Custom Template Previews are blank

[Christine]

I'm designing custom templates for a client that wants not only a custom
blank template (done that, works fine), but also other custom templates to be
available on the "Slide Design" tab (I was told this was called "available
for use" on the PC in question).

I made custom .pot templates, and had the client's IT guy put them in the
correct templates folder on the client's machine (I don't, unfortunately,
have access to that machine - only the IT guy). Apparently what is happening
is that they show up in the "Slide Design" tab, (again, called "available for
use"? - it's called "slide design" on my mac 2004 version) but all the
templates show up as blank rectangles with the template names (pixilated and
truncated, from what I was told) - there is no view of what the template
looks like (this is key and required by the client).

I am on a mac, using both version 2004 and 2008 (switching back and forth
depending on what I need to test). The client is on a PC. I'm wondering if
this is a mac/pc issue? Or if this is the way the pc powerpoint displays
custom templates? (without a preview, and only the name of the file,
truncated, on the white background)

Any thoughts or help? I just don't know how to solve this problem and get
them an icon instead of it just being a blank preview with the name. Thanks
for any help in advance.

 

[Christine]

Just found out that the client's version is 2003.

 

[Lucy Thomson]

Hi Christine

On the Summary tab in the Properties dialogue of the .pot is a 'save preview
picture' tick box - tick this and the previews should appear in the slide
design pane. I don't have a Mac so not sure exactly where you'll find it (or
even if it exists)...

Lucy