Creating a Presentation Using a Design Template
If you don't need the assistance of the AutoContent Wizard to create sample slides and content for you, you can start with a design template and then add your own slides and content.
To create a presentation with a design template when you first start PowerPoint, follow these steps:
Select the Design Template option in the PowerPoint dialog box that displays when you first start PowerPoint. The New Presentation dialog box appears with the Design Templates tab selected, illustrated in Figure 2.18.
Figure 2.18. PowerPoint includes several design templates from which to choose.
Tip
To access this dialog box from within PowerPoint, select File, New. You can then select the Design Templates tab to access the various templates.
Select the template you want to use; the Preview box lets you see what it looks like.
Caution
Not all design templates are already installed. If PowerPoint displays a warning that you need to install a template, be sure to have the program CD in your CD-ROM drive, and then follow the installation instructions in the warning.
Click OK to apply the selected template.
The New Slide dialog box appears, shown in Figure 2.19.
Figure 2.19. The New Slide dialog box lets you choose the layout for your slide.
Select the AutoLayout that you want to use in your first slide and then click OK. Each layout option includes a preview box that shows you approximately what the layout will look like onscreen.
Click OK.
Tip
You can also create your own design templates and save them for future use. To save a presentation as a design template, choose Design Template in the Save As Type field in the Save As dialog box.