Link individual slides in the library to slide decks containing that slide within the library. When that one slide is updated, so are all of the slide decks within the library!
When you have a disclaimer slide used across numerous Library items, it can take a lot of time updating that same disclaimer slide in all of its different locations in the Library when your disclaimer changes.
Using Linked Slides, you can update your disclaimer slide at the single source slide and have it updated in all other linked Library content automatically. This will significantly reduce your time spent keeping your Library up to date and give you confidence that your teams are using correct information in their presentations.
How to update linked slides
This feature is helpful for administrators who often have to update a slide numerous times because it features multiple decks in their Library. For example, disclaimer slides, about us slides, central marketing slides, current AUM slides, latest results slides, internal contact slides at the end of brand books etc.
How to create linked library content
When creating a brand new presentation with a linked element, you need to make sure that you have created or located the commonly-used slide (for example, your company disclaimer) and added it to the Library as a single slide. This slide is your single source slide.
Creating a linked deck using that single source slide:
- Build your presentation in PowerPoint and insert your single disclaimer slide from the Library (the single source slide)
- Using your administrator capability, insert your full presentation into the Library as a Linked Deck - beta
Once inserted in the library, you will see a chain link symbol overlay in the bottom corner of the preview when hovering your mouse over the library item. This chain link means the presentation is linked to your single disclaimer slide. There is also information on which slide is linked in that preview.
If in the future your disclaimer changes, update the single source slide and replace it in the Library. This automatically updates that slide in all Linked Decks in the Library.
How to link existing library content
If you have existing presentations that you now wish to link to a single source slide, you need to reinsert your presentation, containing the new single source slide, into the Library as a Linked Deck.
To link existing Library content:
- Create or locate your 'single source slide' (for example, your company's disclaimer) as a single slide in the Library
- Insert the existing deck into your presentation containing the disclaimer slide
- Delete out the existing disclaimer slide
- Re-add the disclaimer slide to your presentation using the single source slide
- Select all slides and insert them into the library as Linked Deck - beta
Hover your mouse over the library item. You will now see the chain link symbol overlay to inform you the presentation now contains a link to your single source slide. When you want to update your disclaimer in the future, all you need to do is update your single source slide, and you will see this reflected in your linked decks.
How to know it has successfully linked
The deck containing the linked slide will now preview in the library with a chain link symbol overlay for both users and administrators. Either user type can navigate the preview pane, and for each linked library slide, it will add on where that linked item is stored within the library.
How to keep track of all the source slides and know where they are to update them?
We recommend using the tagging function to add a tag such as source slide. This means you can keep the source slides in the most relevant place within the library but still easily locate them all very quickly to check they're up to date.
What if it goes wrong, or I break a link?
The most common issue is when the single source slide is deleted out of the library. If the linked deck has linked slides that had their link broken (original was deleted, replaced by a deck or is inaccessible), then:
- The preview will show a broken link icon.
- When using the slides, the user will see a popup informing the presence of these broken links. The slides will still insert using the content used when initially creating the library item with an overlay message informing the version may be outdated.
This means that users and administrators can see if there are any broken links. The users can still access the original content. They can apply their judgement on whether they (A) need to request their administrators fix the content or (B) use/adapt the content for their immediate need.
Example of a broken preview
When a user inserts a deck containing a broken linked slide
Known limitations
The feature is currently in beta mode and has some limits.
Creating a linked deck
- Only individual library slides (i.e. published individually) will be considered as linked in a linked deck.
- If the same library slide is present multiple times in a linked deck, UpSlide will consider linked only the first occurrence of the library slide.
- This behavior is consistent with Slide Check for a standard deck with multiple occurrences of the same library slide.
Updating a single source slide
- The system is currently unable to list the linked decks a linked single source slide is linked to.
- If you replace a linked slide with a deck, the linked decks it was linked to will no longer be linked.
- If you delete the linked slide, the linked decks it was linked to will no longer be linked.
- If the linked slide is inaccessible, the linked decks it was linked to will no longer be linked for the time the slide is inaccessible.
Preview linked deck
- If the linked deck has linked slides that had their link broken (original was deleted, replaced by a deck or is inaccessible), then the preview will show a broken link icon.
Inserting linked deck
- If the linked deck has linked slides that had their link broken (original was deleted, replaced by a deck or is inaccessible), then when inserting it, the user will see a popup informing the presence of these broken links.
- Suppose the linked deck has linked slides that had their link broken (original was deleted, replaced by a deck or inaccessible). In that case, each broken linked slide will default to the version at the moment of the publication, with an overlay message informing the version may be outdated.
Selective linked deck
- You cannot de-link some slides from a deck. E.g. If you have in your deck you're adding other slides previously used from the library (e.g. layout or inspiration slides that you adapted), these will also be inserted as linked slides.