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?

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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. Steve Rindsberg 99,176 Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2014-10-21T17:50:55+00:00

    Either you let them edit the powerpoint file or not.  There's no granular control over individual shapes/features.  

    Yes, it'd be wonderful if there *were* a way to lock certain shapes.  It's a much-needed feature.

    But it's not there.

    The closest you can get is to format the slide master or layout background and choose a picture fill.

    The user won't be able to select and move the picture, and most won't know how to change it to a different fill.

    Security through obscurity is no security, but when it's the best we have, it's what we go with.

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-10-21T20:15:46+00:00

    well, nice try, and you are right, it will defeat a naive user, but not one of those powerpoint maniacs who spend more time creating slides than running their business...

    my point is not to have a lock feature at shape level, but only to enable locking the slide master background (e.g. with a password).

    why is this important? for instance to protect IP while delegating some flexibility to recipients who do not appreciate to be treated like kids with PDF's only...

    a good suggestion for improvement?

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  3. Jim G 134.1K Reputation points MVP
    2014-10-22T15:58:53+00:00

    I'm not affected by this particular security issue, and I don't have an opinion about your suggestion one way or another. But if you want Microsoft to be aware of your suggestion for securing the slide master then use PowerPoint's help menu and choose Send Feedback. That displays the suggestion form, which when submitted is directed to the PowerPoint team at Microsoft.

    Here in the forum it's just us fellow PowerPoint users.

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-10-22T20:21:15+00:00

    thanks, will do so

    G

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