Why does a countdown timer freeze when placed in SlideMaster? - vba

Question

I used the following code to have a Countdown which would span over 10 slides whilst in slideshow mode. I placed the shapes in a SlideMaster Layout.
Set QS = ActivePresentation.Designs(2).SlideMaster.CustomLayouts(2)
Dim Seconds As Integer
Seconds = 30
QS.Shapes("Counter").TextFrame.TextRange = Seconds
For i = 1 To 30
Dim WAIT As Double
WAIT = Timer
While Timer < WAIT + 1
DoEvents
Wend
Seconds = Seconds - 1
QS.Shapes("Counter").TextFrame.TextRange = Seconds
Next i
Dim time As Date
Dim count As Integer
time = Now()
count = 30
time = DateAdd("s", count, time)
Do Until time < Now
DoEvents
With ActivePresentation.Designs(2).SlideMaster.CustomLayouts(2).Shapes("Counter").TextFrame.TextRange
.Text = Format((time - Now()), "hh:mm:ss")
End With
Loop
Both the codes work properly if they are not placed in SlideMaster Layout.
Are there any better means to have a countdown that spans across multiple slides?

Answer 1

There is a better way to show a countdown by using the Format (Now(), "hh:mm:ss")
To create a countdown we need two values:
The current time
The future time when the countdown expires
Dim time As Date
Dim count As Integer
time = Now() 'the current time
count = 30
time = DateAdd("s", count, time) 'the future time after 30 seconds
The above gives us the two values.
Now, we can make a loop to change the text inside the Counter shape.
Do Until time < Now() 'We change text until the present time passes the set "future time"
DoEvents
For i = 1 To 10 'Assuming you want the countdown in slides 1 To 10
With ActivePresentation.Slides(i).Shapes("countdown").TextFrame.TextRange
.Text = Format((time - Now()), "hh:mm:ss")
End With
Next i
Loop
You can use this to have a countdown across multiples slides.

Answer 2

I mocked up similar code along the lines of:
Set Shape = Application.ActivePresentation.Designs(1).SlideMaster.CustomLayouts(1).Shapes("Testing")
Shape.TextFrame.TextRange.Text = "Did it work"
As you found, the shape's text did not change while presenting the slideshow, although it did update the underlying slide master once you left the slideshow. However, I found that by including the following after this code, it worked as expected:
Shape.Visible = msoTrue