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
Inserting a video with PowerPoint 2010 starts the same as PPT 2007. Insert >> Video >> Video From File.
And we still get the same dialog window to choose the video to insert. But the drop down menu is now very important.
If ‘Insert’ is selected the video will be embedded.
If ‘Link to File’ is selected it will be linked to an external file.
Note: find and select video first, then use the Link dropdown because selecting the dropdown is the same as clicking it.
– Troy @ TLC
Selective use of the reflection tool for text can make slide layouts very dynamic. But why does the upper text have a gap and the lower text does not?
There are 3 preset gap options, but both samples here have the same setting (zero gap).
The answer is the line spacing is different. The larger the line spacing the larger the reflection gap – even when set to zero gap option. The top sample has a line spacing of 2.0, which creates a gap:
The lower text is setup with a .95 line spacing (note: 1.0, or single spacing, is the zero point for refections):
– Troy @ TLC
Using the previous post’s sample, here is how I set up the animation on the slide.
Here is the sample slide:
Here is the Animation Pane for the slide:
1. Text Box = Entrance animation – Expand – On-click (for each level) – Fast
2. Divider Lines = Entrance animation – Fade – With Previous – Fast
3. Drag 1st lines animation under 2nd line (2nd animation). So it fades in as the 2nd line of text expands.
Done!
The animated sample slide can be downloaded here (47K ).
– Troy @ TLC
Lots of slides have a few main points, like this example:
I like to add a simple divider line as a visual break between each line. And I create it in PowerPoint using a simple gradient fill. So my sample slide looks like this:
To create the divider line, start with added a basic rectangle – no outline and the fill color you want.
Then change to a Gradient Fill.
Creating the feathered edge is a bit tricky:
1. Type = Linear
2. Angle = 0
3. Stop 1: position = 0, color = your pick, transparency = 0
4. Stop 2: position = 50, color = your pick, transparency = 100
5. Stop 3: position = 100, color = your pick, transparency = 100
** Delete any additional stops (only want 3)
Last, adjust the rectangle height to be smallest possible.
Done!
– Troy @ TLC
For a recent project I needed some eye catching callouts/starbursts. I created a series of 3D stars and overlayed text boxes with the key phrases (New, Now, Available, etc.). It was a quick solution that looked really nice.
I started with a simple Star autoshape.
Adjustments to several tabs of the Format Shape box was all that was needed to create the visual.
One of the tricky adjustments is changing the perspective to have a left facing star and a right facing star. Only 2 tabs are needed. The Shadow tab, adjusting the Angle and the 3D Rotation tab. Compare the numbers on the Rotation tab.
You can download a slide with these 3D stars on it here (33k ).
– Troy @ TLC