx?dg=microsoft.p
ublic.powerpoint), check to see whether or not the suggestion has been
submitted before (Show -> Suggestions for Microsoft) and, if so, add your
vote to the suggestion submission. If the suggestion has not been submitted
before, click on the "New" drop-down menu and choose "Suggestion for
Microsoft" from directly within the newsreader web page.

OR, NEXT BEST METHOD:

B) If you are using another newsreader (such as Microsoft Outlook Express),
submit your suggestion using your web browser at the following address:
http://register.microsoft.com/mswish/suggestion.asp

It's VERY important that, for EACH wish, you describe in detail, WHY it is
important TO YOU that your product suggestion be implemented. A good wish
submssion includes WHAT scenario, work-flow, or end-result is blocked by
not having a specific feature, HOW MUCH time and effort ($$$) is spent
working around a specific limitation of the current product, etc. Remember
that Microsoft receives THOUSANDS of product suggestions every day and we
read each one but, in any given product development cycle, there are ONLY
sufficient resources to address the ones that are MOST IMPORTANT to our
customers so take the extra time to state your case as CLEARLY and
COMPLETELY as possible so that we can FEEL YOUR PAIN.

IMPORTANT: Each submission should be a single suggestion (not a list of
suggestions).

John Langhans
Microsoft Corporation
Supportability Program Manager
Microsoft Office PowerPoint for Windows
Microsoft Office Picture Manager for Windows

For FAQ's, highlights and top issues, visit the Microsoft PowerPoint
support center at: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=ppt
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base at:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=kbhowto

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
 
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