PowerPoint eConvention – check out the winners!
The PowerPoint eConvention hosted by PPT Heaven has closed and it is worth a visit to the site to see the winning entries. Check it out here.
– Troy @ TLC
Office 2007 Feedback Page
Hmmm, so as a Microsoft PowerPoint MVP you would think at least I would know of a Microsoft Feedback Page for Office 2007.
But the truth is I just recently discovered this (along with other PPT MVPs). I can say that development and planning for the next version are underway at Microsoft, and that for previous versions the number of incidents reported or requests received did make a difference in the features updated, added, or removed. So if you encounter a bug or have a feature you would like to see in future versions I am guessing this is your best tool of getting that info to Microsoft!
To view click here.
– Troy @ TLC
PowerPoint eConvention
So what is an “eConvention”? Well, Shawn Toh of PowerPoint Heaven, also a PowerPoint MVP based in Singapore has created an online convention specifically for PowerPoint designers.
September 1-26 (now) is open for anyone to review the entries and vote. Categories are Animation, Artwork, Game and Broadcast. Some are downloadable presentations, some are viewable on YouTube movies – all are very impressive!
Then on Sept. 27 the eConvention comes to a close with all of the award winners posted.
Check out the entries, and how to submit your own entry, here.
– Troy @ TLC
PowerPoint For Peace
We often forget as individuals we can do a lot to make this world a better place and spend time waiting for the change to happen. Here is an initiative to prove it to ourselves that we can do as much as anyone to promote peace.
Glenna Shaw and Geetesh Bajaj, both PowerPoint MVPs have started a unique initiative “PowerPoint for Peace”, a Global Community Project. The project just last week and is building a universal presentation that recognizes the contributions and commitments of people from around the World to improve the planet and the lives of our fellow inhabitants.
authorSTREAM.com is being used as a platform and participating is very easy. Just create a single slide that depicts a contribution that helps make the World a better place to live in (must contain your name/group/company and be uploaded using the authorSTREAM link).
See it and participate here.
– Troy @ TLC
More Edit Room In PPT2007
If you find the Ribbon taking up to much space, space that would be better used viewing your slides as you edit, there is a great option. Here is the standard Ribbon view.
Right-click to the right of the tabs along the top and there is a “Minimize Ribbon” option.
The result is the ribbon disappears and frees up a lot of editing area.
When you click on any of tabs the ribbon appears. Click away and it disappears again!
– Troy @ TLC
Always Open A Recent Document (PPT 2007)
Most people have a handful of presentations that they access routinely. PowerPoint has had the ‘Recent Documents’ feature to make it easier to reopen those presentations – and it is a helpful tool many times. But PowerPoint 2007 has made that feature even more powerful and usable.
Here is the PPT 2007 Start Menu and mine shows 1 Recent Document (okay the list was full, but I cleared it for this tutorial).
The important addition to PPT 2007 is the small thumbtack icon on the right. It is the same icon that has existed since PPT XP on the Master Slides to preserve masters. The one on the Recent Documents does the exact same thing – it preserves that presentation to always be in the Recent Documents list!
By clicking the thumbtack it goes from grey to green – and now you can always open that presentation with ease! (note: works as long as the presentation stays in its original location)
– Troy @ TLC
Add-Ins Webinar This Friday
I am very excited because I finally finished all of the demo’s for the AudioSolutionz webinar that I am doing in just a few days (hey, I have been traveling almost non-stop for the past 3 months – and it has (almost) all been PowerPoint related shows).
The thing that I really became aware of was the best way to add power to PowerPoint is to know what add-ins are available and to know what they do see them demonstrated. That is the really great part about a live a webinar is that it allows me to do more than make a recommendation, I can demonstrate each add-in with real-world presentation examples.
Click here to get details on the AudioSolutionz webinar. Hope to see many of you there!
– Troy @ TLC
It Takes A Lot Of Images To Convey A Message
I am preparing material for a PowerPoint/Design course and this is screen capture of my images folder from a recent project. My message is that a presentation is more than bullet points and an image can be more effective. I practice that message and this is shows the number of images prepared in Photoshop for a recent presentaiton.
– Troy @ TLC
Master Slide “Slates”
Everyone is familiar with a movie scene slate:
It is used during filming to allow the editors to identify everything. It is not intended for the audience to see, just the behind the scenes people. Well I use similiar idea when developing presenattions. These are hidden slides that are not designed for the audience.
These are used for speakers, videos, or anything special such as sound effects, stage direction, etc.
– Troy @ TLC
Good PPT Article All Should Read
Last week a great article on PowerPoint presentations came out on bMighty by Nilofer Merchant (most likely posted many other places as well). 
The article is “Strategy Matters: Eight Great PowerPoint Myths” which you can read here. It has a good message – don’t use animation for animation, don’t use too much content on a slide, and the presentation is to support the speaker who is to convey the message to the audience (not read the slides or let the presentation tell the story).
My only caution is that the author is not overly objective about the proper use of animation (myth #5) and draws the line on its use by throwing it out… maybe she has seen to many bad presentations.
– Troy @ TLC