Building Your Own Presentation Using Checkoff ‘Swoosh’ Template Designs

[Hint: Print this page before going further.]

Two checkoff templates are available.

CheckoffSwooshThe ‘CheckoffSwoosh’ template, which you can download from the link below, is the easiest to use and has the format and style of national checkoff presentations. StateSwooshThe ‘StateSwoosh’ template takes a few extra steps to customize, then has the look and feel of the national program slides but with a distinctive local personality. In addition to downloading the template, to customize the ‘StateSwoosh’ fully, you’ll also need to go to the Photo Gallery at MyBeefCheckoff.com to download your state icon.

But why use a template?

You should ALWAYS start a new presentation by using a template. Many people think that if they open an old presentation, delete old copy and start building a new presentation, that they’ve ‘used a template.’ The fact is using a real template is much easier – and faster – than this. A template is a document type that creates a copy of itself when you open it. So elements you want are reproduced faithfully on every slide using a minimum of memory. And when you change the ‘master,’ you change every slide. The biggest advantage is that you don’t have to deal with as much as 500k in code you no longer need, so your presentations will be smaller and more reliable if you start ‘fresh.’

Which version of Office do you use?

Downloading and using a template in PowerPoint is a little different in Office 2007/2010 than in earlier versions. In addition, while earlier version PowerPoint templates have the distinctive “.pot” file extension, which tells Office how to use the file, Office ’07 templates have a “.potx” file extension. Earlier versions can’t use the “.potx” templates, although the “.pot” templates will work in Office ’07.

Confused? Just figure out which version of Office you use and then follow the directions below for Office 2007/2010 or for Office 2003 or earlier. [Bookmark to start of instructions]

Download and save a template in Office 2007/2010.

  1. Right click on one of these files: “CheckoffSwoosh” or “StateSwoosh”
  2. Select ‘Open’ from the menu to open our file on your computer
  3. When the file opens on your computer, click the ‘Office Button,’ select the ‘Save As’ option.

    Please Note: It is important that in the Save As dialog box, in the ‘Save As Type’ window, it says ‘PowerPoint Template (*.potx).’ If this isn’t selected automatically, manually select it. This tells Office where to file and how to use this template on your system.

  4. Click ‘Save’
  5. Click ‘Close’

To use the ‘CheckoffSwoosh’ template:

  1. In PowerPoint, click the ‘Office Button,’ click ‘New,’ then ‘My Templates,’ select ‘CheckoffSwoosh,’ click ‘OK.’
  2. Start building your new presentation.

To customize and use the ‘StateSwoosh’ template:

  1. In PowerPoint, click ‘New,’ then ‘My Templates,’ select ‘StateSwoosh,’ click ‘OK.’ [Or, if you named it differently, choose the name you assigned].
  2. When the new document opens, click on the ‘View’ tab, go to the ‘Presentations Views’ group, select ‘Slide Master.’
  3. Of the several slide master layouts displayed, you will need to modify the first two slides in the preview pane, referred to as the ‘Master text slide’ and the ‘Master title slide.’ Follow these steps on each ‘master’ slide:
    1. On the bottom left-hand corner of the slide, click on the state icon within the circle – this should highlight the existing icon – and delete this icon.
    2. Click on the ‘Insert’ tab, select ‘Picture,’ then select ‘From File.’ Browse to find your state icon jpeg file, highlight it and click ‘Insert.’ Place state icon in the desired location within the circle.
    3. Select the council name and replace it by typing your council name. [Note: Be sure to select only the council name for this step and not the Web site URL.]
    4. Now select the Web site URL and replace it by typing your Web site URL. [Again note: Be sure to select only the Web site URL for this step and not the council name.]
    5. Repeat Steps 3.1-4 for the second slide in the preview
  4. Click on ‘Close Master View’ in the tool bar, top right
  5. Click the ‘Office Button,’ and select ‘File As’
  6. Make sure ‘Save As Type’ is ‘PowerPoint Template (*.potx)’ and it should save to your Templates folder.
  7. Now you’re ready to build your first custom presentation.

Download and save a template in Office 2003 or earlier versions.

  1. Right click on one of these templates: “CheckoffSwoosh” or “StateSwoosh”
  2. Select ‘Open’ from the menu; this will open our file on your computer
  3. When the file opens on your computer, go to ‘File,’ then select ‘Save As’ option to save this file as a template

Please Note: It is important that in the Save As dialog box, in the ‘Save As Type’ window, it says ‘Design Template (*.pot).’ If this isn’t selected automatically, manually select it. This tells Office where to file and how to use this template on your system.

  1. Click ‘Save’
  2. Click ‘Close’

To use your new ‘Checkoff Swoosh’ template:

  1. In PowerPoint, click ‘File,’ ‘New,’ then ‘My Templates,’ select ‘CheckoffSwoosh,’ click ‘OK’
  2. Start building your new presentation

To customize and use the ‘StateSwoosh’ template:

  1. In PowerPoint, click ‘New,’ then ‘My Templates,’ select ‘StateSwoosh,’ click ‘OK.’ [Or, if you named it differently, choose the name you assigned].
  2. When the new document opens, in the menu bar, go to ‘View,’ ‘Master’ and select ‘Slide Master’
  3. In PowerPoint 2003 and earlier, you will have to modify both slides that appear in the preview bar on the left margin. Follow these steps on each ‘master’ slide:
    1. On the bottom left-hand corner of slide, click on the state icon within the circle – this should highlight the existing icon – then delete this icon.
    2. On the menu bar, click ‘Insert,’ ‘Picture,’ ‘From File’ to browse to find your state icon jpeg file, highlight it and click ‘Insert.’ Place state icon in the desired location within the circle.
    3. Select the council name and replace it by typing your council name. [Note: Be sure to select only the council name for this step and not the Web site URL.]
    4. Now select the Web site URL and replace it by typing your Web site URL. [Again note: Be sure to select only the Web site URL for this step and not the council name.]
    5. Repeat Steps 3.1-4 for the second slide in the preview bar
  4. On the menu bar, click ‘File,’ ‘Save As’
  5. Make sure ‘Save As Type’ is ‘Design Template (*.pot)’ and it should save to your Templates folder.
  6. Now you’re ready to build your first custom presentation.


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