Microsoft PowerPoint 

When do I need to use Microsoft PowerPoint? Use PowerPoint whenever you want to make a presentation. The program can incorporate links to internet sites, files in other programs, sound, and video clips.

To create a new presentation:

You can create a new presentation in several ways. You can start by working with the AutoContent wizard containing sample presentations for a variety of topics such as a company meeting, event planning, or Internet presentations.

Another way to start a presentation is by selecting a design template that determines the presentation's design but does not include content.

You can also begin with an outline you import from another application, such as Word, or with a blank presentation that has neither suggested content nor design.

To create a presentation based on suggested content and design:

• On the File menu, click New, and then click the Presentations tab.
• Double-click AutoContent Wizard, and then follow the instructions. PowerPoint creates a sample presentation to add your own words and pictures, and then displays it in outline view.
• Double-click slide 1 to switch to slide view, then type the title of the presentation.
• Use the scroll bar to move to other slides, and continue to type text in place of the sample text.
• When finished, click Save on the File menu.
• Name the presentation, then click Save.

To create a presentation to use on the Internet:

• On the File menu, click New.
• Click the presentations tab, and then double-click AutoContent Wizard.
• Click Presentation Type, select the type of presentation, then click Next.
• For "How will this presentation be used", click Internet, kiosk, then Next.
• Follow the remaining instructions in the AutoContent Wizard.
• PowerPoint creates a sample presentation to which text, pictures, animation, and hyperlinks can be added. After adding the content, save the presentation.
• To save the presentation in HTML format, click Save as HTML on the File menu.

To save a presentation in HTML format:

• On the File menu, click Save as HTML, and then follow the instructions in the Internet Assistant.

To create a presentation based on a design template:

• On the File menu click New, then click the Presentation Designs tab.
• Scroll to see all the design templates. Select one to use, then click OK.
• Scroll to see the design layouts, then select a layout for the title slide.
• Type the title and any other content on the title slide.
• On the Common Tasks toolbar, click New Slide and select a layout for the next slide.
• Add the content, then repeat steps 5 and 6 for each new slide.
• When finished, click Save on the File menu.
• Name the presentation, then click Save.

To create a presentation based on a blank presentation:

• On the File menu, click New, and then click General tab.
• Double-click Blank Presentation, and then select a layout for the slide.
• The new presentation uses the color scheme and title and text styles of the default presentation.
• Type the title and any other content on the title slide.
• On the Common Tasks toolbar, click New Slide, scroll to see more layouts, and then select a layout for the next slide.
• Add the content, and then repeat steps 4 and 5 for each new slide.
• When finished, click Save on the File menu.
• Name the presentation, and then click Save.

To set up a hyperlink in a presentation:

• Save the presentation in which the hyperlink should appear.
• Select the text or object to represent the hyperlink.
• On the Slide Show menu, click Action Settings.
• To jump by clicking selected object, click the Mouse Click tab.
• To jump by moving the mouse over an object, click the Mouse Over tab.
• To assign more than one action to the same object - for example, both a hyperlink and a sound - use the Mouse Click tab to set up the hyperlink and the Mouse Over tab to set up the Sound.
• Click Hyperlink to, and then select where the link should jump.
• Select any other options, and then click OK.
Tips:
• To add a hyperlink to a ready-made shape, such as a button or arrow, point to Action Buttons on the slide Show Menu, and then select the button. The Action Setting dialog box automatically appear so the hyperlink can be setup quickly.
• If a hyperlink connects to a single slide, also add a hyperlink on that slide to return to the original one.
• To make sure the destination of the hyperlink is available. If you plan to move files, select the Use relative path for hyperlink check box.

To remove a hyperlink:

• Select the text or object that represents the hyperlink to remove.
• On the Slide Show menu, click Action Settings, and then click None.
• To remove a hyperlink and the display and the display text or object that represents it in the presentation, select the object or all of the text, and then press DELETE.

What if I can't find a picture, music, sound, or animation in PowerPoint?

Extra sounds, images, and video clips can be found under P:\Resources\MS-Office\Clipart.

To create a play list to run presentations from the PowerPoint Viewer:

• Open a new, blank document in any word processing program.
• In the document, type the file name of the presentation to show.
• To show more than one presentation, type file names on separate lines.
• Save the document, as a text file with a .lst extension in the same folder as the presentation it opens.

To pack up a presentation for use on another computer:

• Open the presentation you want to save to a disk.
• On the File menu, click Pack and Go.
• Follow the instructions in the Pack and Go Wizard.
• If prompted, insert another disk.

What is the PowerPoint Viewer?

The PowerPoint Viewer is a program used to run a slide show on computers that do not have PowerPoint installed. You can add the Viewer to the same disk as a presentation by using the Pack and Go Wizard. Run the slide show on another computer by unpacking the presentation and the Viewer. Play lists can be created to use with the Viewer so multiple presentations can run one after another. Presentations can also be saved as HTML documents. They can then be viewed from other locations through a Web browser program. See "How do I create a presentation for use on the Internet?" for instructions.

To present a slide show with the Viewer:

• The Viewer must be installed on the machine before giving a slide show with the Viewer.
• In Windows Explorer, find the PowerPoint Viewer - Ppview32 - and then double-click it.
• Select the presentation to show, and then select any other options.
• Click Show.

What graphics file types can PowerPoint use?

Many popular graphics file formats can be inset into the presentation, either directly or with the use of separate graphics filters. A separate filter is not necessary to insert the following file formats:

• Enhanced Metafile (.emf)
• Joint Photographic Experts group (.jpg)
• Portable Network Graphics (.png)
• Windows Bitmap (.bmp, .rle, .dib)
• Windows Metafile (.wmf) graphics

The programs included in PowerPoint:

PowerPoint includes programs to add charts, scanned pictures, and equations to presentations. Organization Chart, Graph, Photo Editor, and Equation Editor all create embedded objects that insert, or embed, into a presentation. When creating or modifing a chart, scanned picture, or equation in a presentation, the program's menu and toolbars replace the PowerPoint menus and toolbars. After inserting it in a presentation, the chart, scanned picture, or equation can be edited by double-clicking it.

To take notes or meeting minutes during a slide show:

• Right-click, click Meeting Minder or Speaker Notes.
• Click the box, type your notes or minutes, and then click Add.

To send meeting minutes and action items recorded during a slide show to a Word document:

• In slide view, click Meeting Minder on the Tools menu. During a slide show, right click, and then click Meeting Minder.
• Click the Meeting Minutes tab, and then click Export.
• Select the Send meeting minutes and action items to Microsoft Word check box and then click Export Now. Word opens a new document that contains minutes and action items.

Can I view a slide show on one computer while I control it from another?

To control a presentation from one computer while you show it on another - for example, from a laptop to a desktop with a large-screen monitor - connect the two with a null-modem cable. PowerPoint 97 should be installed on both computers and on COM port available on each machine.

• On the Slide Show menu, click View on Two Screens, and follow the instructions.