- The great thing about PowerPoint is that almost anyone can easily start a presentation document from scratch and have a working presentation in no time. For starters, make a folder on your desktop where you will keep all the files handy you want to add to your presentation. This includes graphics, sounds and movies. You can get your files from anywhere, but having them in one place can be helpful. Open PowerPoint, click the "File" menu, and choose the "New" command. You will be presented with a blank document. To begin typing text for your presentation -- a title, for instance-- click in the box that says "Click to Add Title." It's as simple as that to add text to your presentation. Now use the toolbar to format the size, style and color of your text. You can also add text effects from the "Design" menu. You can select from default effects or apply your own effects, such as a drop shadow.
- To start a document using one of the many presentation templates available with PowerPoint, click on the "File" menu, select "New" and select a template. There are photo album templates, business presentation templates and other specialized templates available. You can also download more from Microsoft at no charge. The templates feature images you can use that fit the presentation theme. All you need to do is add your own text, make any changes you want to make and you're ready to deliver your presentation.
-
The selling feature of PowerPoint is the ability to give your presentations sparkle by adding images, animations, movies and sounds. You can record your voice and add the resulting file to your PowerPoint presentation to enhance the visuals. Use the "Insert" menu and select the type of file you want to add. Browse to where the file is located on your computer, click, and PowerPoint will insert the file at the cursor point. You can add, delete or duplicate slide pages as needed by right clicking on one of the slide previews to the left of your work space. Page duplication is useful if the new slide will look very similar to the previous, with just a few minor changes. This saves you the time it would take to re-create the same slide again and again.
Add transitions between your slide pages by going to the "Animations" menu and selecting the type of transition you want to use. You can choose not to use a transition, or you can apply such transitional effects as slide, wipe, blinds or fades. - There are so many fun and productive uses for PowerPoint. Business owners can make presentations to promote a product. Teachers can make a slide show that highlights some of the most important things parents need to know about class and display on computer monitors the day they meet with parents just before school starts. Students can make multimedia presentations of class essays and experiments. PowerPoint presentations are fun to announce the birth of a new baby to the family or as multimedia photo albums.
