The Common Pitfalls

Migrating to a new PowerPoint template can unearth a host of challenges. From inconsistent formatting to the loss of critical data, the process is fraught with potential pitfalls. For companies that rely on training presentations to engage and educate, keeping these materials up-to-date and aligned with the latest corporate branding is crucial. Yet, the task of updating presentations, especially those as extensive as a Life/Health deck with ~956 slides or a Property/Casualty deck with ~1,043 slides, can seem insurmountable.

Why Migrations Fail

The "Paste -> Use destination formatting" feature in PowerPoint promises an easy migration. However, for an effortless transition, your previous templates needed to be perfectly primed: theme colors correctly assigned, and all content meticulously placed in the appropriate placeholders. Unfortunately, this level of preparation is rare, as it adds complexity to the design stage.

The Solution: VBA Scripts and Beyond

Here's where VBA scripts come into play, offering a beacon of hope. These powerful tools can automate the tedious process of aligning old slides to new templates. For instance, a script can automatically place all titles in the Title placeholder, ensuring consistency across your presentations.

This is a tested script, that does that, and you can steal it and use for fun and profit:

Sub SetHighestTextBoxAsTitleCorrected()
Dim sld As Slide
Dim shp As Shape
Dim highestShape As Shape
Dim highestTop As Single

' Loop through each slide in the active presentation
For Each sld In ActivePresentation.Slides
    Set highestShape = Nothing
    highestTop = 9999 ' Initialize with a high value

    ' Initialize a flag to check if the slide can have a title
    Dim canHaveTitle As Boolean
    canHaveTitle = False

    ' Check each placeholder to see if one of them is for a title
    For Each shp In sld.Shapes.Placeholders
        If shp.Type = msoPlaceholder Then
            If shp.PlaceholderFormat.Type = ppPlaceholderTitle Or _
               shp.PlaceholderFormat.Type = ppPlaceholderCenterTitle Then
                canHaveTitle = True
                Exit For
            End If
        End If
    Next shp

    ' Skip the slide if it cannot have a title
    If Not canHaveTitle Then
        MsgBox "Slide " & sld.SlideIndex & " layout does not support a title. Skipping..."
        GoTo NextSlide
    End If

    ' Loop through each shape in the slide to find the highest text box
    For Each shp In sld.Shapes
        If shp.HasTextFrame Then
            If shp.TextFrame.HasText Then
                If shp.Top < highestTop Then
                    Set highestShape = shp
                    highestTop = shp.Top
                End If
            End If
        End If
    Next shp

    ' If a highest text box is found, set its text as the slide title
    If Not highestShape Is Nothing Then
        ' Attempt to set the text of the existing title or create a new title
        On Error Resume Next ' In case there's no title placeholder
        sld.Shapes.Title.TextFrame.TextRange.Text = highestShape.TextFrame.TextRange.Text
        On Error GoTo 0 ' Turn back on regular error handling
    End If
    
NextSlide:
Next sld
End Sub

‍Another script can adjust shapes to match the new template's theme colors, bringing you closer to a seamless migration.

However, even with these scripts, challenges remain. The intricacies of PowerPoint design—such as adding animations, SmartArt, and other creative elements to enhance engagement—require a nuanced touch. Adhering to your company's style guide while updating the aesthetics of your slides to meet current standards is no small feat.

When to Seek Professional Help

Acknowledging the complexity of this task, especially for extensive decks that serve as the backbone of your training programs, seeking professional help becomes a prudent choice. If you're limited in time and want someone to handle the migration for you, we're here to help. Specializing in training presentation redesign, we assist companies like yours to seamlessly transition to new corporate PowerPoint templates. We're equipped to handle decks of any size, ensuring they're not only updated but also enhanced with the latest design trends to captivate your audience.

For those looking for a comprehensive proposal, we offer flat rate prices for both Deck 1 and Deck 2, with clear timelines for completion. Our process includes providing basic examples of the desired changes and incorporating our expertise and creativity to exceed your expectations. With the potential for additional projects, our goal is to ensure your complete satisfaction.

Schedule a call with us to discuss how we can make this process hassle-free for you. With our assistance, updating your training presentations will no longer be a nightmare but a strategic step towards enhancing your educational or consulting services.

Conclusion

Staying current with your corporate presentation templates is essential for maintaining a strong brand image and engaging effectively with your audience. With the right tools and support, updating to a new PowerPoint template can be a smooth and efficient process that enhances your company's professional image.

Don't let the challenge of migrating large sets of slides deter you. With our expertise in training presentation redesign, we're here to ensure your presentations are not only updated but transformed into engaging, impactful tools for your business.

‍

To further explore this topic and enhance your presentation skills, consider reading related blog posts on PrzntPerfect:

• 7 Trends To Watch in Presentation Design in 2024 is your presentation design stuck in the last decade? Here are the seven trends that will define the next wave of professional presentations.
• The Evolution of Branding and Design in Tech Startups: Navigating from Seed to Success the birth of a typical technology startup often follows a special path characterized by several key stages. Let's look at the process from the point of view of design and branding.
• Presentation Design Methodology: Understanding Complex Concepts understaning complex ideas, focusing on two main ways: creating new knowledge or adopting others' ideas. It discusses the importance of presenting complex topics clearly, especially in presentations.