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Theme xml files in potx templates

Anonymous
2012-04-20T16:22:21+00:00

Hi,

Has anyone ever dissected an xml theme file from inside a .potx PowerPoint 2007 template?

i.e. change the extension to .zip, navigate throught the folders ppt > theme, then edit one of the theme1.xml files?

Does anyone know anywhere where I can get info on these files?  Failing that, does anyone know any of the following:

  1. In my template, in ppt > theme, there are three theme files (theme1.xml, theme2.xml and theme3.xml).  What are these three files used for?
  2. In the theme files in my template, the xml can be broken down into the following (heavily trunkated by me for clarity) groups:

<a:themeElements>

 <a:clrScheme name="COMPANY PowerPoint Colour Theme">

 DEFINITION OF COLOURS FOR ACCENTS 1-6, ETC. </a:clrScheme>

 <a:fontScheme name="COMPANY PowerPoint Font Theme">

  <a:majorFont>...

  <a:minorFont>...

 </a:fontScheme>

 <a:fmtScheme name="Office">

  <a:fillStyleLst>

   <a:solidFill>...

   <a:gradFill rotWithShape="1">...

   <a:gradFill rotWithShape="1">...

  </a:fillStyleLst>

  <a:lnStyleLst>...

  <a:effectStyleLst>

   <a:effectStyle>...   X3

  </a:effectStyleLst>

  <a:bgFillStyleLst>   <a:solidFill>...

   <a:gradFill rotWithShape="1">...

   <a:gradFill rotWithShape="1">...

  </a:bgFillStyleLst>

 </a:fmtScheme>

</a:themeElements>

<a:objectDefaults> <a:spDef>...

 <a:lnDef>...

 <a:txDef>...

</a:objectDefaults>

<a:extraClrSchemeLst> <a:extraClrScheme>

  <a:clrScheme name="COMPANY PowerPoint Colour Theme">

   DEFINITION OF COLOURS FOR ACCENTS 1-6, ETC  </a:clrScheme>

  <a:clrMap bg1="lt1" tx1="dk1" bg2="lt2" tx2="dk2" accent1="accent1" accent2="accent2"...

 </a:extraClrScheme>

</a:extraClrSchemeLst>

</a:theme>

I'd like to know what each section does, especially the extra color scheme (extraClrSchemeLst) at the bottom.

  1. In theme elements, there are fillStyleLst defnitions.... are these what appears in the Format Shape > Fill > Gradient Fill > Preset Colors?  If so what's the syntax to have my own sensible colours appear?
  2. What are the rules about editing these files.  Clearly if I get it wrong PowerPoint gets rather upset... is that because certain elements are required, or because I may have produced some bad xml?

I did look at the suggestions that MS Answers threw up as I was asking this, and I did see these links: http://www.echosvoice.com/2007/addcolorstotheme.htm

http://www.echosvoice.com/PPTFiles/addColorSchemes2.pdf

but that only covers colours, and it doesn't really explain what the extra colour scheme is for or how it can be used....

Many thanks in advance for any advice or info you can supply.

Cheers

Rich

Microsoft 365 and Office | PowerPoint | For home | Windows

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Anonymous
2012-04-24T10:08:58+00:00

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

While looking round Echo's site, I've just discovered this page:  http://www.echosvoice.com/2007/customcolors1.htm

I can't believe there IS actually a way to add custom colours to the Office 2007 colour pickers!  I've read on so many sites that it just isn't possible and that we all have to use the Themes and live with it.

To answer some of the questions in my original post, this link here:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc964302(v=office.12).aspx#CreatingThemesUsingOpenXML_Walkthroughtheme1xmlfile

 gives a good walk through of the theme1.xml file.

Also, the theme1.xml, theme2.xml, theme3.xml, etc.... that's one theme file per slide master.  If you now only have one slidemaster in the template/presentation then you can happily delete the others, but if you have say 2 slidemasters and you delete theme2.xml powerpoint will not be able to open the file.

I think this can be marked as answered now.  I'll ask some other questions in a fresh post.

Cheers

Rich

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  1. Anonymous
    2017-07-03T13:16:52+00:00

    As Jamie says while you do get one theme.xml for each Master you can also get them referenced by the Notes Master or Handout Master if they are different. 

    If it works don't mess with XML unless you are sure you understand it! It won't be forgiving.

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-07-03T12:27:11+00:00

    I know this is an old post but for the benefit of new viewers, take care when manually deleting theme.xml files. I did this recently and realised the theme2.xml file, which I  suspected was erroneous, was referenced by the Notes Master rels file. Even after changing the relationship in that file, the potx wouldn't load so I gave up trying to work out why deleting the theme2.xml file broke the file.

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  3. Anonymous
    2012-04-22T16:49:42+00:00

    Done.  Thanks Steve, good point.

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  4. Steve Rindsberg 99,161 Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2012-04-21T17:12:58+00:00

    Hi Rich,

    I'd post the same question in the PPT section.  Echo'll probably see it there and should know the answer.  John's also done a lot with XML and might be able to help.

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