Reapply Layout in PowerPoint 2007?

[Anemone]

I'm on another segment of the PowerPoint 2007 upgrade learning curve. Hoping
there's an easy fix for my problem.

In 2003, there was a very simple 1-click way to retrofit an existing page to
the master. But in 2007 it will apply the master but not all of its
attributes. For example, new pages are fine -- but on imported pages the
title or content box might be in the right position but the type size or
style won't revert to the master's. I can choose the layout until I'm blue in
the face, but it won't reapply the actual properties of the master. Is there
a different way to accomplish that or do I need to manually use the format
painter on every preexisting page?

And by the way, what happened to the magic of the eyedropper tool? It used
to pick up all of an object's attributes and apply them as often as needed
(until the pick up style was changed); now its use seems to be limited to
reapplying a single paragraph's style. It's better than repeated use of the
brush, but it's nowhere near as wonderful as it used to be. Waaaah!

 

[Lucy Thomson]

Hi Anemone

Does the Reset button work for you after applying a layout? Sometimes you
have to click it a couple of times to get it to work.

I haven't noticed problems with the eyedropper myself, but then I don't use
it all that often - can you tell me how to repro the issue you're seeing?
You may want to look at the shape styles add-in:
http://www.pptools.com/shapestyles/index.html. I believe the demo allows you
to set 6 shape styles, so you may not have to buy it

Lucy

 

[Anemone]

Silly me ... can you tell I'm self-taught on 2007? I never saw the reset
button.

The eyedropper tools in pre-2007 would allow you to pick up any set of
properties -- shape attributes including interior margins or just a paragraph
or even the font, color and size of a word, depending on where you clicked it
-- and apply it repeatedly. If you selected the shape object, *all* of the
paragraph levels in a given box could be picked up in one click and applied
indefinitely. If you selected only the text, just the text attributes would
be picked up and applied. The "apply style" eyedropper would work until you
used the "pick up style" eyedropper for something else. Those tools were
wonderful for undoing the damage clients did to documents before sending them
to me for "improvement." I loved that tool, and the format paintbrush just
ain't the same. Too bad, but life goes on.

 

[Lucy Thomson]

Hi Anemone

Ahhh, you mean you can't find the eye-dropper rather than it doesn't work as
well? You need to add it to the QAT - I have it up there along with all the
alignment buttons
Right-click the Quick Access Toolbar (QAT) -> customise QAT -> 'commands not
in ribbon' from 'choose commands from' drop down -> select pick up style
button -> add -> repeat for apply style button. No idea why they decided not
to put such a handy thing on the ribbon...

You may find some of the stuff here useful:
PowerPoint 2007 equivalents of older version commands
http://www.pptfaq.com/FAQ00845.htm

Lucy

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