PPT2000: Simulating Use of More Than One Template in PowerPoint

PowerPoint is restricted to applying only one template per presentation. However, there are a few methods of simulating multiple templates within one presentation.

You can use any of the following methods for simulating the use of multiple templates in a PowerPoint presentation.

Method 1: Turn Off Background Objects

This method prevents the graphic portions of the presentation template from appearing on the slide. The background color remains, but you can change it at the same time you turn off the background graphics.

1. On the Format Menu, click Background.
2. Click to select the "Omit Background Graphics from Master" check box.
3. Click Apply.

Method 2: Save the Slide as a Metafile

To save the slide as a metafile, follow these steps:

1. On the File menu, click New.
2. Click the Presentation Designs tab.
3. Select the template you want and click OK. The slide layout is unimportant.
4. On the File menu, click Save As. In the Save File As Type list, click Windows Metafile. Type a name for the file, and then click OK.
5. Click No when the following message appears:
   

         Do you want to export every slide in the presentation?
         To export only the current slide, click No.
   						

6. Close the new presentation without saving changes, and then return to the working presentation.
7. In Slide view, select the slide to which the second template will apply.
8. On the Insert menu, point to Picture, and then click From File. Select the metafile you just created, and click Insert.
9. While the picture is still selected, point to Order on the Draw menu, and then click Send To Back. The slide now appears to have a different template applied.

NOTE: Text formatting and the color scheme follow the original template.

Method 3: Branching to Another Presentation

If you want to include a series of slides with a different template or slide orientation than your original presentation, you can branch to another presentation.

1. In Slide view, display the slide from which you want to branch. On the Insert menu, click Object. There are two options: Create New or Create From File.
   
   Create New:
   1. Click Create New. In the Object Type list, click PowerPoint Presentation.
   2. Click to select the Display As Icon check box and click OK. A new presentation opens.
   3. Choose a template and slide orientation and create the presentation.
   4. When finished, click "Exit and Return To Presentation" on the File menu.
   Create From File:
   
   
   1. To insert a presentation that already exists, click Create From File.
   2. Type the file name of the presentation to which you want to branch, or click Browse to locate it.
   3. Click to select the Display As Icon check box, and click OK. A PowerPoint presentation icon appears on your slide.

When you play your presentation, click the Presentation icon to branch to the second presentation.

For an invisible branch from the first presentation to the second presentation, click Play Settings on the Tools menu. Click the Hide While Not Playing check box and select the appropriate settings in the Start Play option box. When you play your presentation, the second presentation starts automatically, according to the settings you selected.

After the branched presentation is finished, you can return to the slide in the original presentation from which you branched and continue.

NOTE: If you are using PowerPoint Viewer to display a presentation that contains a PowerPoint presentation with a branch, you cannot branch to that presentation unless PowerPoint for Windows is also installed on the system.