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Can slide master updates synchronise across existing presentations?

Anonymous
2021-06-18T03:46:38+00:00

I have a master slide template (blank.potx) saved in documents/custom office templates within Windows 10. Using the 365 desktop app.

I would like to know if it is possible to have changes to blank.potx reflect across all presentations created on that template.

Scenario:

Blank.potx is open.

Pres1 is open. Pres1 was created from the blank.potx template.

Pres2 is open. Pres2 was created from the blank.potx template.

  1. Will updates to blank.potx master slides reflect on Pres1 and Pres2?
  2. Will updates to the master slide made from Pres1 be reflected in blank.potx and Pres2?

Tests:

  1. Close Pres1 and Pres 2. Change a blank.potx slide in use within Pres1 and Pres2. Open Pres1, Pres2, see if the changes are reflected.
  2. The above, but leave them all open.
  3. Close blank.potx and Pres 2. Change the master slide in Pres1 in use in Pres2. Open Pres2, blank.potx, and see if changes are reflected.
  4. The above, but leave them all open.

Results:

  1. No. It seems each presentation takes a snapshot of blank.potx but then saves its own master slide instance. There is no syncronisation.
  • Workaround: You can copy and paste slides from an existing presentation based on blank.potx and paste into a new presentation created with up to date changes in blank.potx. When the slides are pasted in they will obey the new master pack, PROVIDED the slide layouts match.
  • Changes to slide layout names will require those new layouts be applied to the pasted slides (right click > layouts > choose the new layout).
  • Workaround: You can copy and paste slides from an updated master slide layout into blank.potx and have those changes reflect in all new blank.potx presentations.

Suggestion:

Master pack changes made in blank.potx should apply to all those based on it. Users should be given an option to break this sync to preserve any changes they made to stand alone packs initially created with blank.potx.

Why:
Update and manage multiple presentations from a centralised location.

Microsoft 365 and Office | PowerPoint | For business | Windows

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  1. John Korchok 233.1K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2021-06-18T16:27:35+00:00

    As you discovered, PowerPoint presentations do not retain any links to the template. When the file is created, the slide master is copied from the template and remains independent.

    You already have the ability to copy and paste slides to a new template, or to use the Reuse Slides feature to accomplish your goal, though not automatically.

    Users already have huge problems understanding the existing hierarchy of inheritance from Theme>Slide Master>Slide Layouts>Slides. Adding another layer would not improve this.

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  2. Anonymous
    2021-06-18T11:55:03+00:00

    Hi Dash1122:

    Thank you for your sharing. We believe that your experience will definitely help more users with the same problem.

    If you have any other problems with the Office application, please feel free to contact us and we will do our best to help you.

    Tin

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