PowerPoint Notes

Graphic Elements for PowerPoint

Question: Can you suggest any good software to create a stunning graphic element for my PowerPoint. I would like to try using 3D shapes instead of PowerPoint shapes.

Answer: Look at PowerPoint’s 3D engine — it is surprisingly powerful although not in the class of a 3D program. Another option is to download the public beta of Office 2007 — the graphic engine is stunning.

Alternatively, do what professional presentation designers do all the time — use Photoshop as a companion to PowerPoint!

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Output Notes from PowerPoint

I’m looking for a way to output my PowerPoint notes alone, or a presentation without the metafile overhead. I need the slides plus the notes – or even a way to get the notes without anything else. You’ll need to have Microsoft Word installed on your system in addition to Microsoft PowerPoint for this trick to work:

1. Open your presentation and choose File Send to Microsoft (Office) Word.
2. Select the Notes next to slides option, and click OK.
3. Microsoft Word creates a table with slide thumbnails and notes. Delete the unnecessary column in the resulting Word table that includes the thumbnails – to do that, select the entire column, right-click and choose Delete Columns.
4. Choose Table Convert Table to Text… Choose your text separator (or choose a custom separator).

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Pause Slides, Sounds, and Movies – and Resume!

Is it possible to pause the slide show AND the music simultaneously? I want to be able to stop on a particular slide and talk about it with the music OFF, then start the next slide and have the music resume playing. If there is a way to do this Microsoft sure doesn’t make it clear how. Thanks.

That’s certainly possible – and this also works with any movies in the presentation. Most laptops (and even keyboards these days) have a Mute button or hotkey – press that to mute the sound. To resume, you’ll have to press the Mute button or hotkey again.

To pause both the presentation and sound at the same time, press the Pause key on your keyboard – to resume, press Pause again.

In the same way if you don’t want the slide to be visible while playing press W or B to see a white or black screen that also pause music and video – to resume from that point onwards, press W or B again!

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7 Key Tips to Using PowerPoint

  Kevin Lerner of the Presentation Team shares some tips that will allow you to use PowerPoint more effectively.

It may be the leading presentation program on the market, but PowerPoint is rarely used to its most complete functionality. Here are seven tips to help make your next PowerPoint experience a bit fulfilling and simpler:

1. Content First…Then Visuals

When starting a new presentation, try not to become distracted by the desire to make it look good. Rather, focus on creating the content first. Use the outline view to get your bullets and main points in place. Also, the auto content wizard in newer versions of PowerPoint is helpful in getting the key messages in place.

2. Use Keyboard Shortcuts and Right Mouse

To improve efficiency and shave hours off your presentation development time, it’s helpful to learn the keyboard shortcuts. Copy=Control+C, Paste=Control+V. A list of these shortcuts can be found in the help menu. Also, the right mouse button will present an array of additional options, depending on where it’s clicked.

3. Make Alternate and Hidden Versions of Slides

Not sure how an effect will look? Want to have some extra detail on a slide that you may or may not use? By making duplicate versions (copy and paste your slides in the slide sorter) you can experiment with alternative versions. Select “hide slide” so it doesn’t show when you’re presenting.

4. Align and Grid Commands Are Your Friends

Graphics that are misaligned can subconsciously send the message of disorganization, and detract from your presentation. By using Guides and Grids (view menu or right-click), you can get your text and graphics perfectly straight.

5. Tame Your Transitions

Just because PowerPoint has some really cool transitions, doesn’t mean they should be used. Too much can detract from your presentation. And most of the time, a simple wipe or dissolve will suffice. Also, it’s good to make the transitions consistent throughout your entire presentation.

6. Save Often, Locally, and With Backups

By saving every 30 minutes and with different versions (draft1.ppt, draft 2.ppt, etc.) you can save yourself headaches when the inevitable computer crash comes. Also, don’t trust the networks. Save your presentation to your local PC and copy it later to the network.

7. Allow Enough Time for Output and Practice

Don·t get caught by the clock! By stopping even 20 minutes before your actual deadline, or showtime, you can significantly enhance your message by taking time to practice and rehearse. Also, consider the time needed to print/copy/email the file.

The views and opinions expressed in this blog post or content are those of the authors or the interviewees and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any other agency, organization, employer, or company.

Filed Under: Guest Post
Tagged as: Guest Post, Kevin Lerner, PowerPoint, Tips

Zoom Objects in PowerPoint

I recently saw a PowerPoint presentation in which the presenter showed a slide, then with a mouse click zoomed in to a part of it. I can’t figure out how to do this.

You’ll need either PowerPoint 2002 or 2003 to do this:

1. Select the object you want to zoom.

2. Choose Slide Show | Custom Animation to activate the Custom Animation
task pane.

3. In the Custom Animation task pane, choose Add Effect | Emphasis | Grow/Shrink – if the Grow/Shrink option is not available, choose Add Effect | Emphasis | More Effects | Basic | Grow/Shrink.

To finetune the Grow/Shrink effect, select the animation from the listing on
the task pane, and click the downward pointing arrow next to the listing to
reveal a fly-out menu. Choose Effect Options to summon a dialog box that
lets you play with the settings.

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