25 PowerPoint™ Tips

Microsoft's PowerPoint™ is a powerful presentation tool with which you can create professional slide shows. The following tips are my favorites for students in my online classes. For even more tips about PowerPoint, visit Microsoft's Office Web site:http://www.microsoft.com/office/powerpoint  or search the Web for +PowerPoint  +tips. To read an interesting article about PowerPoint, 
The tips below are divided into four categories: Tips 1-7 are basic PowerPoint tips for beginners. Tips 8-14 are tips for more advanced PowerPoint users. Tips 15-25 are tips to work with graphics. Finally, four extra tips have been added for when you are presenting your slide show in person.

PowerPoint Basics

1. Basic Rules & Configuration

Use the PowerPoint Light Bulb to guide slide-show mechanics; be sure no light bulbs are remaining on any slides.  To set the "light bulb" to preferred settings, go into the Tools > Options > Spelling & Style tab.  Be sure the checkbox for "Check Style" is marked then click the "Style Options" button.  Set the configuration for the following:

• Case and End Punctuation tab:
  
  
  
  • [X]  Slide title style: Title Case
  
  
  • [X]  Body text style: Sentence Case
  
  
  • [   ]  Slide title punctuation (no mark in this checkbox)
  
  
  • [X]  Body punctuation: Paragraphs have consistent punctuation


• Visual Clarity tab:
  
  
  
  • [X]  Number of fonts should not exceed 3
  
  
  • [X]  Title text size should be at least 36
  
  
  • [X]  Body text size should be at least 20
  
  
  • [X]  Number of lines should not exceed 6
  
  
  • [X]  Number of lines per title should not exceed 2
  
  
  • [X]  Number of lines per bullet should not exceed 2

Then be sure your light bulb is turned on: In the Help menu, turn on the Office Assistant. As you are creating a slide, the light bulb may appear. If it does appear, you are breaking a rule for good slide show mechanics. Click on the light bulb to see the error. In many cases PowerPoint will fix the error for you if you allow it. When I score (grade) your PowerPoint slide show, I will deduct one mechanics point for each light bulb remaining in your show.

NOTE that PowerPoint slide shows can be very big in file size. Be sure to before saving your final slide show!

2. The Mighty Shift Key

• Hold down the SHIFT key when drawing a line to get a perfectly straight line.


• Hold down the SHIFT key when drawing an oval to get a perfectly round circle.


• Hold down the SHIFT key when drawing a rectangle to get a square.


• Hold down the SHIFT key while clicking on the normal view icon to get the Master slide.


• Hold down the SHIFT key while clicking on the slide sorter view to get the handouts master.


• Hold down the SHIFT key while pressing Enter to get a blank line without a bullet.


• Hold down the SHIFT key to select multiple objects on a slide at the same time.


• Hold down the SHIFT key while resizing a graphic to retain the same proportions in the resized graphic.


• Hold down the SHIFT key while pressing F3 to change the case of letters.

3. The Mighty Control Key

• Hold down the CTRL key while clicking the slide show view button when you are editing a slide show. This will open a preview window so you can see that slide in slide show mode.


• Hold down the CTRL key while dragging an existing Guide to create a new guide.


• Hold down the CTRL key while turning the wheel on the mouse to zoom in and out of the slide


• Hold down the CTRL key plus the HOME key to go to the first slide


• Hold down the CTRL key plus the END key to go to the last slide in your presentation


• CTRL + A (on the Slides tab) to select all objects


• CTRL + A (in slide sorter view) to select all slides


• CTRL + A (on the Outline tab) to select all text in your slide show


• CTRL + B to apply bold formatting


• CTRL + C to copy the selected object


• CTRL + D to duplicate (make a copy of) the selected slide


• CTRL + E to center a paragraph


• CTRL + F to find text


• CTRL + G to open the grids and guidelines dialog box


• CTRL + H to replace text


• CTRL + I to apply italic formatting


• CTRL + J to justify a paragraph (full alignment)


• CTRL + K to insert a hyperlink


• CTRL + L to left align a paragraph


• CTRL + M to insert a new slide


• CTRL + N to create a new presentation


• CTRL + O to open an existing presentation


• CTRL + P to print a presentation


• CTRL + Q to quit PowerPoint


• CTRL + R to right align a paragraph


• CTRL + S to save a presentation


• CTRL + T to change the formatting of characters between sentence, lowercase, and uppercase


• CTRL + U to apply underline formatting


• CTRL + V to paste a cut or copied object


• CTRL + W to close a presentation


• CTRL + X to cut a selected objected


• CTRL + Y to redo or repeat an action


• CTRL + Z to undo the last action


• CTRL + Equal Sign to apply subscript formatting


• CTRL + SHIFT + Plus Sign to apply superscript formatting


• CTRL + Space Bar to remove subscript and superscript

4. Function Keys

Function Key	Pressed Alone	with SHIFT	with CTRL	with ALT
F1	Displays the Office Assistant or the Help Window	What's This? or Context-sensitive help
F2	Select a text box if the text inside is selected			Save As
F3		Change the case of letters
F4	Repeat the last action -or- Open the Look In list (if in help)	Repeat the last find action	Close the active Window	Close the active application
F5	Start the slide show from the beginning slide (or in file view, refresh the file list)		Restore the active window	Restore the application window
F6	Move clockwise among panes of normal view	Move counter clockwise among panes	When more than one window is open, switch to the next window
F7	Check spelling		If window is not maximized, allows you to move the window	Find the next misspelling
F8			If window is not maximized, allows you to size the window	Macros
F9		Toggles the grid on and off	Minimize the active window	Toggles the guides on and off
F10	Activate the menu bar	Open the shortcut menu (same as right-clicking the mouse)	Maximize the active window	Maximize the application window
F11				Visual Basic Editor
F12	Save As	Save	Open

5. Inserting Special Symbols

• To insert the copyright © symbol, enter (c)


• To insert the Trademark ™ symbol enter (tm) 


• To insert the registered ® symbol enter (r)


• You can make your own special symbol shortcuts in Tools > AutoCorrect  (copy from character map and paste into replace with...)

6. Avoid Beginner's Mistakes

• Use a traditional color scheme that has been proven to be easy on the eyes. Remember that the information in your slide show is more important than the colors. Information, not flashy colors, should attract your viewers' attention.


• Limit the use of animations. Excessive animations will distract your viewers' from the information in your slide show. If you choose to use animations, use the same types of animations on all slides--a professional slide show is not the time to see how many different animations you can use.


• Limit the transitions between slides. If you choose to use a transition, use the same transition between all slides. A professional slide show is not the time to see if you can use a different transition between every slide.


• Keep the slide show short, simple, and sweet. Concentrate on the message of the presentation rather than on the glitz available in PowerPoint.


• Create a title slide and a THE END slide in your presentation. Also, create a CREDITS slide if you use information or graphics other than clip art provided with PowerPoint. Using information or graphics without citing your source is considered plagiarism.


• Don't use multiple backgrounds. A professional slide show will be consistent.


• Don't use excessive graphics and text effects. A professional slide show will be subtle and will not detract from the message.


• Use sound and moving graphics only if the message of the presentation will be enhanced by it.


• NOTE that PowerPoint slide shows can be very big in file size. Be sure to compress graphics before saving your final slide show!

7. Notes Pages

In an online classroom, we cannot give our presentation in person. As such, there is often additional information that should not be placed on a slide but should be disseminated to your audience. This additional information is the message you would give orally if you were to present your slide show in person. PowerPoint has a feature where you can place these extra notes--called Notes Pages or Speaker's Notes (depending upon the version of PowerPoint you are using). In order to receive full credit for your PowerPoint presentation, I will expect to see most Notes Pages with additional information on them.
To enter notes on a slide, type text in the pane below the slide. Graphics and other objects can also be placed on the Note Pages. To place graphics on the Notes Pages, you must be in Notes View (in the View menu, select Notes Pages).
To print the notes pages, bring up the printing dialog window. Near the bottom of the window where it says, "Print What," select "Notes Pages."

Advanced PowerPoint Tips

8. Editing Shortcuts

When selecting an object (a text placeholder or a graphical object), use the right mouse button to click on it (with Macintosh, use CTRL + click). Not only will you select the object but you will be shown an editing menu particular to that object.

9. Reduce File Size

Remember that each slide in a PowerPoint presentation takes about 1-2 minutes to discuss. As such, keep the number of slides in your presentation to a minimum. If you have a 15-minute presentation, prepare no more than 10-12 slides. Remember, your oral presentation will take time and you will want to reserve time for your audience to ask questions. If your presentation is so formal that your audience doesn't feel comfortable to ask questions, the presentation will not fulfill its intended mission. In addition, it is better to have your presentation take five minutes less than the allotted time rather than to go one minute over.
If you want to reduce the size of the slide show file (because your computer's memory is limited or for saving to a flash drive or for transferring via e-mail or the Internet), you can do four things:

• Use Save As (in the File menu) and save your file using a different name.


• Insert a blank slide at the start of your presentation.


• If you are using the same graphic on several slides, don't insert the graphic on each of the slides. Insert it only once, then copy it from slide to slide. If you are using the same graphic on ALL slides, place the graphic on the master slide (in the View menu.


• Look again at each graphic and other objects in your presentation. Do they add to the presentation or are they simply "window dressing?" Consider reducing the size of the slide show by simplifying the extra effects. Remember: the information on your slides should not be overshadowed by the graphics and special effects.

NOTE that PowerPoint slide shows can be very big in file size. Be sure to compress graphics before saving your final slide show! Here is how to compress graphics:

Go to any slide that has a graphic on it--not an AutoShape from the Drawing Toolbar, but an inserted picture or clip art. Right click on the graphic and choose "Format Picture" On the Picture tab, click the COMPRESS button, which will open the "Compress Pictures" dialog box that you see to the right. Mark "All pictures in document" in the "Apply to" section. Mark "Web/Screen" in the "Change resolution" section. Check both boxes in the "Options" section. Click OK Click OK again Your slide show file should be up to 75% smaller now.

10. Tearing off Sub-menus

You may need to use the same sub-menu several times. If the sub-menu has a shaded bar at the top, you can "tear it off" and place it on the screen (see red arrow on graphic to the right). Just drag the sub-menu with the mouse by that shaded bar.

11. Seamless Screen Builds

If you are creating a final slide where each object will be added on progressive slides, you can use a "backwards" trick to create your seamless screen build. Create the final slide first. Then duplicate that slide (CTRL + D) as many times as necessary to build the sequence. Then working backwards, remove the objects on the slides. This will ensure that each object is in exactly the right place on each slide, and this eliminates those unsightly shifts when moving between slides.

12. Recycling Slides

It is possible to import a single slide or a group of slides from another presentation into your new presentation. If you have spent time creating the perfect slide with a quote, special graphic, or intricate chart on a slide, you can insert that slide into your new presentation (use the Insert >Slides from Files). In fact, you can insert slides from multiple presentations into your new presentation. Only the objects from the imported slides are inserted; the background and master slide are unaffected.

13. A Summary Slide

With PowerPoint, you can quickly add a Summary Slide to your presentation. This Summary Slide can be placed at the first of your presentation as an introduction, or it can be moved to the end of your presentation as a conclusion or review slide. The summary slide is created from the titles of the other slides:

1. On the View menu, click Slide Sorter.


2. Select the slides with the titles you want to use. To select multiple slides, hold down CTRL and click the slides you want. (Be sure to select the slides that will best summarize your presentation.)


3. On the Slide Sorter toolbar, click the Summary Slide button (  ).


4. A new slide, titled "Summary Slide," appears in front of the first selected slide.


5. Edit this slide and/or move it to the desired location in your slide show.

14. Embed a Presentation in Word

To insert your slide show into a Word document, open both files (the slide show presentation in PowerPoint and the desired document in Word):

1. On the View menu, click Slide Sorter.


2. Select the slides you want to use. To select multiple slides, hold down CTRL and click the slides you want.


3. Copy the slides and paste them into Word (CTRL-C in PowerPoint and CTRL-V in Word).

You'll only see the first slide in your Word document, but you can double click on that first slide to run the slide show.

Working with Graphics

NOTE that PowerPoint slide shows can be very big in file size. Be sure to compress graphics before saving your final slide show!

NOTE that PowerPoint slide shows can be very big in file size. Be sure to compress graphics before saving your final slide show!

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Four Extra Tips for Presenting In Person

1. Printing Handouts

If you click the print button on the Standard Toolbar or use the default settings in the Print dialog box, you will print your slide show presentation with one slide per sheet of paper. This is seldom a useful way to print your presentation, unless you are printing on overhead transparencies. In most cases, you will want to print several slides per sheet of paper, with or without lines on which to take notes. This way of printing your presentation is often used to create handouts for the audience. Refer to the number 1 in the screen shot to the right. Change from "Slides" to "Handouts" then select the number of slides you want to appear per page (if you select three slides per page, you will also get lines on which to take notes).

2. Print in Reverse Order

If you indeed want to print a slide per sheet of paper, you will want to have the slides printed in reverse order so they do not have to be collated before using or binding. To do this, click on the option (radio) button for Slides and enter the numbers 99-1. Refer to the number 2 in the screen shot to the right.

3. Hidden Features While your Show is Running

During your slide show, you can control the presentation by more than simply going to the next slide or returning to the previous slide. When your presentation is running, press the F1 function key to see a list of the hidden features that are available to you while your show is running.

4. Avoiding Interruptions

When you are in the middle of the slide show, you don't want your computer to interrupt the presentation:

• 
  
  Disable screensavers. (Right click on the desktop, choose Properties, click the Screensaver tab, choose ‘NONE’). PowerPoint is supposed to disable any screensavers automatically, but it is wise to be safe and do it yourself.


• 
  
  If you are using your laptop computer, disable any power saving features.
  
   

• 
  
  Hide the arrow pointer (cursor) during your presentation. Right click on the screen, choose Pointer Options, then click on Hide Now or Hide Always. Hide Now turns off the pointer until you move the mouse. Hide Always turns off the pointer for the rest of the slide show.