Finding the general Microsoft add-ins folder is very different in Windows 7 vs. Windows XP (I skipped Vista and just recently have been updating office computers from Windows XP to Windows 7). Here is the path the folder:
Windows7_OS (C: ) >> Users >> (Name) >> AppData >> Roaming >> Microsoft >> AddIns
– Troy @ TLC
When PowerPoint does something unexpected and unexplained, the desire to toss the computer out the window increases (a lot!). But there are lots of online resources to find solutions (here at ThePowerPointBlog, forums, and searching google or bing).
But now there are more variables with multiple OS’s, version of PPT, etc. So what is your combination?
– Windows XP – 32 bit, PPT 2007
– Windows Vista – 64 bit, PPT 2003
– Windows 7 – 64 bit, PPT 2010 64
– Etc.
Finding files in Windows 7 can be different than XP. Add-ins that work in Windows 7 32-bit may not work in Windows 7 64-bit. And the list goes on.
As a best practice, I recommend at a minimum listing:
1. What Operating System (OS)
2. If your OS is 32-bit or 64-bit
3. What version of PowerPoint (or what versions if you have multiple installed on same computer)
4. If PowerPoint 2010, is it 32-bit or 64-bit
– Troy @ TLC
I have been using the PPTools “Starter Set Plus” Memorize Position tool.
Here is a typical use:
1. I have a reference/source line at the bottom of a slide
2. I want to have all other reference/source lines throughout the presentation in the exact same position. So on this slide the text box needs to move down
3. A common way to do this, without additional add-ins, but very tedious is to zoom in and position guidelines on the original text and then manually move other text boxes to align with the guidelines
4. The easier and more accurate solution is to select the original text box and pick up its position with the “Memorize Position” addin (left tool)
5. But work is interupted by this information dialog
– Note the last line about turning on Expert Mode to not show the dialog – so where is the expert mode?
6. Click this icon on the Master Toolbar (one of the toolbars installed with any PPTool add-in)
7. The RNR PPTools Preferences dialog opens. It shows all of the PPTools add-ins installed and at the bottom is the check box to turn on/off expert mode
8. This dialog message pops up, click OK
9. Done! Now use the Memorize and Place tools without having an extra dialog interupt the work.
– Troy @ TLC
In the lower right is the zoom options.
(1) The first option is largely unknown to many users, partially because it is not needed often. Clicking the percentage number opens the zoom dialog that has presets and ability to manually enter a specific zoom.
(2) The zoom slider was introduced in PPT 2007 and a is a great way to adjust the zoom level. Zoom ranges from 10% to 400%.
(3) Clicking the far right box is the ‘Fit to Screen’ option which I use a lot!
(4) The fourth option is a combination keyboard/mouse feature.
– Hold the CTRL key
– Roll the mouse scroll wheel. Forward = zoom in. Backward = zoom out.
– Troy @ TLC
With Office 2010 the circle ‘office button’ in the upper left of all applications is replaced with a simple ‘File’ button that opens the Backstage.
Click the ‘File’ button the Backstage takes over the full application window.
The Backstage is a great consolidation of tools and options. But I have seen many users struggle with how to close, or go back to their slides. If you click the ‘EXIT’ button, it closes the presentation vs. closing the Backstage.
The way to go back to the slides/close the Backstage, click on the ‘FILE’ button again or any of the tabs – home, insert, design, etc.
– Troy @ TLC
Here is my sample slide:
I decide the logo, on the master slide, needs to be moved down for more content area.
When go to VIEW >> SLIDE MASTER and try to move the logo I cannot click and select it.
Because the master slide view opened to the layout slide.
If I click the Master Slide above the layouts I can select the logo, move it and it will update on all of the layout masters.
– Troy @ TLC
PPT 2010 now displays each presentation in its own instance of the application. What does this mean?
Here is a real world example (eg. my current project), where I have 2 screens and a separate presentation for each. In designing I need to view the presentations side-by-side. To do this it is the same as before: VIEW >> ARRANGE ALL. This is a screen capture of one monitor.
But the big difference is each presentation is contained in its very own application. Each has its own ribbon!
This is just one example of the new feature – and I am using it every day.
– Troy @ TLC
In the lower right corner are the shortcut buttons to change the view (normal, edit, slide show – and reading in PPT 2010), plus the zoom tools.
In my sample I am in the Slide Sorter view:
If I want to edit an individual slide, I select the slide and click the far left button for Normal/Edit view.
But the Slide Sorter button is also a toggle. When in Slide Sorter view, click the slide sorter button again and you change to the Normal view. Click it again and you go back to Slide Sorter.
This works in PPT 2007 and 2010. Not really a time saving shortcut as the buttons are literally next to each other – but it is a little known feature.
– Troy @ TLC
In PPT 2007 the QAT (Quick Access Toolbar) was the only customization option for the ribbon. In PPT 2010 the ability to customize the ribbons has been added, but the QAT is still the best resource for having always needed tools always available.
Here is my QAT, which I detailed in this post.
PPT 2010 adds a new feature to the QAT setup. Here is the QAT dialog in the Options area.
In the lower right is a new Import/Export option.
If you have customized your QAT, use the Export option to save a data file with all of your customization options. This can be used to setup your QAT on another computer or if something happens to your current computer you can quickly get your familiar work enviroment back.
If you have a QAT data file, click ‘Import Customization File’ and go find the data file.
You will see a warning dialog that existing toolbar setup will be overwritten – say ‘Yes’ to install the new QAT.
Now the QAT column will show all of the tools/buttons added (compare to first dialog image above that showed default 4 tools).
Last, if you would like to setup your QAT with the tools I have, my QAT toolbar data file can be downloaded here (850K).
– Troy @ TLC
While much of the interface is the same as PPT 2007, some items are new – especially in the Backoffice area.
To view the file properties:
File >> Info >> Right side
To edit the File Properties there are 2 options, both accessible by clicking ‘Properties’ to open a drop down menu.
‘Show Document Panel’ opens the file properties under the ribbon.
‘Advanced Properties’ opens the traditional dialog and offers a few additional properties.
If you are looking for the File Properties in PPT 2007, go to this blog post.
– Troy @ TLC