PowerPoint Lock placeholder and other objects to prevent modification
Lock placeholder and objects and its preferences so they cant be modified in any way. Also make option to autofit och manually crop the added items like images to image placeholder.
Lock dont need to be permanent. But if you want to undo the lock you have to rightclick on object and "unlock".
Why do we need this? To create templates that follow certain guidelines and rules that your company, organisation, school etc have. This would prevent the user to accidently move an object on the created presentation or tutorial.
/Stefan
Stefan Bergh
shared this idea
We are happy to announce that this is currently in the works! :) Thanks for voting for this idea. Stay tuned for more details.
110 comments
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Mike Macasero
commented
This is probably the best feature I've been waiting for and I hope the PowerPoint team put this on their development queue.
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Garth Zorn
commented
+100K
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Choy
commented
I completely agree! Keynote has this lock/unlock objects function, and also an object list table! I love powerpoint, so please, implement this feature!
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Anonymous
commented
After many years as a Visio jock, I actually find PowerPoint more congenial to the way I work in creating complex diagrams, but the one thing I absolutely wish PPT had is the ability to lock shapes in place so that I don't accidentally knock them out of alignment when just trying to select them.
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Graf
commented
Include the ability to lock an object without using master pages!
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Wok
commented
ADD A LAYER CONTROL WITH A LOCK. IT'S REALLY A NO-BRAINER. ADOBE CAN DO IT!
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danners430
commented
For further info, take a look at this site (not affiliated in any way) - the functionality is there, so why isn't this part of the user interface?
http://www.brandwares.com/bestpractices/2016/09/xml-hacking-locking-graphics/
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danners430
commented
This is possible, as I just discovered. However, it involves drilling into the XML files which make up the presentation. So once your template is complete, follow these steps:
1. Make a backup!
2. Rename the file from .pptx (or whatever) to .zip. Windows will panic, but continue.
3. Open the zip file. Navigate to the slide master or layout in which you want to lock elements, and edit the XML file for it.
4. Do a search (cntrl + F) for the name of the object you want to lock (Picture X etc.). In the string of text following it, you'll find:
a:picLocks noSelect="0"
Changing the 0 to 1 will make the object unselectable, even when using the Selection Pane. The only way to select it is to do the reverse of what you've just done.
5. Save the XML file back into the .zip file, then close and rename back to .pptx (or whatever it was).
6. Open and test
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Grant Furley
commented
This is very frustrating when you are working on complex images. Why can't Powerpoint support multiple layers and allow you to lock them?
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Andy Untch
commented
This is Microsoft Powerpoint we're talking about here, you can't expect them to take user feedback and actually add a useful feature! They'll just give you a new theme with neon yellow kidprint font. This is finger painting masquerading as "presentation software"
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Paul Naveau
commented
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Anonymous
commented
Not having a simple 'lock all slides' function is crazy. It just stops people deleting a slide or shifting layers out of alignment by mistake. Come on Microsoft - please get it sorted!!
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Anonymous
commented
I agree, if there is a way we can lock an image or certain content in one place (I am not talking about grouping content) that will be great progress and help.
Thanks in advance!
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Thomas W Thompson
commented
Seriously, people. This should be a piece of cake.
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Anonymous
commented
Can't use powerpoint anymore due to this. I need to be able to give clients templates they can't modify.
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SDB
commented
Glad I saw this post before I wasted more hours looking for this feature...
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Anonymous
commented
yes, bring this finally. it is nearly 2019!
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Anonymous
commented
Crying laughing at this. I echo everybody's sentiments. The template/master slide is not very usable!
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Hollie
commented
I am surprised that in the 21st century Powerpoint doesn't offer lock layer in 365 newest version. Why was it dropped? Well, that settles it. Heading back over to Keynote. I am not going to create the background in another application and import. I agree with other commenters that all clutter with lame "design" features and drop lock layers? Clearly, no one who is the practical user is on the PPT development team
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Julie
commented
The only work around I have found is if you create/design the template look to scale (16x9 or 4x3) in Adobe Illustrator or InDesign (save the file as a jpeg). Then in PowerPoint go to the Design tab and click on format background>select picture or text fill>insert picture from file and then once your jpeg file is placed you can now click back to the Home tab and the artwork is unmovable. At this point you can right click to add a slide and your locked design will pop up on any new slide created.
