Changing defaults in PPT

Question

How do you set the defaults for things like text colour, text shdow line shadow etc. for a particular powerpoint file so that you don't have to keep adjusting the default style?

Answer 1

Ah!  OK

The default setting for these items is per-presentation. For example, insert a text bx or line. Format the object the way you want it to be for all future objects added to the presentation. Then Right-click on the shape's edge and choose Set as Default [Text Box or Shape].

You can make a presentation for shape storage and copy your favorite default shapes to it, so you can then copy them into future presentations and then set them as the default in future presentations. A more risky way to store them is to add them to the **Scrapbook**, but be careful never to delete the Scrapbook contents or you'll lose them forever.

Answer 2

Tat is all really useful ... but it still didn't do what I wanted.

I want to be able to set the default for the Text Box item on the Home menu bar, also the Line defaults such as colour and shadow and line width and line type.

I can't seem to affect these!

Thanks

JohnM

Answer 3

Hi John.

The formatting that is applied when you use the text placeholders is determined by the master slide and its associated slide design masters.

For a quick overview:

**Working with Slide Master Layouts in PowerPoint 2011 for Mac**

and

**Office 2011 for Mac: Using PowerPoint’s Slide Master View**

and

**Create or change slide layouts**

Answer 4

Those notes tell you how to alter the Master and so the defaults of the components of the master, but it does not tell me how to change the default on Text (as chosen from the menu in Home) or for straight lines, or other figures.  I want to eliminate shadow from text, and I want to change the text font that "A text" defaults to in the text menu.

Hope this is clear!!

Thanks

JohnM

Answer 5

Refer this:

http://www.usfca.edu/uploadedFiles/Destinations/Offices_and_Services/ITS/learning/training/pdf_files/powerpoint2011_bas_mac.pdf