Abstract: A presentation program provides a graphical user interface that includes a theme gallery and a theme variation gallery. Users can apply a theme to a slide by selecting a theme thumbnail image. Once selected, a corresponding set of theme variations are indicated in the theme variation gallery using theme variation thumbnail images. Users can apply the desired theme variation by selecting the theme variation thumbnail image. Once selected, the theme variation is applied to the slide. A theme variation family identifier is stored in the slide file that allows subsequent identification of the theme, and allows a presentation program to subsequently identify theme variations for display on the theme variation gallery. A file structure is identified that allows backwards compatibility so that a presentation file of a slide with theme variations can be opened by an earlier version of a presentation program that does not implement theme variations.

Abstract: A presentation program provides a graphical user interface that includes a theme gallery and a theme variation gallery. Users can apply a theme to a slide by selecting a theme thumbnail image. Once selected, a corresponding set of theme variations are indicated in the theme variation gallery using theme variation thumbnail images. Users can apply the desired theme variation by selecting the theme variation thumbnail image. Once selected, the theme variation is applied to the slide. A theme variation family identifier is stored in the slide file that allows subsequent identification of the theme, and allows a presentation program to subsequently identify theme variations for display on the theme variation gallery. A file structure is identified that allows backwards compatibility so that a presentation file of a slide with theme variations can be opened by an earlier version of a presentation program that does not implement theme variations.

Abstract: Technologies are described herein for converting presentations between differing slide dimensions and aspect ratios. During dimensional conversion of a slide, foreground objects placed on the slide by a user are dimensionally scaled and repositioned on the slide based on a change in the overall dimensions of the slide, while background objects on the slide originating from a slide master associated with the slide are replaced with corresponding background objects from a new template associated with the new aspect ratio of the slide. Any content and/or properties of the old background objects on the slide are copied to the corresponding background objects on the dimensionally converted slide.

Abstract: Technologies are described herein for converting presentations between differing slide dimensions and aspect ratios. A scaling factor is calculated from the difference between the original dimensions of the slide and the new dimensions of the converted slide. Next, the content objects on the slide are scaled based on the scaling factor such that the aspect ratio of the content object is maintained. A horizontal position zone and vertical position zone is determined for each content object on the slide, and new coordinates for the position of the content objects are calculated utilizing formulas based on the horizontal position zone and a vertical position zone determined for each.

Abstract: Technologies are described herein for converting presentations between differing slide dimensions and aspect ratios. A scaling factor is calculated from the difference between the original dimensions of the slide and the new dimensions of the converted slide. Next, the content objects on the slide are scaled based on the scaling factor such that the aspect ratio of the content object is maintained. Finally, the content objects are repositioned on the slide in order to maintain a relative distance between the position of the content object and the center of the slide.

Abstract: An animation timeline is analyzed to determine one or more discrete states. Each discrete state includes one or more animation effects. The discrete states represent scenes of a slide in a slide presentation. The concepts of scenes allows user to view a timeline of scenes, open a scene, and direct manipulate objects in the scene to author animations. The animations can include motion path animation effects, which can be directly manipulated utilizing a motion path tweening method. To aid in direct manipulation of a motion path of an object, a ghost version of the object can be shown to communicate to a user the position of the object after a motion path animation effect that includes the motion path is performed. The ghost version may also be used to show a start position when a start point is manipulated.

Abstract: An animation timeline is analyzed to determine one or more discrete states. Each discrete state includes one or more animation effects. The discrete states represent scenes of a slide in a slide presentation. The concepts of scenes allows user to view a timeline of scenes, open a scene, and direct manipulate objects in the scene to author animations. The animations can include motion path animation effects, which can be directly manipulated utilizing a motion path tweening method. To aid in direct manipulation of a motion path of an object, a ghost version of the object can be shown to communicate to a user the position of the object after a motion path animation effect that includes the motion path is performed. The ghost version may also be used to show a start position when a start point is manipulated.

Abstract: An animation timeline is analyzed to determine one or more discrete states. Each discrete state includes one or more animation effects. The discrete states represent scenes of a slide in a slide presentation. The concepts of scenes allows user to view a timeline of scenes, open a scene, and direct manipulate objects in the scene to author animations. The animations can include motion path animation effects, which can be directly manipulated utilizing a motion path tweening method. To aid in direct manipulation of a motion path of an object, a ghost version of the object can be shown to communicate to a user the position of the object after a motion path animation effect that includes the motion path is performed. The ghost version may also be used to show a start position when a start point is manipulated.

Abstract: A presentation program provides an authoring tool allowing users to indicate animation sequences to be applied to an object in a document for purposes of creating or editing animation sequences. The user can directly manipulate the object on an editing pane, and the manipulations are interpreted as applying an animation class type. Different animation effects can be further associated with object for the particular animation class type. The user can select a particular animation effect and define the layout as a key frame that defines the animation sequence to be applied to the object at a given time during playback. The user can further manipulate the object and define subsequent key frames, and upon playback, the presentation program will interpolate the locations of the object between key frames as necessary. The user can further define the time period between key frames that is to be applied during playback.

Abstract: One or more transition images are displayed during a transition period between a display of slides within a presentation. The displayed transition images include images of different slides that are contained within the presentation. The transition images provide the audience with a glimpse of slides that are displayed within the presentation. For example, the transition images may include images from previous and future slides that are contained within the presentation. The transition images may also be cached in order to more efficiently display the transition images during the transition period.