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
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 they project has a question draw.
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
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.
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.
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
