Software/Add-Ins

Shapes Menu in Different Shapes

I get this question a lot – even from people that have been using PPT 2007 for awhile. “where is my insert shapes?” It is obvious, but we get used to things being a certain way and when it changes we overlook things. This also happens most often when the computer is hooked up to a projector, where the screen resolution is reduced to the projector resolution (eg. my monitor is 1900×1200 but most projectors are lower at 1280×1024 or 1024×768).

Here is what most see on their ribbon:

But with a smaller screen resolution, the ribbon adjusts to smaller options and the shapes library becomes a simple button:

– Troy @ TLC

By |2016-09-16T09:54:53-07:00August 18th, 2009|Software/Add-Ins|

Video Preview from Bing! Search

Sometimes you just discover things by accident. As example I did a video search using Bing! and discovered that if you roll your mouse over any of the thumbnail images it plays the movie in the thumbnail without going to the webpage – very cool!

Here I did a search for “PowerPoint”, clicked the ‘video’ link at the top and was able to view all by just putting my cursor over it.

– Troy @ TLC

By |2016-09-16T09:58:23-07:00August 14th, 2009|Software/Add-Ins|

Tools On My QAT

With PPT 2007 we are very limited in how to customize the application. The one customizable “toolbar” is the QAT – Quick Access Toolbar. So here is what I have mine:

1. Save
2. Open Slide Master
3. Subscript
4. Superscript
5. Insert Symbol
6. Align to objects (works with #23-24)
7. Align to Slide (works with #23-24)
8. Text Color
9. Fill Color
10. Line Color
11. Insert Shape
12. Crop
13. Pickup Style
14. Apply Style
15. Format Painter
16. Change Shape
17. Align Left
18. Align Right
19. Align Center
20. Align Top
21. Align Bottom
22. Align Middle
23. Distribute Horizontally
24. Distribute Vertically
25. Bring to Front
26. Send to Back
27. Rotate Left 90′
28. Rotate Right 90′
29. Flip Horizontally
30. Flip Vertically

What do you have on your QAT?

– Troy @ TLC

By |2016-09-16T10:00:55-07:00August 6th, 2009|Software/Add-Ins|

IE8 Compatibility Mode

I like IE8 and it is my default browser. But it, like many new versions of software, does not play nice with some website coding. As example here is www.GEOLadders.com, a website I use to log my mountain bike rides and have some fun seeing my ride in its map overlay view.

The problem is the two red boxes are where some playback controls should be, and were before upgrading.

The solution for this website and many that have display or control issues is the Compatibility View option built in to IE8. The compatibility is only for webpages it is activated for (not global) and is a simple 2 click process to turn on.

Now when I view my course I have the playback controls expected – now if I could just get some more time away from the computer and on the trails….

– Troy @ TLC

By |2016-09-16T10:01:12-07:00August 4th, 2009|Software/Add-Ins|

Mac Office 2008 SP2

At the beginning of this week Microsoft released Service Pack 2 (SP2) for Mac Office 2008. If you use a Mac for your presentations, this is a definite update to download and install.

It promises speed, stability, compatibility improvements, and a new tool called Document Connection for accessing SharePoint collaboration. Adds custom path animations (and play PPT Windows motion paths), default theme support and it is a 300MB download… which is download using AutoUpdate.

– Troy @ TLC

By |2016-09-16T10:03:36-07:00July 25th, 2009|Resource/Misc, Software/Add-Ins|

Creativity Boost with MoodStream

Here is a nifty online tool for those days creativity is just not there (or if you have some time to stare at the computer and be entertained). Getty Images has MoodStream.

Pulling from its vast image and video libraries you can have a full screen never ending stream of images and video based on your parameters. Adjust the sliders or use a preset, click ‘Refresh Stream’ and watch.

– Troy @ TLC

By |2016-09-16T10:19:57-07:00May 21st, 2009|Software/Add-Ins|

Online Paint Program Sumo Paint

Don’t have Photoshop and want something a bit more feature rich than Paint? I spent some time experimenting with the online image editing program “Sumo Paint”.

Sumo Paint is flash based, so the only thing needed is the flash plugin. There are a number of youtube videos (some better than others) that demo some of the unique features like the Symetry brush. For an online application it worked virtually identical to an installed application, it is free and does lots of great stuff.

Head over to Sumo Paint here. Even if you do not need another paint program/image editor, it is worth a few minutes to play with Sumo Paint and see how feature rich the new generation of online applications are. Here is a quick image I created in 20 seconds using the symmetry tool and then a few filters.

– Troy @ TLC

By |2016-09-16T10:43:45-07:00March 26th, 2009|Software/Add-Ins|

Camtasia 24 Tutorials in 24 Hours

If you use Camtasia Studio, or have an interest in it, the people at Techsmith did a huge internal project of recording 24 video tutorials, in 24 hours, on using Camtasia.

I use Camtasia for lots of projects and got some great tips and alternate production methods. It’s also great to put a face with all the people you hear from at Techsmith.

Check out the videos here.

– Troy @ TLC

By |2016-09-16T10:56:19-07:00March 6th, 2009|Software/Add-Ins|

All 8 FREE PPT 2007 Effects “Templates”

In all Office Online has 8 incredible example templates – each with step-by-step instructions on how to recreate each effect!
– Static Text Effects
– Static Picture Effects
– Animated Text Effects
– Animated Picture Effects
– Combined Picture and Text Effects
– Animated Hierarchy and Process Graphics
– Backgrounds
– 3D Shapes and Objects

Click here to access them all (note: downloads from Microsofts Office Online site must be done with Internet Explorer). All are the work of fellow PPT MVP Julie Terberg of Terberg Design.

(Note: I am grabbing this image from Ric B’s PPT Team Blog)

– Troy @ TLC

By |2016-11-17T12:13:33-08:00December 22nd, 2008|Resource/Misc, Software/Add-Ins|
Copyright TLC Creative Services, Inc | All Rights Reserved
Go to Top