Abstract: A custom layout may be created that includes an arbitrary number of placeholders. Instead of having to use one of the predefined slide layouts available from a presentation program, a user may create their own set of custom layouts that may be used in zero or more presentations and applied to zero or more slides. A custom layout may include title placeholders, header/footer placeholders, as well as body placeholders. The custom layouts may contain both typed and un-typed placeholders. The placeholders on the custom layout may be positioned and formatted as desired by the user. A user may also create and include customized backgrounds on the custom layout. The custom layout may be edited in the same manner as a slide. The user may utilize the interface to copy, move, delete, and edit the custom layouts.

Abstract: Techniques for navigating to a point in a presented list displayed on a display. One representative technique includes sorting a message list presented on the display based on at least one sorting criterion designated via a graphical user interface. A graphical selector control having a plurality of graphically selectable access points is presented, based on the designated sorting criterion. When a graphically selectable access point is selected, the presentation of the message list on the display device is adjusted to a position corresponding to the graphically selected access point.

Abstract: A user interface within a presentation program manages hierarchical relationships. A master view includes a thumbnail view that shows the hierarchical relationship between slide masters and layouts used within the presentation. In one example, the thumbnail view is a series of thumbnail tree-controls where each slide master is the top node of the tree control and the layouts are the children of the slide master. A user may copy, move, delete, and edit slide masters, layouts, and slides using the user interface. A contextual representation of slide master and layout commands may be shown in the same overall user interface space.

Abstract: An N-level inheritance model is provided to develop presentations. A hierarchical inheritance model includes master slides, custom layout slides, and slides including the material for the presentation. The inheritance model allows presentation authors to both define an overall look for the presentation as well as the ability to customize slide layouts individually. An author may create custom layouts that may be applied to a single slide as well as a set of slides. Properties that are defined at any level within the hierarchy may be inherited by the lower levels within the hierarchy. Each level within the presentation may also make an exception to an inherited property.

Abstract: A new design is applied to a slide. A search is made within layouts associated with the new design for an equivalent layout to the slide's layout. When an equivalent layout is found, the placeholders are mapped from the slide to a new slide base on the equivalent layout. An equivalent layout is determined based on a comparison between the slide's layout and the new design. The comparison is based on the name of the layouts, the number of placeholders, and whether the placeholders are of an equivalent type.

Abstract: A new slide layout having an arbitrary number of placeholders is applied to an existing slide. Placeholders in an original slide are mapped to placeholders within a new slide layout configuration. The slide layouts may be predefined slide layouts that include a predetermined number of placeholders or customized slide layouts that include an arbitrary number of placeholders. The placeholders in the original slide are mapped to a new slide layout that may have fewer, the same, or more placeholders than the original slide layout. The placeholders may be matched based on many different criteria, including, the function of the placeholder; the name of the placeholder; the type of the placeholder; and the position ID of the placeholder.