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Microsoft PowerPoint 2004

Working with Templates

Using PowerPoint templates for your presentations can be very convenient and efficient. PowerPoint provides a number of choices for working with templates. You can choose from the wide array of design templates available. Once you choose an existing template, you can customize it to meet your needs or completely change templates. You also have the option of building your own custom template.

Return to TopChanging to a Different Template

If you have created a presentation and decide that your original template no longer meets your needs, you can change templates at any time. This can be especially helpful if you are ready to present and you discover the current template does not display well with the equipment you are using or in the room in which you are presenting.

  1. From the Format menu, select Slide Design...
    OR
    From the Standard toolbar, click SLIDE DESIGNSlide Design button
    The Choose a Slide Design dialog box appears.

  2. To apply the template to the entire presentation or selected slides,
    1. Select the desired template
    2. Select Apply to all slides or Apply to the current slide
    3. Click APPLY
      The selected design is applied to your presentation.

Return to TopCustomizing Templates

Customizing a template is similar to customizing a master slide. When you customize a master slide, any later changes are implemented on every slide. When you customize a template, you can format text, images, background, placeholders, and color to make your presentation meet your creative needs. For more information, refer to the instructions for customizing master slides in Customizing a Master Slide.

Return to TopBuilding a Custom Template

If the PowerPoint template designs do not appeal to you, or if you have special design considerations for your presentation, you may want to build your own template. When building your own template, you have the freedom to customize your choice of fonts, colors, background, placeholders, and images. 

  1. From the File menu, select New Presentation...
    OR
    From the Standard toolbar, click NEW PRESENTATIONNew Presentation button

  2. In the Formatting Palette, in the Change Slides section, click the SLIDE DESIGN iconSlide Design icon

  3. Select the desired design

  4. From the View menu, select Master » Slide Master
    NOTE: For more information, refer to Working with the Slide Master.

  5. Customize the color, background, images, and fonts
    NOTE: For more information, refer to Customizing Slide Elements.

  6. From the File menu, select Save As...
    The Save As dialog box appears.

  7. In the Save As text box, type the desired filename

  8. From the Format pull-down list, select Design Template
    NOTE: In the Save As text box, the extension is now changed to .pot.

  9. Click SAVE
    The template is saved.
    NOTE: The template can be selected from the Slide Design task pane when creating a new presentation.

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