OpenOffice Impress Presentation Templates: They're Just a Bit Tricky

First, I'm back from a non-vacation trip, and will be able to blog regularly again.

Secondly, Kent wrote to me recently to ask about Impress templates. As he states, you can make a template, put it in the correct directory, and even restart OpenOffice.org--and the template still won't show up in the wizard when you choose File > New > Presentation.  That approach works fine with spreadsheets and text documents; what's up with presentation templates?

They're just a bit cranky, and/or the logic for getting them to show up in the wizard is less inclusive and aware of its surroundings than we'd like. At any rate, here's how to make Impress templates (or backgrounds, whatever you like to call them) show up when you're creating a new presentation.

Here's how to create templates.  For creating just one template at a time, make the presentation the way you want it, then choose File > Templates > Save.  Select a category and name the template, and click OK. That's all you need to do to create the template, and to make it show up in the new presentation wizard. When you do it this way, you don't pull your hair out and you don't have to force the program to recognize the new template.

(To create a new category, see that blog.)

Now, how about if you've got a directory of templates that you've copied to the templates directory of OpenOffice.org? You don't want to have to open every single one following the instructions above. There's a quicker way.  See that same blog for info on how to point to a directory.

However, when you do it that way, that's when the wizard gets cranky and won't usually recognize the new templates. Here's how to force OpenOffice.org to recognize the templates. Choose File > Templates > Organize,  click and hold down on the Commands button, and choose Update. More info in the referenced blog.

This line of thinking might lead you to ask "OK, how do I import a template into a presentation I've already created?" And that's a very good question, which I'll answer in tomorrow or Wednesday's blog.

Comments

[larry]

"Choose File > Templates > Organize, click and hold down on the Commands button, and choose Update"

Did not work for me in my Linux (Ubuntu), OpenOffice.org 2.0.2 2.0.2-2ubuntu12, Sun May 28, 15:19:48

i copied the files into my home directory/.openoffice.org2/../template
i copied teh file yemplate files into the /usr/lib/.../template and i found file prs-novelty.otp and copied the templates there too. nothing works

[Mike Webster]

Thanks for the tip. Found your place on a Google search and it fixed my problem.

[Craig]

Similar problems with OO 2.02 on kubuntu here. The frustrating thing is that it _was_ working! I was even making tiny updates to the template, saving, and then importing it into the document - and updating everything. It worked like a charm! Then I tried to save as a different name - and stuff started to dissapear from the template selector thing - including the original! The files are still there - just not being seen. AARRRGGHHH!! Tried changing file permissions, owners, location, restarting OO.....nothing.

[mihow]

when you download a template for impress, and it's zipped, how do you get it on impress?

[mihow]

when you download a template for impress, and it's zipped, how do you get it on impress?

[Solveig]

to unzip a presentation, find it in your file manager, right-click on it and choose to unzip or extract it.

One way to add it to the template repository is to then start openoffice, open the unzipped presentation file, choose File > Templates > Save, name it and put it in a Presentations category, and click OK.

[Lorraine]

Is it possible in "Impress" to have one text box open at a time on a slide as the presentation is being done, rather than all 3 text boxes be there when the slide open? Hope this question makes sense? I've been reading all the options and possibilities and can't seem to find how to do it.
Thanks

[Lorraine]

Is it possible in "Impress" to have one text box open at a time on a slide as the presentation is being done, rather than all 3 text boxes be there when the slide open? Hope this question makes sense? I've been reading all the options and possibilities and can't seem to find how to do it.
Thanks

[Lorraine]

Is it possible in "Impress" to have one text box open at a time on a slide as the presentation is being done, rather than all 3 text boxes be there when the slide open? Hope this question makes sense? I've been reading all the options and possibilities and can't seem to find how to do it.
Thanks