---
title: "Slides, scenes and layouts"
description: "Sort your course into chapters and slides, start from ready-made layouts, use slide masters and set how each slide plays."
canonical_url: "https://docs.ols.yonn.online/en/build/slides-and-scenes"
---
# Slides, scenes and layouts

> Sort your course into chapters and slides, start from ready-made layouts, use slide masters and set how each slide plays.

A course is made of **scenes** and **slides**. A scene is a chapter, for example "Introduction" or "Final test". Every scene holds slides, and a slide is one screen your learners see. This page explains:

- **Slide list and story view**: where you add, sort and connect slides.
- **Slide settings**: how long a slide plays and when the course moves on.
- **Layouts and slide masters**: a logo, header or background once for many slides.
- **Slide size and background**.

## Set up a chapter in 4 steps

<procedure>

### Create a scene

Click **New scene** on the **Slides** tab (or the folder icon above the slide list). You get a new chapter with one slide. Rename it with the menu next to the scene name, for example to "Chapter 1".

### Add slides

Click **New slide**. The slide appears after the one you have open. For a slide that is already arranged, click the arrow on **Layout** on the **Home** tab and pick, for example, **Title and content**.

### Sort them

Drag slides in the slide list to change the order. You can drop a slide into another scene, too.

### Check the flow

Click **Story view** to see all scenes side by side, with arrows showing where each slide leads.

</procedure>

![Right-click menu of a slide in the slide list, with Rename, Duplicate, New slide below, Set as start slide, Hide in menu, Move to scene and Delete](https://docs.ols.yonn.online/screenshots/en/slides-and-scenes-slide-menu.png)

## Slide list

<table>
<thead>
  <tr>
    <th>
      Element
    </th>
    
    <th>
      What it does
    </th>
  </tr>
</thead>

<tbody>
  <tr>
    <td>
      Scene heading
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Click the arrow to collapse or expand the scene. The menu next to it renames, moves or deletes the scene.
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      Slide
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Click to open. Drag to move. A flag badge marks the start slide; further badges show layers and triggers.
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      <strong>
        Rename
      </strong>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Gives the slide a name. Shortcut <key-combo keys="F2">
        
      </key-combo>
      
      .
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      <strong>
        Duplicate
      </strong>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Copies the slide with everything on it. Shortcut <key-combo keys="Ctrl+D">
        
      </key-combo>
      
      .
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      <strong>
        New slide below
      </strong>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Inserts an empty slide right after this one.
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      <strong>
        Set as start slide
      </strong>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      The course starts here instead of on the first slide.
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      <strong>
        Hide in menu
      </strong>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Learners won't see this slide in the player's slide menu. Useful for feedback or branch slides.
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      <strong>
        Move to scene
      </strong>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Moves the slide into another chapter.
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      <strong>
        Delete
      </strong>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Removes the slide. Shortcut <key-combo keys="Del">
        
      </key-combo>
      
      . You can undo it.
    </td>
  </tr>
</tbody>
</table>

## Slides tab

<table>
<thead>
  <tr>
    <th>
      Element
    </th>
    
    <th>
      What it does
    </th>
  </tr>
</thead>

<tbody>
  <tr>
    <td>
      <strong>
        New slide
      </strong>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Inserts an empty slide after the current one.
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      <strong>
        Duplicate
      </strong>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Copies the current slide.
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      <strong>
        Import presentation
      </strong>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Brings in slides from a PowerPoint or Impress file (<code>
        .pptx
      </code>
      
      , <code>
        .odp
      </code>
      
      ). They are inserted after the current slide.
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      <strong>
        Delete
      </strong>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Deletes the current slide.
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      <strong>
        New scene
      </strong>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Creates a new chapter with one slide.
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      <strong>
        Story view
      </strong>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      All scenes and branches at a glance.
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      <strong>
        Question
      </strong>
      
      , <strong>
        Question banks
      </strong>
      
      , <strong>
        Import
      </strong>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Quiz tools, see <a href="https://docs.ols.yonn.online/en/interact/questions-and-results">
        Questions and results
      </a>
      
      .
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      <strong>
        Advance
      </strong>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      <strong>
        By learners
      </strong>
      
      : the course waits until learners click Next. <strong>
        Automatically
      </strong>
      
      : it moves on when the slide's time is over.
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      <strong>
        When revisited
      </strong>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      <strong>
        Reset
      </strong>
      
       starts the slide fresh when learners come back. <strong>
        Resume
      </strong>
      
       continues where they left.
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      <strong>
        Hide in menu
      </strong>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Same as in the right-click menu.
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      <strong>
        Start slide
      </strong>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Makes the current slide the start slide.
    </td>
  </tr>
</tbody>
</table>

## Story view

The story view shows each scene as a column of cards, with arrows between them. You see at once where a button leads and whether a slide is never reached.

![Story view of the sample course with seven scenes as columns and arrows between the slides](https://docs.ols.yonn.online/screenshots/en/slides-and-scenes-story-view.png)

<table>
<thead>
  <tr>
    <th>
      Element
    </th>
    
    <th>
      What it does
    </th>
  </tr>
</thead>

<tbody>
  <tr>
    <td>
      <strong>
        Next arrows
      </strong>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Shows or hides the arrows for the normal "next slide" order. The other arrows are jumps made by triggers.
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      Card size slider
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Makes the slide cards smaller or larger.
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      Zoom buttons
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Zoom in and out. Hold <key-combo keys="Ctrl">
        
      </key-combo>
      
       and turn the mouse wheel to zoom, drag the background to move around.
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      <strong>
        Fit all
      </strong>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Shows the whole course.
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      <strong>
        Reset arrangement
      </strong>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Puts all cards back in order by scene.
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      Card
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Drag it to arrange the view as you like. Double-click to open the slide.
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      Close (X)
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Back to the normal slide view.
    </td>
  </tr>
</tbody>
</table>

## Slide settings

Click an empty spot next to the slide so nothing is selected. The **Format** tab on the right now shows the slide's own settings.

<table>
<thead>
  <tr>
    <th>
      Setting
    </th>
    
    <th>
      What it does
    </th>
  </tr>
</thead>

<tbody>
  <tr>
    <td>
      <strong>
        Title
      </strong>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      The slide's name in the slide list and in the player menu.
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      <strong>
        Background
      </strong>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      None, a color, a gradient or a picture for this slide.
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      <strong>
        Hide in menu
      </strong>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Keeps the slide out of the player's menu.
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      <strong>
        Duration
      </strong>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      How long the slide plays, in seconds. Quick picks: 5 s, 10 s, 30 s.
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      <strong>
        Next
      </strong>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      <strong>
        Automatically
      </strong>
      
       or <strong>
        By learners
      </strong>
      
      , as described above.
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      <strong>
        Revisited
      </strong>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      <strong>
        Resume
      </strong>
      
       or <strong>
        Reset
      </strong>
      
      , as described above.
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      <strong>
        Audio
      </strong>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      A narration or background sound for this slide.
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      <strong>
        Transition
      </strong>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      How the slide appears: <strong>
        None
      </strong>
      
      , <strong>
        Fade
      </strong>
      
      , <strong>
        Dissolve
      </strong>
      
      , <strong>
        Push
      </strong>
      
      , <strong>
        Cover
      </strong>
      
       or <strong>
        Zoom
      </strong>
      
      , with duration (<strong>
        Fast
      </strong>
      
      , <strong>
        Normal
      </strong>
      
      , <strong>
        Slow
      </strong>
      
      ).
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      <strong>
        Player on this slide
      </strong>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Shows or hides player buttons for this slide only. Example: hide <strong>
        Back / Next
      </strong>
      
       until a task is solved.
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      <strong>
        Master and layout
      </strong>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Which slide master and layout this slide uses (see below).
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      <strong>
        Notes
      </strong>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Speaker notes or hints. The player can show them to learners as a transcript.
    </td>
  </tr>
</tbody>
</table>

## Layouts and slide masters

A **layout** is a ready-made arrangement of placeholders. The built-in ones are **Blank**, **Title slide**, **Title and content**, **Two columns**, **Image and text** and **Section**.

A **slide master** goes further: you design a logo, a header band, a background or a slide number once, and it appears behind every slide that uses this master. Each master can have several layouts.

<procedure>

### Open the master view

Click <ui-path path="Design > Edit master">



</ui-path>

. The slide list now shows your masters and their layouts. If there is none yet, click **Create new master**.

### Design the master

Insert a logo, a header or a slide number from the ribbon, as on a normal slide. For the slide number, write `%Project.SlideNumber%` into a text box.

### Add layouts

Click **New layout** for different kinds of slides, for example "Content" and "Section". Each layout can have its own background and objects.

### Go back and apply

Click **Close master**. Select a slide and choose a layout under <ui-path path="Design > Layout">



</ui-path>

. Or in the master view use **Apply to current slide** or **Apply to all content slides**.

</procedure>

<hint-box kind="tip" title="Feedback master">

The **Feedback master** sets the look of the feedback pop-ups of questions. Name its texts "Feedback title" and "Feedback text" and its button "Feedback button", so the Studio fills in the right content.

</hint-box>

## Slide size and background

<table>
<thead>
  <tr>
    <th>
      Element on the Design tab
    </th>
    
    <th>
      What it does
    </th>
  </tr>
</thead>

<tbody>
  <tr>
    <td>
      <strong>
        Size
      </strong>
      
       (for example <strong>
        Size 16:9
      </strong>
      
      )
    </td>
    
    <td>
      <strong>
        Widescreen 16:9
      </strong>
      
      , <strong>
        Widescreen 16:10
      </strong>
      
      , <strong>
        Standard 4:3
      </strong>
      
      , <strong>
        Square 1:1
      </strong>
      
      , <strong>
        Portrait 9:16
      </strong>
      
       or <strong>
        Custom
      </strong>
      
       with width and height. <strong>
        Scale content proportionally
      </strong>
      
       resizes what is already on your slides.
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      <strong>
        Background
      </strong>
      
       buttons
    </td>
    
    <td>
      No background, a color, a gradient or an image (with <strong>
        Fill
      </strong>
      
       or fit).
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      <strong>
        Apply to all
      </strong>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Uses this background on every slide.
    </td>
  </tr>
</tbody>
</table>

A slide without its own background shows the background of its master layout.

## If something doesn't work

<table>
<thead>
  <tr>
    <th>
      Problem
    </th>
    
    <th>
      What to do
    </th>
  </tr>
</thead>

<tbody>
  <tr>
    <td>
      The course starts on the wrong slide
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Right-click the slide you want and choose <strong>
        Set as start slide
      </strong>
      
      .
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      The course jumps to the next slide on its own
    </td>
    
    <td>
      The slide is set to <strong>
        Next
      </strong>
      
      : <strong>
        Automatically
      </strong>
      
      . Switch to <strong>
        By learners
      </strong>
      
      .
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      A slide is missing in the player menu
    </td>
    
    <td>
      It is set to <strong>
        Hide in menu
      </strong>
      
      . Right-click it and switch that off.
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      My logo from the master doesn't show
    </td>
    
    <td>
      The slide uses another master, or <strong>
        No master
      </strong>
      
      . Check <strong>
        Master and layout
      </strong>
      
       in the slide's Format tab.
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      I can't move the logo on a slide
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Master objects can only be changed in the master view. Open <ui-path path="Design > Edit master">
        
      </ui-path>
      
      .
    </td>
  </tr>
</tbody>
</table>


## Sitemap

See the full [sitemap](https://docs.ols.yonn.online/sitemap.md) for all pages.