Several PowerPoint questions (formatting and templates)

[Robert Leithe]

Hi,

I'll just go right ahead:

1) When I insert a graph, organizational chart or Excel
sheet/graph, (how) can I default this object to a certain
font (eg Verdana)?

2) When inserting a textbox (not using the Auto Format
layouts) the bullets are colored black, where as I want
them orange as default. How? The View|Master Slide command
only affects the Auto Format layouts...

3) Can I lock the user to a customized palette? And remove
all other color choices?

4) Can this customized palette also be made available in
Excel (Insert|Object... from PowerPoint)?

I'm editing a presentation template and these questions
has been brought forward. However I haven't been able to
figure them out.

Sincerely
Robert Leithe

 

[Robert Leithe]

Thanks Echo S!

-----Original Message-----


Well, you just go right ahead, then, Robert.


Let's see. Org Charts in PPT 2002 and 2003 take on the

default font from your PPT presentation. So, create a
textbox, format it to Verdana, then go to Format/Font and
check Default for New Objects. Org Chart will then use
this font.

For graphs, you have to create a graph using the font

specified and then save it as a user-defined chart. (In MS
Graph, you'd use Chart/Chart Type/Custom Types and
click "set as default.") However, this will not transfer
with your template, as it's a machine-specific setting.

You'd basically have to put a sample chart slide in your

template, have people open the template as opposed to just
applying it it a presentation, and then copy the chart
slide and change the data as necessary. Wish I had a
better answer for you there; it's one of PPT's major
shortcomings, as far as I'm concerned.

As for Excel graphs/worksheets, I'm not sure. I believe

you'd want to set the default font in an Excel template to
set Verdana there.

Yes, View/Master is for the automatic placeholders. For a

separate textbox, format one the way you want (with an
orange bullet), the right-click the textbox and
select "set autoshape defaults."

Nope. But you might want to check into Steve and Brian's

utility, PowerPoint Palette.
http://www.rdpslides.com/pptools/FAQ00015.htm

You'd have to recreate the palette in an Excel worksheet

and then distribute that as well. For instance, I have a
couple of different ones I keep around for importing color
schemes when creating graphs in Excel. I'm pretty sure
Excel only imports color schemes from other open Excel
workbooks.

I'm editing a presentation template and these questions
has been brought forward. However I haven't been able to
figure them out.

These are issues we all struggle with when creating templates; you're not alone.

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP]
http://www.echosvoice.com
presenter, PPT Live '04
Oct 10-13, San Diego http://www.powerpointlive.com
.

 

[Guest]

I agree that this is a major shortcoming in Powerpoint. I believe that
MSGraph is picking up its default font from the font used in the Powerpoint
template title area. For my purposes, I'd like to have MSGraph pick up its
default font from the font used in the Powerpoint template object area. How
do we get Microsoft to make this change, or to give users the option? It
can't be a difficult programming change to make.

Hi,

I'll just go right ahead:

Well, you just go right ahead, then, Robert.

1) When I insert a graph, organizational chart or Excel
sheet/graph, (how) can I default this object to a certain
font (eg Verdana)?

Let's see. Org Charts in PPT 2002 and 2003 take on the default font from your PPT presentation. So, create a textbox, format it to Verdana, then go to Format/Font and check Default for New Objects. Org Chart will then use this font.

For graphs, you have to create a graph using the font specified and then save it as a user-defined chart. (In MS Graph, you'd use Chart/Chart Type/Custom Types and click "set as default.") However, this will not transfer with your template, as it's a machine-specific setting.

You'd basically have to put a sample chart slide in your template, have people open the template as opposed to just applying it it a presentation, and then copy the chart slide and change the data as necessary. Wish I had a better answer for you there; it's one of PPT's major shortcomings, as far as I'm concerned.

As for Excel graphs/worksheets, I'm not sure. I believe you'd want to set the default font in an Excel template to set Verdana there.

2) When inserting a textbox (not using the Auto Format
layouts) the bullets are colored black, where as I want
them orange as default. How? The View|Master Slide command
only affects the Auto Format layouts...

Yes, View/Master is for the automatic placeholders. For a separate textbox, format one the way you want (with an orange bullet), the right-click the textbox and select "set autoshape defaults."

3) Can I lock the user to a customized palette? And remove
all other color choices?

Nope. But you might want to check into Steve and Brian's utility, PowerPoint Palette. http://www.rdpslides.com/pptools/FAQ00015.htm

4) Can this customized palette also be made available in
Excel (Insert|Object... from PowerPoint)?

You'd have to recreate the palette in an Excel worksheet and then distribute that as well. For instance, I have a couple of different ones I keep around for importing color schemes when creating graphs in Excel. I'm pretty sure Excel only imports color schemes from other open Excel workbooks.

I'm editing a presentation template and these questions
has been brought forward. However I haven't been able to
figure them out.

These are issues we all struggle with when creating templates; you're not alone.

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP]
http://www.echosvoice.com
presenter, PPT Live '04
Oct 10-13, San Diego http://www.powerpointlive.com

 

[Echo S]

I agree that this is a major shortcoming in Powerpoint. I believe that
MSGraph is picking up its default font from the font used in the Powerpoint
template title area. For my purposes, I'd like to have MSGraph pick up its
default font from the font used in the Powerpoint template object area. How
do we get Microsoft to make this change, or to give users the option? It
can't be a difficult programming change to make.

John Langhans (MS) posts these instructions fairly frequently:

If you (or anyone else reading this message) think that it's important that
PowerPoint provide this kind of functionality natively (not requiring
add-ins, additional tools or ActiveX controls), don't forget to send your
feedback (in YOUR OWN WORDS, please) to Microsoft by either:

A) If you are using Microsoft's web-based, online newsreader for Office
communities (http://www.microsoft.com/office/community/en-us/default.mspx),
click on the "New" drop-down menu and choose "Suggestion for Microsoft"
from directly within the newsreader web page.

OR,

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