How do you lock elements in a Powerpoint page so they cant be moved?

Anonymous
2011-10-14T00:56:46+00:00

How do you lock elements in a Powerpoint page so they cant be moved?

Can you lock and unlock a given element on a page?

Microsoft 365 and Office | PowerPoint | For home | Windows

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Steve Rindsberg 99,176 Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
2011-10-14T15:22:13+00:00

There are lots of good reasons why you might want to lock a shape in place, and some of us have been begging for this feature for years.  I've even written this into a couple of my add-ins but haven't ever done 'em for Mac.

One workaround is to use a new master and put the "locked" content on the master.  Users won't be able to select it/move it while editing slides based on that master.

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  1. Jim G 134.1K Reputation points MVP
    2011-10-14T03:40:55+00:00

    PowerPoint doesn't have the ability to lock an element on a page so that it can't be moved. I'm not quite sure why you would ever want to do this. If you don't animate an object, it won't move during the slide show.

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  2. Anonymous
    2011-10-14T11:03:07+00:00

    For the purpose of not having it accidentally move on the page layout.

    Like if it is a large background image that other objects or copy are on top of.

    Is there such a thing as lockable layers perhaps?

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  3. Anonymous
    2011-10-14T16:03:30+00:00

    Ok that sounds like a good idea.

    I can try the master approach.

    Yes there really should be a lock feature.

    It exists in Keynote...

    (Dont get me started)

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  4. Jim G 134.1K Reputation points MVP
    2011-10-14T17:47:54+00:00

    Microsoft's product managers rely heavily on the messages they receive from people who want certain features. This link takes you to a web form. The submissions are read by the product managers, so please don't be afraid to let them know you'd like to have the locking feature:

    http://www.microsoft.com/mac/product-feedback

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