Setting the Default Fill Color for All New Drawn Objects (143022)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft PowerPoint for Windows 95
  • Microsoft PowerPoint for Windows 4.0
  • Microsoft PowerPoint for Windows 4.0a
  • Microsoft PowerPoint for Windows 4.0c
This article was previously published under Q143022

SUMMARY

This article demonstrates how to create a new default object fill for all new drawing objects (based on the default template). Once you create the new default object fill, it will be applied to all new drawing objects on all new blank presentations that you create.

MORE INFORMATION

To create a new default object fill for all new drawing objects, follow these steps:

Microsoft PowerPoint for Windows 95, version 7.0

  1. Open a new blank presentation.
  2. Use a drawing tool, such as the Rectangle tool, Ellipse tool, or an AutoShape to create a drawing object.
  3. On the Format menu, click Colors And Lines. In the Colors And Lines dialog box, select the colors, properties, and line styles you want for the new default fill.
  4. Select the "Default For New Objects" check box in the lower-left corner and click OK.
  5. On the View menu, click Slide Sorter.
  6. Select the slide and press the delete key.
  7. Save this presentation as your default presentation template. On the File menu, click Save As. In the File Name box, type Blank Presentation.pot.
  8. In the Save As Type box, choose Presentation Templates (*.pot). Make sure that you are in the Msoffice\Templates folder. When prompted if you want to replace the existing presentation, click OK.

Microsoft PowerPoint for Windows, versions 4.0, 4.0a, 4.0c

This method will also work for PowerPoint for Windows 95.
  1. Open a new blank presentation.
  2. Use a drawing tool, such as the Rectangle tool, Ellipse tool, or an AutoShape to create a drawing object.
  3. On the Format menu, click Colors And Lines. In the Colors And Lines dialog box, select the colors, properties, and line styles you want for the new default fill, and then click OK.
  4. With the drawing object still selected, on the Format menu, click Pick Up Object Style.
  5. Click outside any object on the presentation to deselect the drawing object. (Make sure that nothing else is selected.)
  6. On the Format menu, click Apply To Object Defaults.
  7. On the View menu, click Slide Sorter.
  8. Select the slide and press the delete key.
  9. Save this presentation as your default presentation template. On the File menu, click Save As. In the File Name box, type default.ppt. Make sure that you are in the \Powerpnt folder. When asked if you want to replace the existing presentation, click OK.
The new default object fill will now be applied to all new blank presentations that you create.

If you want to change the default object fill for one presentation only, just follow steps 2-6 above.

You can use this method for changing many default object attribute settings, such as line style, line color, text style (when using the text tool), whether or not shadows are applied, and so on.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:8/17/2005
Keywords:kbhowto kbusage KB143022
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