Provide instructions for users of your template

If you create templates for others to use, you can overwrite the text in the default placeholders by adding 'custom placeholder text', which describes or specifies the types of information that you want the users of your template to enter.

The sample template below contains instructional text that prompts the user of the template to enter specific types of information, such as the date, visions, targets, etc.

Notes: It's important to note that there is a difference with how you use a text placeholder versus a text box in Slide Master View. Here's the difference:

• Add a text placeholder from Slide Master View when you want to prompt users of your template to replace the prompt text with text that is pertinent to their own project. Normal behavior of custom prompt text in a text placeholder is that it disappears when you begin typing.
  

• Add a text box from Slide Master View when you want it to contain permanent, un-editable text.

If you add a text box in Normal view, the text is editable by anyone.

To add text that provides instructions on how to use your template, do the following:

1. Click View > Slide Master.

2. In the pane that contains the slide master and layouts, click the layout that you want to add a text placeholder to.

3. Click Slide Master > Insert Placeholder >Text.

   

4. Use the mouse pointer to drag and draw the size of your text placeholder.

5. Highlight the default text in the placeholder and replace it with your own instructional text.

   Note: If an unwanted bullet appears before your instructional text, click the Home tab, and in the Paragraph group, click the down arrow next to Bullets, and then click None.

6. Click Slide Master > Close Master View.

   Important: If you edit a layout in Slide Master View, for example by adding instructional text, or some other layout-altering action, you must reapply the layout to the slides in your presentation when you return to Normal view. This ensures that the slides in your presentation will contain your most recent updates to the layout.