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Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Office Button: The Messy Blob at the Upper Left
I call it "that messy blobby thingee in the upper left corner of Office 2007."
It's actual, official name is the "Office Button".
Oh. I stand corrected. But...
...everytime I ask people to select the "Office Button", they say,
"What's that?"
But when I say, "Upper left corner. That blob..."
People say,
"Oh. Office Button, you say? Is that what you call it?"
Well, no. That's what Microsoft calls it! I call it that messy logo thingee at the upper left. People seem to understand that description better.
What do YOU call it?
:)
I call it "that messy blobby thingee in the upper left corner of Office 2007."It's actual, official name is the "Office Button".
Oh. I stand corrected. But...
...everytime I ask people to select the "Office Button", they say,
"What's that?"
But when I say, "Upper left corner. That blob..."
People say,
"Oh. Office Button, you say? Is that what you call it?"
Well, no. That's what Microsoft calls it! I call it that messy logo thingee at the upper left. People seem to understand that description better.
What do YOU call it?
:)
Labels: PowerPoint Tricks
¶ 12/11/2007 03:07:00 PM 1 Comments Links to this post
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
How to Break it to Your Boss: "You Need a Makeover!"
How do you tell your boss or colleagues that they need a makeover?
I'm not talking about their clothes, hair, or makeup. Instead, I'm talking about their PowerPoint presentations!
Just in time for the holidays, PowerPoint MVPs Geetesh Bajaj and Echo Swinford provide a fun new way to transform dated PowerPoint designs. Last week, the two authors released an exciting, full-color book called Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007 Complete Makeover Kit. Actually, this action-packed new release is more "kit" than a "book", as it contains a CD chock full of music, pictures, templates, themes, and more. In a free online excerpt, you'll see how to transform a dated, bullet-list presentation into a fashionable, bullet-free look.
Transform your design approach. If your organization professes to be progressive and forward-thinking, your PowerPoint design needs to reflect these qualities. A dated, out-of-touch design simply won't do. Your company needs to stay current and investigate fresh approaches to crafting presentations. If your organization has upgraded to PowerPoint 2007, make sure your presentation design approach keeps pace with a 2008 look and feel.
A new look for the new year. The holidays present a terrific opportunity to upgrade your corporate image without wounding egos. After all, it's downright diplomatic and thoughtful to buy a fun holiday gift -- instead of burning with embarrassment over yet another design disaster.
Go check out the new PowerPoint 2007 Makeover Kit -- it can make a terrific, timely, and tasteful business gift.
How do you tell your boss or colleagues that they need a makeover?I'm not talking about their clothes, hair, or makeup. Instead, I'm talking about their PowerPoint presentations!
Just in time for the holidays, PowerPoint MVPs Geetesh Bajaj and Echo Swinford provide a fun new way to transform dated PowerPoint designs. Last week, the two authors released an exciting, full-color book called Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007 Complete Makeover Kit. Actually, this action-packed new release is more "kit" than a "book", as it contains a CD chock full of music, pictures, templates, themes, and more. In a free online excerpt, you'll see how to transform a dated, bullet-list presentation into a fashionable, bullet-free look.
Transform your design approach. If your organization professes to be progressive and forward-thinking, your PowerPoint design needs to reflect these qualities. A dated, out-of-touch design simply won't do. Your company needs to stay current and investigate fresh approaches to crafting presentations. If your organization has upgraded to PowerPoint 2007, make sure your presentation design approach keeps pace with a 2008 look and feel.
A new look for the new year. The holidays present a terrific opportunity to upgrade your corporate image without wounding egos. After all, it's downright diplomatic and thoughtful to buy a fun holiday gift -- instead of burning with embarrassment over yet another design disaster.
Go check out the new PowerPoint 2007 Makeover Kit -- it can make a terrific, timely, and tasteful business gift.
Labels: design, fun, PowerPoint Tricks
¶ 11/27/2007 04:10:00 PM 1 Comments Links to this post
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Every Feature in PowerPoint!
If I were to list every feature in PowerPoint, how many might there be? One thousand? Ten thousand?
Counting the features in PowerPoint is like a "guess how many jelly beans are in the jar" contest. There is a dizzying display of different and colorful features. Most people who use PowerPoint will probably (hopefully!) deploy less than a tenth of them.
In her latest ebook, author Ellen Finkelstein writes 101 Tips Every PowerPoint User Should Know. Instead of an exhaustive description of every feature, this refreshing guide provides shortcuts and techniques that make creating a PowerPoint presentation much, much easier.
Not just for newbies! The new ebook is available for download at Ellen's site for $15 US. The ebook is terrific for beginners -- but even if you're an old pro with PowerPoint, I suspect you will learn quite a few tips and tricks to make designing your presentations a more elegant experience.
If I were to list every feature in PowerPoint, how many might there be? One thousand? Ten thousand?Counting the features in PowerPoint is like a "guess how many jelly beans are in the jar" contest. There is a dizzying display of different and colorful features. Most people who use PowerPoint will probably (hopefully!) deploy less than a tenth of them.
In her latest ebook, author Ellen Finkelstein writes 101 Tips Every PowerPoint User Should Know. Instead of an exhaustive description of every feature, this refreshing guide provides shortcuts and techniques that make creating a PowerPoint presentation much, much easier.
Not just for newbies! The new ebook is available for download at Ellen's site for $15 US. The ebook is terrific for beginners -- but even if you're an old pro with PowerPoint, I suspect you will learn quite a few tips and tricks to make designing your presentations a more elegant experience.
Labels: PowerPoint Tricks
¶ 10/31/2007 02:01:00 PM 0 Comments Links to this post
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Helpful PowerPoint Tip: T is for Type
It is PowerPoint Week at the Windows Keyboard Shortcut Blog. Yesterday's tip is a big time saver, especially if you have converted to PowerPoint 2007.
Remember Ctrl+T? I forgot all about this helpful shortcut in PowerPoint. Go ahead and try Ctrl+T: PowerPoint will bring up a Font dialog box, where you can easily change your fonts, style, size, color effects, and color.
Save Time... I didn't use Ctrl+T much pre-2007, because my font menus were always front and center. In PowerPoint 2007, though, the font tool bar isn't always immediately available in the ribbon. And floating over the text box waiting for font commands to slowly appear like a ghostly apparition can take too long.
And Gain More Control... When you use Ctrl+T in PowerPoint 2007, you will also be able to adjust kerning and character spacing. Save time and get more control -- these are two great reasons to make Ctrl+T a PowerPoint habit!
It is PowerPoint Week at the Windows Keyboard Shortcut Blog. Yesterday's tip is a big time saver, especially if you have converted to PowerPoint 2007.
Remember Ctrl+T? I forgot all about this helpful shortcut in PowerPoint. Go ahead and try Ctrl+T: PowerPoint will bring up a Font dialog box, where you can easily change your fonts, style, size, color effects, and color.Save Time... I didn't use Ctrl+T much pre-2007, because my font menus were always front and center. In PowerPoint 2007, though, the font tool bar isn't always immediately available in the ribbon. And floating over the text box waiting for font commands to slowly appear like a ghostly apparition can take too long.
And Gain More Control... When you use Ctrl+T in PowerPoint 2007, you will also be able to adjust kerning and character spacing. Save time and get more control -- these are two great reasons to make Ctrl+T a PowerPoint habit!
Labels: PowerPoint Tricks
¶ 7/03/2007 02:04:00 PM 0 Comments Links to this post
Monday, June 25, 2007
Why Hide a Slide?
I infrequently use the "Hide Slide" feature within PowerPoint. But I hid three slides in a presentation I gave last week, and I am glad I did. Why did I play "Hide the Slide"? Three reasons:
1. Smoothness
2. Peace of Mind
3. I value the interactive nature of storytelling.
Why Hide a Slide? In my rehearsals, I determined that three slides showed too much detail for my time allotment in front of a small audience. Like a film editor, I had to make some reasoned choices to move the story along. But instead of chucking the detailed slides on the cutting room floor, I simply hid them by selecting "Hide Slide" from the Slide Show menu bar. The results?
Honestly, I think I should use this feature more frequently!
Under what circumstances do you play "Hide the Slide?"
I infrequently use the "Hide Slide" feature within PowerPoint. But I hid three slides in a presentation I gave last week, and I am glad I did. Why did I play "Hide the Slide"? Three reasons:
1. Smoothness
2. Peace of Mind
3. I value the interactive nature of storytelling.
Why Hide a Slide? In my rehearsals, I determined that three slides showed too much detail for my time allotment in front of a small audience. Like a film editor, I had to make some reasoned choices to move the story along. But instead of chucking the detailed slides on the cutting room floor, I simply hid them by selecting "Hide Slide" from the Slide Show menu bar. The results?
- Smoothness. After I gave the presentation, I opened up the floor for Q&A. The second guy to ask a question wanted more detail. I smoothly right-clicked my mouse, selected "Go To Slide" -- and chose the slide with the hidden graphic detail that helped me explain the point. It was easy to find -- hidden slides are neatly contained in parentheses.
- Peace of Mind. By hiding the slides instead of eliminating them, I gained peace of mind. When I gave my presentation, I didn't have any nagging doubts, "What if my stripped-down story isn't persuasive enough?" I had no doubts, because if I saw confusion on the faces of my audience members, I had a smooth contingency plan in place.
- Heightened Interactivity. I put a higher premium on the interactive (Q&A) part of a presentation than the lecture portion of the program. I'd rather have an audience "ask for more to build rapport" instead of potentially overloading them with too much detail in the lecture. Saving hidden slides for Q&A let me gauge interest and attention in the topic.
Honestly, I think I should use this feature more frequently!
Under what circumstances do you play "Hide the Slide?"
Labels: PowerPoint Tricks
¶ 6/25/2007 09:36:00 AM 0 Comments Links to this post
Thursday, March 08, 2007
The lady with your PowerPoint 2007 answers...
PowerPoint expert Ellen Finkelstein has written a new book, How to Do Everything with Microsoft® Office PowerPoint® 2007. The book is for PowerPoint beginners and experts who want to increase their productivity and sharpen their skills.
I chatted briefly with Ms. Finkelstein yesterday. I told her that I may have fallen into "the trough of despair" with regard to the new PowerPoint 2007 ribbon interface. Ellen offered me some sage advise:
Typically, I have a sunny nature. If I approach the new interface with a more play-ful, getting-to-know-you attitude, I am sure I will swiftly move out of what I call "old cranky pants" territory. Surely, I do not want to be an old fogey who cannot easily adapt to change!
Ellen offered further wisdom:
You can visit Ellen's site to find out more about her new book, download two free sections, read a "what's new" review of PowerPoint 2007, and much more. It's good stuff!
PowerPoint expert Ellen Finkelstein has written a new book, How to Do Everything with Microsoft® Office PowerPoint® 2007. The book is for PowerPoint beginners and experts who want to increase their productivity and sharpen their skills.
I chatted briefly with Ms. Finkelstein yesterday. I told her that I may have fallen into "the trough of despair" with regard to the new PowerPoint 2007 ribbon interface. Ellen offered me some sage advise:
That word "playing" is key. For most of the month, I have been working with PowerPoint, creating presentations for clients. And I often found myself muttering dark oaths under my breath when I could not easily locate previously-familiar commands."In all of Office 2007, I think that PowerPoint offers the most value. The new features will help you create better-designed presentations more easily. But the learning curve for the new ribbon interface is considerable. Expect to spend some time figuring out how to complete familiar tasks. Don't do it when you have a deadline to meet! Instead, find some time to devote playing around with the interface and the many new features."
Typically, I have a sunny nature. If I approach the new interface with a more play-ful, getting-to-know-you attitude, I am sure I will swiftly move out of what I call "old cranky pants" territory. Surely, I do not want to be an old fogey who cannot easily adapt to change!
Ellen offered further wisdom:
Ellen continued:"PowerPoint 2007 has an interactive guide to help you find familiar 2003 commands in 2007. It takes 7 clicks to get there!
(Click the Help (?) button > Getting Help > Reference: Locations of PowerPoint 2003 commands in PowerPoint 2007 > New locations of familiar commands > Interactive: PowerPoint 2003 to PowerPoint 2007 command reference guide > Start the Guide > Start.)"
"However, this guide has many limitations. I therefore recommend a book with a good index that you keep handy on your desk. You'll refer to it often!"A good book with a good index! For those of us who are more comfortable thumbing through a handy desk reference with good index than navigating seven clicks to get to a slow-to-load internet presentation, Ellen's new book could just be the ticket.
You can visit Ellen's site to find out more about her new book, download two free sections, read a "what's new" review of PowerPoint 2007, and much more. It's good stuff!
Labels: PowerPoint Tricks
¶ 3/08/2007 12:20:00 PM 0 Comments Links to this post
Who else misses easy PowerPoint guides?
If you are anything like me, you design PowerPoint presentations using guides. Guides help you place items (text, pictures, etc.) on each slide with much greater precision. They also help keep placement consistent from slide to slide within the presentation.
You want to design using guides in PowerPoint 2007? Here is what you have to do:
2. Click on Arrange
3. Hover over Align
4. Click on Grid Settings
5. Under Guide Settings,
click on Display drawing
6. Click OK. (See graphic).
Because I use Guides regularly when I design, I also selected "Set as Default". That way, I do not have to go through this elaborate exercise every time I want to create a new presentation.
Old-timer's rant alert: Before PowerPoint 2007, this used to be a one-step process (Ctrl+G). And if I forgot about the simple one-step Ctrl+G approach, I could always revert to the PowerPoint 2003 three-step Guide process of clicking on "View", and select "Grids and Guides..." then check"Display drawing guides onscreen".
Six+ hard-to-find steps to replace one simple one or three. That's not exactly a productivity boost.
Worse, if you want help with finding how to activate PowerPoint guides using the help button, here is a screenshot of what you get:
If you are anything like me, you design PowerPoint presentations using guides. Guides help you place items (text, pictures, etc.) on each slide with much greater precision. They also help keep placement consistent from slide to slide within the presentation.
You want to design using guides in PowerPoint 2007? Here is what you have to do:
How to activate guides in PowerPoint 2007
2. Click on Arrange
3. Hover over Align
4. Click on Grid Settings
5. Under Guide Settings,
click on Display drawing
6. Click OK. (See graphic).
Because I use Guides regularly when I design, I also selected "Set as Default". That way, I do not have to go through this elaborate exercise every time I want to create a new presentation.
Old-timer's rant alert: Before PowerPoint 2007, this used to be a one-step process (Ctrl+G). And if I forgot about the simple one-step Ctrl+G approach, I could always revert to the PowerPoint 2003 three-step Guide process of clicking on "View", and select "Grids and Guides..." then check"Display drawing guides onscreen".
Six+ hard-to-find steps to replace one simple one or three. That's not exactly a productivity boost.
Worse, if you want help with finding how to activate PowerPoint guides using the help button, here is a screenshot of what you get:
That's right. Pick from a grand total of 74 frustrating options -- most of which have little to do with activating PowerPoint Guides from within PowerPoint!
I eventually found out how to activate the guides by clicking on the first option titled Interactive: PowerPoint 2003 to PowerPoint 2007 command reference guide. This option assumed that I had previous knowledge of PowerPoint 2003 (I do) and a fast internet connection (I do). So, I got a little bit lucky there.
Still, it took about 20 seconds for a slow-to-load online presentation to come on screen and give me only partial instructions about where to find the command I needed. (I was able to piece together the full instructions myself. I hope sharing more complete instructions at this post can help someone else out!)
If you think upgrading to Office 2007 is going to make you instantly more productive, think again. Back in July 2006, I wrote that I do not mind falling into the "trough of despair" part of the learning curve if I feel confident that my long-term productivity will improve.
I have been working rather steadily with PowerPoint 2007 this week, building online presentations for clients. So far, my annoyances with the ribbon have been minor. I will hang in there -- and soon, I will quit sounding like an old cranky pants that cannot tolerate change!
Labels: PowerPoint Tricks
¶ 3/08/2007 11:48:00 AM 1 Comments Links to this post
Thursday, April 13, 2006
PowerPoint isn't Square...
PowerPoint doesn’t even have to be rectangular.
Sure, PowerPoint defaults to a landscape presentation, 10 x 7.5. But nothing and nobody says you have to present from within those particular dimensions.
So how about creating a PowerPoint Mandala? I am rather fond of the idea of preparing PowerPoint presentations within a circle -- and giving an audience a round performance. This can let your audience confront their own characterization of “being presented to”…at the exact moment that they are experiencing your show.
And here is something else to consider -- Psychologist Carl Jung encouraged patients to draw their visions not on a rectangular piece of paper, but from within a circle. Dr. Jung felt that drawing within a circle elicits images that correspond more closely to your inner self: your true feelings and thoughts. He felt that drawing this Mandala – Sanskrit for “center” - was therapeutic. And beyond drawing a Mandala, you can possibly even feel more centered and more quickly achieve your potential -- just by viewing the Mandala you create.
Give the non-conventional approach to presentations a try: download this Mandala.gif file with a transparent hole in the center. Place it over your standard 10x 7.5 PowerPoint presentation. Adjust your graphics and words.
What belongs in the circle? Which colors? Objects? Text? What items flow outside of the circle?
Play with it a bit. You might be astonished.
How can this particular creative approach make you a better presenter?
PowerPoint doesn’t even have to be rectangular.
Sure, PowerPoint defaults to a landscape presentation, 10 x 7.5. But nothing and nobody says you have to present from within those particular dimensions.
So how about creating a PowerPoint Mandala? I am rather fond of the idea of preparing PowerPoint presentations within a circle -- and giving an audience a round performance. This can let your audience confront their own characterization of “being presented to”…at the exact moment that they are experiencing your show.
And here is something else to consider -- Psychologist Carl Jung encouraged patients to draw their visions not on a rectangular piece of paper, but from within a circle. Dr. Jung felt that drawing within a circle elicits images that correspond more closely to your inner self: your true feelings and thoughts. He felt that drawing this Mandala – Sanskrit for “center” - was therapeutic. And beyond drawing a Mandala, you can possibly even feel more centered and more quickly achieve your potential -- just by viewing the Mandala you create.
Give the non-conventional approach to presentations a try: download this Mandala.gif file with a transparent hole in the center. Place it over your standard 10x 7.5 PowerPoint presentation. Adjust your graphics and words.
What belongs in the circle? Which colors? Objects? Text? What items flow outside of the circle?
Play with it a bit. You might be astonished.
How can this particular creative approach make you a better presenter?
Labels: PowerPoint Tricks
¶ 4/13/2006 10:10:00 AM 0 Comments Links to this post
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
Three Tasty PowerPoint Shortcuts
There are three incredibly useful shortcuts that every presenter must know when they stand up to deliver a PowerPoint Presentation. What are they?
• B - Display a black screen, or return to the slide show from a black screen
• W - Display a white screen, or return to the slide show from a white screen
• H - Go to the next hidden slide
If you already know these three presentation shortcuts, good for you. But when I showed these three little “tricks” to a very seasoned presenter recently… he “remembered” that he knew them at one point, but he “forgot” them while he was developing a new PowerPoint presentation!
I can totally empathize with forgetting something basic: sometimes we get into our groove, and we forget how much we actually know! A tiny little thing like a B, W, or H is bound to slip our memories!
What tiny little PowerPoint or presentation tip do you find most useful?
There are three incredibly useful shortcuts that every presenter must know when they stand up to deliver a PowerPoint Presentation. What are they?
• B - Display a black screen, or return to the slide show from a black screen
• W - Display a white screen, or return to the slide show from a white screen
• H - Go to the next hidden slide
If you already know these three presentation shortcuts, good for you. But when I showed these three little “tricks” to a very seasoned presenter recently… he “remembered” that he knew them at one point, but he “forgot” them while he was developing a new PowerPoint presentation!
I can totally empathize with forgetting something basic: sometimes we get into our groove, and we forget how much we actually know! A tiny little thing like a B, W, or H is bound to slip our memories!
What tiny little PowerPoint or presentation tip do you find most useful?
Labels: PowerPoint Tricks
¶ 5/11/2005 11:49:00 AM 0 Comments Links to this post
Thursday, February 17, 2005
Font Change Tip for PowerPoint
There are three kinds of case styles in PowerPoint:
What is one of your favorite little PowerPoint tricks?
There are three kinds of case styles in PowerPoint:
- ALL CAPS
- Title Case
- all lower case
What is one of your favorite little PowerPoint tricks?
Labels: PowerPoint Tricks
¶ 2/17/2005 08:22:00 PM 0 Comments Links to this post
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
Educational PowerPoint
If you are searching for educational PowerPoint presentation samples and examples...
try the -.com trick.
When you go to your favorite search Engine (Google, Yahoo, MSN, etc.), trying searching for your favorite term as usual. For example, you can enter "PowerPoint presentations", "free powerpoint templates", and so forth -- but after you enter your phrase, type in
-.com
This will eliminate all commercial sites -- the ones that end a a "dot com". This means you are more likely to get PowerPoint presentation sites that end in .edu or .org -- these are educational sites that do not typically try to sell you anything, but are likely to showcase the work of students or non-profit organizations.
If you are searching for educational PowerPoint presentation samples and examples...
try the -.com trick.
When you go to your favorite search Engine (Google, Yahoo, MSN, etc.), trying searching for your favorite term as usual. For example, you can enter "PowerPoint presentations", "free powerpoint templates", and so forth -- but after you enter your phrase, type in
-.com
This will eliminate all commercial sites -- the ones that end a a "dot com". This means you are more likely to get PowerPoint presentation sites that end in .edu or .org -- these are educational sites that do not typically try to sell you anything, but are likely to showcase the work of students or non-profit organizations.
Labels: PowerPoint Tricks
¶ 2/16/2005 04:09:00 PM 0 Comments Links to this post
