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Jul

PowerPoint 2007 Slide Master

By Sheri T

So as we know, the Slide Master view in PowerPoint 2007 has changed dramatically. There is now a master for each layout instead of just 2 masters (originally there was one for the Title slide and then a master for all other layouts).

You can still do all the same formatting functions that you could do before. It is easier to do them on each layout instead of the top one for the entire design template (not necessarily quicker, but easier in the long run).

The new function that I want to point out is the Insert Placeholder button.

This button allows you to add additional boxes on your slide where the end user can edit and type in information. By just inserting a regular text box, the end user was not able to edit or type in that box. With the Insert Placeholder button, you can add a Text, Content or even a SmartArt box anywhere on the layout.

This will help you create that custom corporate template that is innovative and eye catching.

Filed Under Microsoft, Office Applications, PowerPoint |

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Jun

Change default hyperlink color in PowerPoint 2007

By Sheri T

What happens if you are using a blue background in your presentation and you insert a hyperlink? It automatically changes the text color to blue. Now you can’t read your hyperlink because the text and background are almost if not exactly the same color! UGH!

In PowerPoint 2007, it is very easy to change the color of all hyperlinks in your presentation.

1. Go to the Design Tab
2. In the top right of the Themes grouping, click on the Colors down arrow
3. Select Create New Theme Colors located at the bottom of the list
4. Select the desired color for the Hyperlink as well as the Followed Hyperlink

All hyperlinks in your presentation are now changed. Easy and quick!

Filed Under General, Microsoft, Office Applications, PowerPoint |

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Sep

Align objects easily in PowerPoint

By Jane H

Recently, I watched an individual struggle trying to align two objects in PowerPoint 2003 with a series of click and drags and nudges. When asked, she explained that she wanted to align the two objects to their left border. Rather than manually adjust the objects, she should just select the target objects. Now, from the Drawing toolbar, select Draw > Align or Distribute > Align Left (observe following image).

align2

Filed Under PowerPoint |

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Jul

Benefits of Training

By Sheri T

People are either thrilled or upset when their company tells them they have to attend a training. I do understand that when you are already very busy, it just makes your day more stressful to be away from your desk for several hours. BUT, when you take the time to learn the most efficient way of performing task, you will be more efficient. Training.com states that you will actually be 230% more effective than someone who has not been trained. This means that the few hours you give up in a training class, you will make up for in efficiency multiple times over!

In today’s economy the best thing you can do for your career is to be up-to-date with the latest technology as well as being an efficient user of that technology.

Don’t consider training a burden on your day. Consider it a benefit, one that no one can take from you (even if you do have to change jobs). It is reassuring that your company is spending their money investing in your skills.

Filed Under Certifications, Excel, Microsoft Access, Office Applications, Outlook, PowerPoint, Visio, Word |

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May

Copy and Paste Techniques for Excel

By Jane H

Most people know how to do a basic copy and paste procedure within the same Microsoft application. But did you know that when you copy cells of data from Excel, the way you paste it into Word or PowerPoint will produce different effects?

In both the 2003 and 2007 versions of Microsoft Office, you will find not only a simple copy/Paste function, but the ability to paste Excel information into Word or PowerPoint as a Link or a Picture! When you paste the Excel information as a link, changes to the data will be reflected on the Word or PowerPoint file. Pasting information from Excel as a pictures ensures that no one changes the data on the Word or PowerPoint file. Read more

Filed Under Excel, PowerPoint, Word |

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Apr

Locking PowerPoint 2003 Files

By Jane H

There will be times when you need to be able to lock a slide deck, so it’s read only. Perhaps, the presentation needs to be distrusted to an outside group and you don’t want the slides altered. Even if the presentation is used internally, locking your slides from modification can prevent the integrity of your work from being compromised.

OK, so I’ve convinced you that it is a good thing to do, but how is it accomplished? Fairly simply. Use the following steps to secure a presentation and then test your settings. Read more

Filed Under PowerPoint |

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Jan

PowerPoint - Look for the Diamond to Change the Shape of Your Shape

By Bob S

When adding a drawing object to a PowerPoint presentation, follow these easy steps and you can create and format any one of the shapes.

Most AutoShapes are made up of several polygons. For example, a Block Arrow is really a rectangle and a triangle. PowerPoint provides a yellow diamond with the drawn object. This yellow diamond allows you to change the relative perspective of either of the two polygons. If an AutoShape is made up of more than two polygons, there will be more than one diamond.

1. Select your object from the drawing toolbar (Double-click to draw more than one of the object).
2. Move the cursor to where you want the object to appear.
3. Drag the mouse to draw the object. Hold the shift key down while drawing to maintain symmetry/alignment.
4. Use the yellow diamond to change the relative perspective of Auto Shapes.
5. Right-click on the object and select Format from the menu to change any attribute of the object.

Filed Under Office Applications, PowerPoint |

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Dec

Keyboard Shortcuts in MS Office

By Sheri T

Here are some of my favorite shortcuts. If you feel like you can’t find any of your commonly used features now that you have MS Office 2007, all the keyboard shortcuts have remained the same.
Feel free to add your favorites to the list!

All of MS Office

Ctrl-Home	Move to the beginning of the file
Ctrl-End	Move to the end of the file
Ctrl-x	Cut
Ctrl-c	Copy
Ctrl-v	Paste
Ctrl-p	Print
Ctrl-a	Select All

Excel

F11	Charts the selected cells
Ctrl- +	Inserts a new row or column
Ctrl- -	Removes the selected row or column
Ctrl- *	Select an entire block of information
Ctrl-PgDn	Goes to the next sheet in the workbook
Ctrl-PgUp	Goes to the previous sheet in the workbook

Word

Ctrl-Enter	Inserts a page break
Shift-Enter	When using bullets or numbering to stay at same pointbut go to a new line

PowerPoint

F5	Run the presentation from Slide 1
Shift-F5	Run the presentation for the current slide

	When running the presentation, type the number of the slide and press Enter to go to that slide

Filed Under Excel, Office Applications, PowerPoint, Word |

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Dec

Changing Slides - Transition vs. Animation

By Bob S

One of the basic techniques you can use to make a presentation more interesting involves bringing information onto a slide. The way that one slide changes to another during a presentation is called Transition. The way that information appears on a slide is called Animation. Animation techniques can be used to make bullets appear one at a time, or to dim a bullet as the next one appears.

Using transition when changing slides can give your audience visual cues that you are moving forward in your presentation. Without using a transition effect, changing from one slide with a few bullet points to another slide with a few bullet points can go unnoticed by your audience. Simple transitions such as Blinds, Stripes, and Bars can be used when the new slide has a different background than the old one. When all your slides have similar backgrounds, you should use transitions such as Cover, Fade, and Push. In Office 2003, transitions can be found in the Tools menu, or while using the slide sorter view. In Office 2007, Transitions are located in the Animations ribbon.

When using animations, you can animate as much as an entire slide section, or as little as a single letter. Perhaps the most popular type of animation is to bring in one bullet point at a time, sometimes using the additional effect of dimming a bullet point as the next one appears. Sound effects can be added to animations. A caution here: Too much animation can become distracting to your audience.

In Office 2003, custom animation can be found under the Tools menu. In Office 2007, there is an entire ribbon devoted to Animations.

Filed Under Office Applications, PowerPoint |

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Nov

Eeeek - another acronym ? DDPS and SAM…

By Gerry Vogler

That’s all that technology professionals need, another acronym to learn… more importantly, even when we know the acronym, what is the concept behind it ? DDPS stands for Desktop Deployment Planning Services, yet another service offering from Microsoft that provides software versioning migration planning and SAM (that’s Software Asset Management) as a component of their Software Assurance.

The process is relatively simple - the enterprise identifies a Microsoft Certified Partner that is certified in DDPS to conduct the audit - usually taking 2-5 business days of auditing and consulting. The resulting deliverable identifies a standardization plan and upgrade path that is tied (ideally) to corporate culture and objectives. Yes, this is somewhat of a “fox watching the hen-house” scenario since the Partner conducting the audit is paid by Microsoft for their investment of hours. The consulting hours are not the real attraction to the partner/vendor, in their case, the real upside is the potential sales opportunity of both licenses and services required to actually complete the prescribed upgrade.

Ultimately, DDPS is a valuable free service for any enterprise committed to a desktop upgrade/migration as long as the clients take the time to understand the results and ask the proper questions after the fact.

Filed Under Excel, InfoPath, Microsoft Access, Outlook, PowerPoint, Software Assurance Benefits, Visio, Word |

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