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Adding colors in PowerPoint theme by changing XML file

Anonymous
2017-06-13T07:00:35+00:00

I am using PowerPoint 2011 for Mac and I need to add extra colors in an template. I have tried to add custom colors in a PowerPoint theme using John Korchok's guide: XML Hacking: Custom Colors

but I cannot get it to work. The color scheme won't load..

The guide says that the custom colors should be put between <a:extraClrSchemeLst/> and </a:theme> however, these were not in my original file, so I have tried adding these commands and also just adding the extra colors without these demands.

This is what the original file looks like:

And with the added colors:

Any ideas of what I've done wrong?

Best,

Sara

Microsoft 365 and Office | PowerPoint | For home | Windows

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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John Korchok 232.4K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2017-06-15T13:38:57+00:00

Unless you're a super XML expert, adding an XML file to an Open Office XML structure will usually not work, even if you rename it.

The best idea is to start with the last version of your presentation that opened correctly. Open it with a current version of BBEdit as outlined in XML Hacking: Editing in OS X. Edit the ppt/theme/theme1.xml component, adding your custom colors.

If you can't get it to work, you can also contact me directly for help: production at brandwares dot com. Attach your presentation to the message.

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  1. John Korchok 232.4K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2017-06-13T13:47:18+00:00

    The OP is not asking how to edit a theme color. This s a technique for adding up to 50 custom colors to a theme, something you can't do using the program interface: XML Hacking: Custom Colors

    It's better for users trying these techniques to ask questions on my site, since Microsoft doesn't support any XML hacking methods.

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-06-13T13:56:41+00:00

    Thank you Joanne

    However, this does not let me exceed eight different colors. I need to add more than that.

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-06-13T13:29:33+00:00

    Hi Sara,

    If you are trying to add a custom color to PowerPoint themes, you can try the steps in Create or delete a custom theme color.

    This is easy and simple to operate, you don't need to edit the XML file.

    Regards,

    Joanne

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  4. John Korchok 232.4K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2017-06-13T13:24:53+00:00

    Please change all instances of <a:custClt ... to <a:custClr, then give it another try.

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