Saving a Template

A template file (.potx) saves all the customizations you made to slide masters, slide layouts, and themes to reuse in other presentations. You can save any presentation as a template file and use it to form the basis of your next presentation, which is useful for standard company presentations. Although you can store your template anywhere you want, you may find it handy to store it in the Templates folder that PowerPoint and Microsoft Office uses to store its templates. If you store your design templates in the Templates folder, those templates appear as options when you choose the New command on the Office menu, and then click My Templates.

Create a Custom Template

Open any presentation.

If you want, create and customize one or more slide masters or slide layouts.

Format the placeholders on the slide masters and slide layouts.

Place objects or insert pictures on the slide masters and slide layouts.

Add the footer and header information you want to include.

Click the Office button, and then click Save As.

Enter a name for your template.

Click the Save as type list arrow, and then click PowerPoint Template.

Microsoft Office templates are typically stored in the following location:

Windows Vista. C:/Users /your name/AppData/Roaming/Microsoft/Templates

Windows XP. C:/Documents and Settings/your name/Application Data/Microsoft/Templates

Click Save.

Change an Existing Design Template

Click the Office menu, and then click Open.

Click the Files of type list arrow, and then click PowerPoint Template.

If necessary, click the Look in list arrow, and then select the folder containing the template you want to open.

Microsoft Office templates are typically stored in the following location:

Windows Vista. C:/Users/your name/AppData/Roaming/Microsoft/Templates

Windows XP. C:/Documents and Settings/your name/Application Data/Microsoft/Templates

Click the template you want to change.

Click Open.

Make your changes to the template.

Click the Office button, and then click Save As.

Click the Save as type list arrow, and then click PowerPoint Template.

Click Save.

Click Yes to replace the existing file.