Shadows on lines and objects

[sunshine]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: Intel

I do not want to have shadows on lines and line objects (squares, etc) that I have to manually eliminate. Is there some way I can create a default so that shadows do not appear on these objects? I cannot, for the life of me, imagine why anyone thought it was a good idea to put shadows on these objects as a default.

 

[CyberTaz]

Yeah, that's a pain & I don't know of any way to make a permanent change to
the default. However, you can change the default in any given file.

When you create the first shape of any given type, format it as you wish
including the removal of the shadow. Then Control/Right-Click it & select
Set [object type] Default. Any additional shapes of that type will be
formatted the same way... But you can still format each individually.

As for a "workaround" you might create a template with the shape defaults
set to your liking & create new files based on the template.

You might also take a moment to use PPT's Help> Send Feedback feature to
make your point to MS. I doubt it will result in a change in 2008 but
perhaps they'll get the message in time for the next release. IMHO, they
went overboard like a kid with a new toy. Even if they want to make it the
default you should be able to disable/change it.

HTH |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

As for a "workaround" you might create a template with the shape defaults
set to your liking & create new files based on the template.

And by extension, you could open any templates you regularly use, change the
shape defaults and resave them.

This explains how you can create your own blank template, the one PPT uses if you
just start a new presentation. It's only updated through PPT 2004; with luck,
the same general idea will work in 2008.

Create your own default presentation
http://www.pptfaq.com/FAQ01010.htm

If anybody will supply the step-by-step for 2008, I'll be happy to add it to the
page.

 

[sunshine]

I am afraid it will take more than luck to open the design templates with PP 2008 in the same way described for PP 2004 - there is no template file that I can find under Office 2008. I am currently using a saved template in the Project Gallery, but it is kind of a pain to have to open it up every time I open PP - it would be nice if it came up as the default template. Unfortunately, there are other good features that used to exist, but have now been deleted - patterned objects being my main complaint.

 

[Jim Gordon MVP]

Hi Sunshine (I love that name!),

The suggested location for templates is different in 2004 and 2008
versions of PowerPoint.

====
2004 (and earlier):
....Applications:Microsoft Office 2004:Templates:My Templates

In 2004, when saved in this location, the templates are available to all
users of the computer. If you trash Office, you also trash your templates.

====

2008:
....User:Library:Application Support:Microsoft:Office:User Templates:My
Templates

In 2008, when saved in this location, the templates are available only
to the user who is currently logged in via system log-in. Templates
saved by one user are not available to other users. This is a big
improvement for privacy and security. If you trash Office, your
templates are no longer in an Application directory and are safe from
unintentional deletion. You can share templates by putting them into a
shared location on the hard drive.

When saved in the default location, your templates will be available in
Project Gallery (File > Project Gallery) in the My Templates section of
the folder list.

-Jim

 

[CyberTaz]

Hi Sunshine;

Unfortunately I don't have the solution you would prefer as far as
making a custom template the default for new presentations. I've yet to find
a way to do that in PPT 2008. However, the concept of "Design Templates" has
essentially been replaced by what are referred to as Document Themes, so
this may be a bit more convenient.

Design the Masters with whatever fonts, colors, graphics, etc. then Save As
a Document Theme. You can do this from the Save As command or from the Save
Theme button in the Document Theme section of the Formatting Palette. When
you create a new presentation the Document Theme will be available from the
Elements Gallery Slide Themes button in the Custom Themes group. Simply
click it to apply the theme [i.e., "design"] to the presentation.

Not knowing what all you want to include in your "template" I can't
guarantee that this will be the ultimate result you want [1] but if it works
for you the Elements Gallery will be a more convenient approach than the
Project Gallery. Also ‹ if it does give you what you need ‹ you may be able
to come up with an Apple Script to automate the procedure of creating a new
file & applying the theme in one step.

[1] For example, you can't include slides in a Document Theme. However, if
you're looking for a replacement for Design Templates as opposed to
Presentation Templates that shouldn't be a problem

HTH |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac