The PowerPoint® Blog

I work with PowerPoint on a daily basis and I am very honored to be a Microsoft PowerPoint MVP. We have a talented team of presentation designers at TLC Creative Services and ThePowerPointBlog is our area to highlight PowerPoint tips, tricks, examples and tutorials. Enjoy! Troy Chollar

Inspect Document (Advanced File Properties)

In PowerPoint 2007 the document properties are divided into 2 views. Yesterday’s post showed the new properties view that is easy to use, integrated into the user interface and displays the personal information that can be sent out with a presentation.

But the ‘old’ file properties are still there. To open, click the DOCUMENT PROPERTIES button in the upper left of the properties ribbon. Now we see the same properties window that has been with PowerPoint for a number of versions.

The tab I focus on is the STATISTICS information. And the LAST SAVED BY, REVISION NUMBER, TOTAL EDITING TIME are the information I generally want to clear out.

After clearing the Document properties those 3 things are are all clear!

Finally, if running an earlier version of PowerPoint (eg. XP or 2003) I have used for many years the add-in Shyam’s Toolbox which among its many tools is a clear properties function.

– Troy @ TLC

By |2016-09-16T10:05:41-07:00July 13th, 2009|Tutorial|

Inspect Document (3)

One of the professional touches when distributing a presentation is to verify what, if any, properties information is going out with the presentation. As example, if I developed a presentation for a client I would not want this information in the file properties:

Having my name, company and other information not pertaining to the client would be unprofessional.

But if I go to Inspect Document, check ‘Document Properties and Personal Information’ and inspect the file:

I am given an information dialog that says there are personal information in the file properties. What it does not do is give you a quick way to open the file properties and see what is there (go to Office Button >> Prepare >> Properties). But it does give me an option to remove the properties information.

Now the file properties are ready for me to add the end client information, or leave completely blank – either is a more professional touch than displaying your personal information.

– Troy @ TLC

By |2016-09-16T10:06:01-07:00July 12th, 2009|Tutorial|

Inspect Document (2)

When you open the Inspect Document it has 6 sets of data it will check a presentation for. None are critical, but all offer professional finishing touches to your presentation, especially if it is to be distributed.

– Troy @ TLC

By |2016-09-16T10:06:22-07:00July 10th, 2009|Tutorial|

PowerPoint’s ‘Inspect Document’ Feature

Here is one of the new features that has been overlooked by most. Some of its functions were possible in prevous versions, some were possible using add-ins. So I have a mini-series of posts on what the INSPECT DOCUMENT feature in PPT 2007 can do for you.

To access:
Office Button >> Prepare >> Inspect Document

– Troy @ TLC

By |2016-09-16T10:06:43-07:00July 8th, 2009|Tutorial|

4th July Text

I had a few emails asking about the 4th of July post. I did most of the work in Photoshop compositing the red/white rays with the fireworks. Then in PPT 2007 I added the TLC logo, a radial gradient shape under the logo to help it have contrast and be visible and finally created the text using PPT 2007 gradient fill options.

The text is a custom font (Albert, which is license restricted so not embedded – will default to some other font on your computer…). I added a custom 3 step gradient, bold outline and near opaque drop shadow (needed on the visually busy background used in previous post). The slide can be downloaded here.

– Troy @ TLC

By |2016-09-16T10:07:09-07:00July 6th, 2009|Portfolio, Tutorial|

Difference Between ‘Header/Footer’ and ‘Slide Number’ Buttons

One of the great things about PowerPoint is there is almost always more than one way to do things. And almost always the multiple ways of doing things are found in different areas of the program. But one that can be confusing is the ‘Header/Footer’ and ‘Slide Number’ buttons.

I guess the confusion is that they open the exact same dialog box. They are located on the same tab. And located on the same section.

It does not matter which you use. As example, it’s okay to click the ‘Header/Footer’ button and turn on the page numbering. I believe it is just another example of statistics leading the development process. Statistics probably showed a lot of users (tested or observed) where unaware of how to setup page numbers. The obvious answer was to add an easy to identify button labeled ‘Page Number’ – problem solved.

– Troy @ TLC

By |2016-09-16T10:07:29-07:00July 3rd, 2009|Tutorial|

Anoto – A Pen For Presentations

At last years PPTLive conference I spent some time talking with the Anoto people about their new product and how it could be used for presenters. Well the product has launched and I look forward to talking more with them about presentation solutions.

Anoto makes an ink pen that captures the writing and wirelessly (bluetooth) can make it show up onscreen.

For presentations, think of this as the ‘ink’ features on steriods. The idea is to print out your slides, then for each slide draw any notations on your printout and they show up onscreen – all without having to have a computer in front of you. You could be sitting with the audience with only a clipboard and your pen – as long as you are within range of the receiver.

The Boston Globe recently did a story on Anoto which has more information.

– Troy @ TLC

By |2016-09-16T10:07:57-07:00July 1st, 2009|Resource/Misc|

Mountain Biking in a Live Fire Area

Had a great ride the other day and I faithfully followed by Garmin Edge 305 GPS (allows you to download trail maps so you don’t get completely lost) and about 8 miles into my ride I come across this sign:

I think it means I was on a really really great trail!

– Troy @ TLC

By |2016-09-16T10:08:54-07:00June 29th, 2009|Personal|
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