Forum Discussion
Masterslides - no indication on where layouts are used
Hi all,
I'm updating learning content and part of this involves the use of a new template.
However, in trying to clear up the numerous "Masters" from the project, I, as expected, cannot delete a Master if one of the layouts is being used. Unfortunately, while the layout indicates it's being used ("Used by 1 slide"), it does not tell me where in the project it's being used.
Something of "Used by X slides" and there being a properties option for each layout in Masterslide view to identify which slides in a project are using the layout would be so helpful without having to wonder through the whole project to find the one slide that is using the layout.
If there is a way to view such data, I'd be grateful if someone could share how.
Kind regards,
Sam
Hi Judy,
Thank you for putting in the time to provide some help on this, I do appreciate it. Thought I'd provide an update if you were curious, and hopefully this may help others who run into a similar issue:
Problem: An unwanted slide layout was being referenced by a slide. Yet all slides were using correct layouts.
Cause: The Question Draw slide was referencing the unwanted slide layout while all the questions in the bank were using the correct layouts. However, you cannot set a slide layout for this question draw slide like a normal slide and it does not display as a typical slide would.
Solution: Delete the question draw slide. Then delete the unwanted slide layout from the Slide Master. Reinserted the question draw slide.Further details: To identify which slide was using the layout I created a copy of my project file. I deleted a scene and checked the slide master to identify if the layout was still being used. I'd repeat this process until the layout reported "being used by no slides". Once the scene was identified, I'd undo the deletion of the scene and do the same process for the individual slides: Delete one, check the master to see if the layout reported "being used by no slides". This led me to the question draw slide.
Kind regards,
Sam
12 Replies
Unfortunately, there isn't list you can view of which slides use which Masters. You can submit a feature request here: https://www.articulate.com/product-feature-request/
- Submitting a request doesn't guarantee that a feature will be implemented. But the number of people who request a feature might have some impact on the decision-making process.
In the meantime, here's the standard trick to find out which slides are using a given Master: insert a big, bright shape on the Master Layout. That should make it obvious even when viewing all the slides in STORYVIEW which ones use that layout.
Hi Judy,
Thanks for the reply.
I've done the trick of inserting a big bright shape on the master (both parent and child) prior to posting, but the slide supposedly using the layout is still not showing up.
I've been through every single slide I can find and reapplied the correct layouts both at the slide level and individual layers. I've also been through the question bank and done the same to the question slides and all feedback layers. Still showing up as being used by 1 slide 🙄.
Kind regards,
Sam
I am experiencing the same problem right now. I put a huge red X on the master layout slide but it does NOT appear on any of the slides. According to the master layout, there are 16 slides using this one layout but it is definitely not, I've spent the past 2 hours combing through the slides and resetting all the layouts. This file is being built as a template for over 100 users in the company to use as a template and it's frustrating :( I did a search in Copilot before coming here and Copilot claimed there was a Layout field in the Slide properties pane. Wishful thinking I suppose, although I don't imagine that would be too difficult to add. 🤔
JudyNollet, thanks for this tip. I've been in the same situation as SamBarnard-98a4. This will be helpful the next time I face this issue.
SamBarnard-98a4 : How frustrating! If you've reapplied the proper layouts to every slide and layer, that layout you want to delete shouldn't show as being used.
I suggest you contact the support staff (Contact Support for Help with Any Articulate E-Learning Course Development Software). Give them a copy of the file. They'll delete it when the case is solved.
For future reference: Objects on a slide will appear on top of pictures and shapes that are on the Master. So if there's a picture or shape covering the entire slide, that would hide a big, bright shape on the Master.
Hi Judy,
Thank you for putting in the time to provide some help on this, I do appreciate it. Thought I'd provide an update if you were curious, and hopefully this may help others who run into a similar issue:
Problem: An unwanted slide layout was being referenced by a slide. Yet all slides were using correct layouts.
Cause: The Question Draw slide was referencing the unwanted slide layout while all the questions in the bank were using the correct layouts. However, you cannot set a slide layout for this question draw slide like a normal slide and it does not display as a typical slide would.
Solution: Delete the question draw slide. Then delete the unwanted slide layout from the Slide Master. Reinserted the question draw slide.Further details: To identify which slide was using the layout I created a copy of my project file. I deleted a scene and checked the slide master to identify if the layout was still being used. I'd repeat this process until the layout reported "being used by no slides". Once the scene was identified, I'd undo the deletion of the scene and do the same process for the individual slides: Delete one, check the master to see if the layout reported "being used by no slides". This led me to the question draw slide.
Kind regards,
Sam
Great troubleshooting, SamBarnard-98a4! And thanks for sharing the solution, because I'm sure others will encounter this issue. If I come across another discussion like this, I'll be sure to ask if the project has a question draw.
Thanks so much for this, Sam,
I had the exact situation you described, and couldn't see where the errant slide layout was being used. I changed the background colour of it to neon yellow, changed the text boxes to red, bolded them, and added a big green image to it, still nothing!
Once I followed your solution above, it was gone.
In the grand scheme of things, I know it's only minor, and of course, it didn't really matter that it was there, as almost no-one would ever see it, but I knew it was there and that's enough!
Thanks again,
Dermot.
Thanks for the suggestion; no question bank... I discovered after spending another hour or so on this that the layout was being used on layers - while all the other layers were using feedback layouts. It's still telling me that there is one slide using the layout, but I've been through everything with a fine tooth comb and have not found it :(
Assuming you have time and it's necessary, there another option I could suggest, but it could be time intensive depending on where the slide using the layout is located in your project. And this also assumes you have not yet done this.
- Start a new, empty Storyline file. Name it whatever you like, really doesn't matter.
- Open the affected project file.
- Copy the first scene from the affected file into the empty one. (don't worry if any variables/triggers still work, that is not the goal here).
- Check the Slide Master in the new project file for any additional layouts. What you're looking for is the the layout you're trying to remove to show up in the list.
- If the layout you want to remove does not appear in the list, delete the scene and dele any additional slide masters/layouts that scene brought with it.
- Repeat steps (3) and (4) until the layout appears in the layouts in the Slide Master view. Remember to perform step (5) if it does not.
- When the offending layout becomes visible in the Slide Master view, delete the first slide in that scene. Check the layout in Slide Master view to see if it's usage count goes to 0.
- If it does not, repeat (7) until it does. This will tell you which slide the layout has been used on.
- Once identified, you will need to locate the slide in your project file. Change it's layout to a known good layout and check it's layers. I'd even check if it's light-boxing a slide and check that referenced slide as well.
- If still doesn't fix it and it's important this template is removed, rebuild the project in a new Storyline file and make sure you do not copy slides in from another project to avoid multiple Slide Masters being added to the project.
Kind regards,
Sam
Thank you! I will try this, I do need to find it - this is a template that is going to be used by 100+ content developers globally, so I need to make sure it is spot on.
