This file demonstrates many of the features of PowerPoint. Murray’s Example This file demonstrates many of the features of PowerPoint. No feature should be used to the point that it is annoying, but you should know how to use many features so you can use them judiciously.

Here is a boring slide The background is boring. Choose a more interesting background, particularly if this is to be read/run without your commentary. pattern photo (if it is not too distracting as a background)

Varieties of text slanted text! Use color to emphasize words in a line Use different sizes e.g. on second-level bullet points e.g. between title and bullet list Use “WordArt” (on insert menu) to get Show you know how to use bold and italics Find a good excuse to use a different font too! slanted text!

Use list features You’ve seen bullet lists on other slides of this example. This is a numbered list. PowerPoint does the formatting for you, which is very handy when the text goes onto multiple lines. You can also adjust the type of “numbering” I guess this is a “lettered list” Use the features!

Deal with photos Have text and a photo on the same slide Use the “Insert” function There are multiple ways to get this effect of having longer text lines under the photo You can overlay other graphics also like  You can insert graphics files to show graphs and charts, but the next slide shows another option…

Try out PowerPoint’s Chart feature: Customize to your needs

Use entry, emphasis, and exit animations (but don’t go wild) Click (or press forward arrow on keyboard) to see the next line “appear” Click to see the next line “fly in” Click to see this line have emphasis Click to see the previous line exit. Click to see a “motion path” I defined.

Use slide transitions (sensibly) You got to this slide via a transition – the previous slide faded out and this one came on The transition to the next slide is more complicated.

That transition was a bit much, eh? Do not get too fancy with things. The focus should still be on the content of your presentation, not on PowerPoint’s gaudy features.

Know how to work through list items one-by-one This involves using copies of the list slide On the following set of slides, we’ll work through a list of common pets.

Common Pets Dogs Cats Birds

A slide about dogs

Common Pets Dogs Cats Birds

Some people prefer cats

Common Pets Dogs Cats Birds (Notice the birdsong audio)

While others like birds The birdsong audio will stop when you leave this slide.

PowerPoint lets you record… Click to hear my narration of this slide. The narration stops when you leave the slide.

Inserting video is much like inserting audio… But you should make sure you do not just insert a link… insert the video file if you want to distribute just the PowerPoint file. Click to play the video (of my wife’s brother singing for her)

PowerPoint Video Bug!!! If the video does not play on an external monitor/projector… … disable hardware acceleration in PPT. File > Options > Advanced > Display > Disable Slide Show hardware graphics acceleration

That covers most of the features… …at least, most of the useful features. PowerPoint has zillions of them. Use them with discretion and your PowerPoint presentations will be effective and memorable.