Custom Themes

[Heather_Davis]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)

Sorry to be so vague. I guess what I mean is I have several custom background templates (.pot) that are saved in Users/Library/Application Support/Microsoft/Office/User templates/My templates.
When I open PowerPoint and try to use on of my custom templates, I have no problem finding them and using them, the problem I cannot preview them before I select one. I used to be able to preview each background before I selected it.
I can preview the pre-set templates in the "Build-in Themes" area. I see a tab for "Custom Themes" but it is empty.
Is there a way I can preview my background on the slides, before selecting it.
For example: I may not remember what Background1.pot and Background2.pot look like and would like a quick preview before changing the slides to that background.

 

[Tim Parkin]

Try "select slides to insert"

 

[CyberTaz]

I think there is some confusion about the distinction between *templates* as
opposed to *backgrounds* and *themes*

Templates are used for the purpose of creating NEW presentations based on
the specs of the template. They don't get "applied" to existing presentation
files or individual slides. They can include - among other things - custom
Backgrounds and/or have a Theme applied. Once the new file is created,
however, both the background & theme can be changed.

What you want to create, I believe, are *Themes* - the "new & improved"
variation on what were called Design Templates in prior versions. You'll
find a lot of information in PPt Help & on the Mactopia web site:

<http://www.microsoft.com/mac/help.mspx?target=998a9fbe-7608-4485-8abb-10938
1bf32a81033&clr=99-3-0&parentid=42e0fd7e-d3c1-4037-b578-401254beeec31033&ep=
7&CTT=Category&MODE=pv&locale=en-US&usid=b755c39e-f5fb-46a2-8bf5-ea3194607d1
b>

HTH |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[Barbara@AFT]

I have the same issue as Heather. In the past, I believe I have been able to use Design Templates either for new presentations or to change the design of an existing presentation. In the current version it appears we cannot do that. However, I have 30 existing custom templates that are company branded, and I want to be able to change out the design when desired for existing PP presentations.
Is this not possible anymore with the new version of Office for Mac? Is there a way of converting existing template files to "themes" and having them accessible in the "Custom Themes" tab?
Please don't force me back to my PC. It is frustrating that easy functions have been made more complicated or removed altogether on the Mac side.

 

[CyberTaz]

Hi Barbara -

Sorry if you got the wrong impression, but your issue isn't quite the same
as Heather's - she's found that she *can* still use her old Design Templates
(.pot) but no longer has the ability to preview them before applying. They
do not appear in the Elements Gallery -Slide Themes & don't provide a
preview in the Open or Browse dialogs, but that can be addressed.

The short-term solution for you is to use the Browse button in the
Formatting Palette - Document Theme section or the one in Elements Gallery -
Slide Themes section. Navigate to where the templates are stored & select
the one you want to apply to the slides. For the long-term...

In order to actually have them appear in the Elements Gallery as Custom
Themes, however, they have to be saved as Document Themes (.thmx) in the
default My Themes folder. They can also be saved in the same location as the
Built-in themes. In either location they must be saved in .thmx format in
order to appear in the Gallery - IOW you can't just move the .pot files
and/or just change their extension.

Once you apply or Open one of the Design Templates you can use the
Formatting Palette -Document Theme - Save Theme feature to create a Document
Theme based on the Design Template.

HTH |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[Barbara@AFT]

OK, thanks Bob! I'll give it a try and see how it goes.

 

[Keiko.Toulegenova[MSFT]]

In Mac Office 2008 12.01, only theme files are shown in the theme gallery.
As suggested by Cyber, click Browse button and apply your custom template to
the presentation and save the file as theme (.thmx) in
Users/Library/Application Support/Microsoft/Office/User templates/My
templates/My Themes. Please use Save as menu or click Save Theme... button
in Document Theme panel in the Formatting Palette. Please note if you save
your custom theme to other location than My Themes folder, it will not show
up in the theme gallery.

Thank you
Keiko
Mac Office Test
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