Akin to database normalization - is it possible to have canonicalreusable slides?

[barman]

I teach a variety of classes and would like to reuse some slides among
classes. Let's say that I have an intro. class with slides I1,
I2, ..., In; and a new advanced class with slides A1, A2, ..., Am.
Maybe slide Ai needs to be the same as Ij. Instead of simply copying
the slide from the intro. to the advanced decks, I would like to point
to the source slide so that any future changes to it are reflected. Is
this possible?

My understanding is that it is not possible, and I end up with a
potential versioning problem. I have to remember when I change a slide
in one presentation that is reused in another one or more
presentations to make the same changes in those presentations. I would
love to overcome this problem! Thanks.

Dilip

 

[Lucy Thomson]

Hi there

One way to overcome this issue is to create one slide show with all of your
slides, create custom shows within that slide show (e.g. intro & advanced)
then have a slide at the front of the show with a link to each of your
custom shows.

If you want to keep the shows separate then you could have something
brightly coloured & eye catching just off the slide that lists all the ppts
that slide is in as a reminder to update the others too. Or in the notes
area. A bit messy but better than relying on memory alone!

Lucy

 

[barman]

Thanks, Lucy. That's interesting - I didn't notice the custom show
feature before. This nice feature could could help but still isn't
very convenient when slides span different files. (I didn't quite
follow linking the shows from the first slide.) I already use your
second suggestion, documenting in the notes section. Thanks!

Dilip

 

[Lucy Thomson]

Hi Dilip

All the slides would have to be in the same file to be in a custom show I'm
afraid. You can create a slide at the beginning of the show with say 3
autoshapes with the text 'Intro', 'Intermediate's & 'Advanced' then
hyperlink each of these autoshapes to the appropriate custom show in the
presentation - then when you give a presentation you just click on the right
autoshape to launch only the slides you want (i.e. the ones in the custom
show). Does that make more sense? Sorry, I've not had my coffee yet...

I'm sure there are 3rd party slide management solutions but I don't have any
experience with them so can't advise you. I wonder if there is an faq? Hang
on.... Ah yes:
Create a library of slides to build presentations from (slide repository)
http://www.pptfaq.com/FAQ00901.htm

I hope that helps

Lucy

--
Lucy Thomson
PowerPoint MVP
MOS Master Instructor
www.aneasiertomorrow.com.au


Thanks, Lucy. That's interesting - I didn't notice the custom show
feature before. This nice feature could could help but still isn't
very convenient when slides span different files. (I didn't quite
follow linking the shows from the first slide.) I already use your
second suggestion, documenting in the notes section. Thanks!

Dilip