Introduction & Opening | About the Slides, Opening Screen, Task Pane | Opening & Creating a Presentation
Saving/Create New Slide/Slide Design | Inserting Objects/Lists/WordArt | Edit Text/Images | Transitions & Animation
Set Up/View Presentation | Print Slides/Save to Web

Open a PowerPoint File:
In the "Open" section on the bottom of the “Getting Started” panel, you have the option to open a pre-existing PowerPoint file (PowerPoint files end in the file extension ".ppt") by clicking on the "Open" icon.

When you click on the "Open" icon, navigate your computer to locate the file you wish to open. Select the file name and click "OK" to open the file. You can edit the presentation as needed.

Create a New Presentation:

If you want to start a new presentation, you can do one of many things. Click on the "Create a new presentation..." button. You'll notice a change in the "Getting Started" panel. It's now called "New Presentation," and you can also move forward, back, and go "home" using the buttons on the top of the panel if you want to go back and read information you may have passed.

In the "New" section, you can make a new presentation using a blank presentation, a design template, the AutoContent wizard, an existing presentation, or from a photo album. At this point, we’ll describe in detail the different ways you can begin your new presentation.

Blank Presentation:

Click on the “blank presentation” button. The panel will then give you a number of slide layouts to choose from.

Please note the different kinds of objects in the slide layouts: long bars of gray represent text boxes, boxes with little pictures in them represent image objects, and the bulleted lists represent unordered lists.

If you choose to select from one of these pre-made slide layouts, keep in mind that you can change the positioning and even delete some of the objects in the layout. Nothing is set in stone, and you can always modify objects, even in the pre-made slide layouts.

If you want to try to be a little more advanced, you can choose to make a completely blank slide, and then insert objects and text as you work (the blank slide is the one at the top of the “Content Layouts” area in the “Slide Layout” panel).

Find a layout you like, and click on it in the panel window. As soon as you click on the layout in the “Slide Layout” panel, the layout will be applied to the current slide.

From this point, you are free to create the rest of your presentation as you see fit. To create a new slide based on a pre-made layout, right-click on the layout you like in the “Slide Layout” panel, and select “Insert Slide.” You will then see the new slide appear on your screen, as well as in the “Slide” view on the left side of your screen. If you want to change the order of the slides you made, simply click and drag the selected slide in the “Slide” panel to the desired location. Please read the “Create Slide Content” section for more information on how to add content to slides.

Design Template:

In the “New” section of the “New Presentation” panel, click on the “From Design Template” button. The following panel will then appear:

This is a list of different design templates. They are pre-made backgrounds and layouts that you can use to build your presentation. Use the scroll bar to see the entire list of designs.

When you see a design template you like, simply click on the design, and it will be applied to your presentation. Now, every time you make a new slide, it will retain the design template you selected.

You can choose a new design template by clicking on a different design in the “Slide Design” panel on the right.

You can right-click on a design template to bring up even more options. You can apply a design template to selected slides, all the slides, use the design for all new presentations you create, or choose to view large preview versions of the slide designs.

At this point, you may create new slides as needed. Please read the “Create Slide Content” section for more information on how to add content to slides.

AutoContent Wizard:

AutoContent Wizard acts like an interactive tutorial that will make suggestions for the creation of slides and content. If you have never made a slideshow presentation using PowerPoint before, then you might want to consider using this feature.

In the “New” section of the “New Presentation” panel, click on the “From AutoContent Wizard” button. The following window will then pop up:

Go through all the steps the Wizard takes you through, and you’ll have the beginnings of a template in no time. All you have to do is click on the “Next” button to continue through the Wizard.

If you wish you edit slides individually, please read the “Create Slide Content” section for more information on how to add content to slides.

Existing Presentation:

You can also choose to make a presentation from an existing file. To choose this option, click on the “From Existing Presentation” button in the “New” section of the “New Presentation” panel on the right

Note: If you no longer see the “New Presentation” panel, click on the house (Home) icon in the panel on the right. This will take you to the “Getting Started” panel. From there, click on “create a new presentation,” and you will see the various “New presentation” options.

Photo Album:

You can create a new presentation based on images you have saved on your computer or digital camera.

Select the “Photo Album…” button from the “New Presentation” panel. The following window will then pop up:

Click on the “File/Disk” or “Scanner/Camera” buttons to obtain the desired image. This will insert the image into the “album.” From here, you can edit the image, add text using the “New Text Box” button, and preview the slide.

Once you have a slide you like, click on the “Create” button to make your slide based on your image.

>> next