Patent ID: 8560952

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for configuring a custom layout for a presentation of slides, comprising: opening and displaying a custom layout that includes placeholders within a graphical user interface that comprises: a master view that includes a canvas view that displays a layout view of a selected layout within a first portion of the master view; a thumbnail view that displays a relationship between slide masters and their associated layouts within a second portion of the master view, wherein the thumbnail view displays thumbnails for each slide master and beneath the display of each slide master, the associated layouts for the slide master, wherein selection of one of the slide masters or one of the associated layouts displays a preview of the selection within the canvas view; a command view in a third portion of the master view that displays layout tools including displayed options for inserting a new layout, deleting a layout, and renaming a layout, placeholder tools that include options for adding and displaying one or more placeholders within the canvas view and backgrounds that include different backgrounds to associate with the custom layout, wherein the placeholders are selected from placeholders comprising a typed placeholder; an un-typed placeholder; a table placeholder; a chart placeholder; a diagram placeholder; a media clip placeholder; and a clip art placeholder; configuring properties associated with the custom layout; placing the custom layout into a hierarchy for the presentation; wherein the custom layout is placed at a same level within the hierarchy as a second layout within the presentation of slides; wherein the second layout is associated with a slide master within the hierarchy; wherein the hierarchy presentation for the slides includes the slide master, a second slide master, at least two layouts; and at least two slides; wherein the second slide master is at a same hierarchical level as the slide master within the presentation and wherein the second slide master is configured to be associated with one or more custom layouts for the presentation, wherein the one or more custom layouts inherits from the second slide master; associating the custom layout with the slide master that resides at a higher level in the hierarchy as compared to the hierarchical level of the custom layout; wherein the slide master includes defined properties for each placeholder included on the slide master; associating the custom layout with one or more slides in the presentation of the slides that is not already associated with the second layout; wherein the slides reside at a lower level in the hierarchy as compared to the hierarchical level of the custom layout and the second layout and wherein the custom layout may be included in other presentations; and storing the custom layout such that it may be accessed by the presentations.