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A
Anonymous
December 26, 2016
Question

How to restore Original Default Themes/Slide Masters

  • December 26, 2016
  • 3 replies
  • 1750 views

I messed up my slide masters and themes.

AND I deleted placeholders too.

How can I restore my original slide masters/themes and placeholders?

I went to the control panel and the only option is to UNINSTALL.

I want to "re-install" perhaps?  Or "repair"

But that setting is not there.

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    3 replies

    J
    joriew58033387
    Participant
    December 30, 2020

    Updating how to add back in placeholder objects that were deleted from Master Slides in version 2019. I accidentally deleted a Question Title placeholder and it took me way to long to figure out how to do this even though it's really simple.

     

    For a content master slide: Insert > Placeholder Objects > Select the object that was deleted

    For a Quiz master slide: Quiz > Question Placeholder Objects > Select the object that was deleted

      Paul Wilson CTDP
      Community Expert
      Paul Wilson CTDPCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      December 27, 2016

      If the themes are not being reinstated from the original copies, it may be best to uninstall and reinstall the software from scratch.

      Paul Wilson, CTDP
      Lilybiri
      Lilybiri
      Legend
      December 27, 2016

      Uninstalling/reinstalling is not a solution at all. The original themes are in the Gallery, they are never used for a project, you only can mess up the copies in the Public (or Shared for Mac) documents.

      Existing projects have the used theme (object styles, master slides, skin, Recording Defaults) built in. When the duplicate folder in the Public documents is refreshed, this will not update existing project files. You have to re-apply the theme. The restored master slides will be applied immediately. Biggest problem are the object styles: too many CP-users don't mind to override object styles, and overridden styles will not be reset when you re-apply a new, fresh default theme. 

      Paul Wilson CTDP
      Community Expert
      Paul Wilson CTDPCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      December 27, 2016

      Uninstalling and reinstalling is the solution if the theme masters are not the only thing damaged. Don't waste your valuable time trying to fix a messed up installation.

      Lilybiri, I'm certain your solution is correct, however when the user is having trouble following your directions, and perhaps has further damaged files beyond what you're reading here, the shortest path to resolution may be the better one in this case.

      I myself have uninstalled Captivate to fix it when it begins to act erratically. I suspect the OP doesn't have time to waste trying to get items to reinstate themselves, or hours troubleshooting settings and so on.

      Paul Wilson, CTDP
      Lilybiri
      Lilybiri
      Legend
      December 26, 2016

      Maybe you could have a look at:

      What's in a Theme - a Template? - Captivate blog

      Master slides are part of the theme, not something separate.

      The quickest way to restore all the default themes:

      Go into Public Documents\Adobe\eLearning Assets\Layouts

      I don't know if you have only one version of Captivate installed? If that is the case you'll see only one folder in Layouts. Delete that folder, while Captivate is closed. Content is both Themes for the language you installed (for me that is en_US) and the Theme Color Palettes. Do not be afraid: those are duplicate folders from the originals in the Gallery. When you restart Captivate a fresh duplicate folder will be created in Public Documents.

      If you want to restore the theme in an existing project another step is needed after having refreshed the duplicate Layouts folder.

      You have to re-apply the theme (will have the same name as the previous one which was messed up) with the big button Themes. Normally this will restore all components of the theme: theme colors palette, object styles, master slides, skin, Recording defaults. Maybe you'll need to use 'Reset Master slide' for those slides that still do not look OK. However if you had overridden object styles (they have a + sign before the Style name in the Properties panel), they will keep the settings. That is one of the reasons why it is recommended never to override object styles.

      A
      Anonymous
      December 26, 2016

      I only have one version of Captivate installed 9.0.2.437

      I will follow your steps.

      Thanks!

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