Default font

Great question, I was wondering that also. Anyone?

You can edit existing or create new templates which would enable you to set your desired font as default FOR THAT TEMPLATE. For details on how to do this, look at the "help" files or start here http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Keynote/4.0/en/c1kn.html and poke around.

Thanks Sarah.

I called tech support regarding this, it can not be done (apparently it's not a bug and was submitted as a feature request).

I want to be able to click on the text box icon and have the text in the new box a font of my choice without having to highlight it and hunt for the font. In most other programs, pre-setting the font before clicking for new text automatically uses the selected font.

Saving a new template with a new font and using that template when making a new presentation does not work (it opens with Gill Sans always). Also, there is no way to save a template that does not have the two default text boxes removed (I just want a real blank slide to start).

My work-around is to create a blank slide with the two default text boxes deleted, and a new text box formatted with the font I want. Then I duplicate the slide about 30 times and save it as a "starting file". If I want a new text box on a slide, I highlight the existing box and copy-paste it.

This is how I do it for Keynote '08:

Create a new text box, format it to the font you desired.
With the text box highlighted, click Format >> Advanced >> Define Text for All Masters

Now, new text boxes should have your desired default.