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6 Simple Parts for Beginners to Create a PowerPoint Presentation

Last Updated: December 19, 2022 Fact Checked

Creating a New PowerPoint

Creating the title slide, adding a new slide, adding content to slides, adding transitions, testing and saving your presentation.

This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Darlene Antonelli, MA . Darlene Antonelli is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. Darlene has experience teaching college courses, writing technology-related articles, and working hands-on in the technology field. She earned an MA in Writing from Rowan University in 2012 and wrote her thesis on online communities and the personalities curated in such communities. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 4,308,644 times. Learn more...

Do you want to have your data in a slide show? If you have Microsoft 365, you can use PowerPoint! PowerPoint is a program that's part of the Microsoft Office suite (which you have to pay for) and is available for both Windows and Mac computers. This wikiHow teaches you how to create your own Microsoft PowerPoint presentation on a computer.

Things You Should Know

  • Templates make it easy to create vibrant presentations no matter your skill level.
  • When adding photos, you can adjust their sizes by clicking and dragging in or out from their corners.
  • You can add animated transitions between slides or to individual elements like bullet points and blocks of text.

Step 1 Open PowerPoint.

  • If you don't have a Microsoft Office 365 subscription, you can use the website instead of the desktop app. Go to https://powerpoint.office.com/ to use the website version.
  • You can also use the mobile app to make presentations, though it's easier to do this on a computer, which has a larger screen, a mouse, and a keyboard.

Step 2 Select a template.

  • If you don't want to use a template, just click the Blank option in the upper-left side of the page and skip to the next part.

Step 3 Select a theme if possible.

  • Skip this step if your selected template has no themes available.

Step 4 Click Create.

  • If you're creating a PowerPoint presentation for which an elaborate title slide has been requested, ignore this step.

Step 2 Add a title.

  • You can change the font and size of text used from the Home tab that's in the orange ribbon at the top of the window.

Step 3 Add the subtitle.

  • You can also just leave this box blank if you like.

Step 4 Rearrange the title text boxes.

  • You can also click and drag in or out one of a text box's corners to shrink or enlarge the text box.

Step 1 Click the Insert tab.

  • On a Mac, you'll click the Home tab instead. [1] X Research source

Step 2 Click New Slide ▼.

  • Clicking the white slide-shaped box above this option will result in a new text slide being inserted.

Step 3 Select a type of slide.

  • Title Slide
  • Title and Content
  • Section Header
  • Two Content
  • Content with Caption
  • Picture with Caption

Step 4 Add any other slides that you think you'll need.

  • Naturally, the title slide should be the first slide in your presentation, meaning that it should be the top slide in the left-hand column.

Step 1 Select a slide.

  • Skip this step and the next two steps if your selected slide uses a template that doesn't have text boxes in it.

Step 3 Add text to the slide.

  • Text boxes in PowerPoint will automatically format the bulk of your text for you (e.g., adding bullet points) based on the context of the content itself.
  • You can add notes that the Presentation will not include (but you'll still be able to see them on your screen) by clicking Notes at the bottom of the slide.

Step 4 Format the slide's text.

  • You can change the font of the selected text by clicking the current font's name and then clicking your preferred font.
  • If you want to change the size of the text, click the numbered drop-down box and then click a larger or smaller number based on whether you want to enlarge or shrink the text.
  • You can also change the color, bolding, italicization, underlining, and so on from here.

Step 5 Add photos to the slide.

  • Photos in particular can be enlarged or shrunk by clicking and dragging out or in one of their corners.

Step 7 Repeat this for each slide in your presentation.

  • Remember to keep slides uncluttered and relatively free of distractions. It's best to keep the amount of text per slide to around 33 words or less. [2] X Research source

Step 1 Select a slide.

  • Slide content will animate in the order in which you assign transitions. For example, if you animate a photo on the slide and then animate the title, the photo will appear before the title.
  • Make your slideshow progress automatically by setting the speed of every transition to align with your speech as well as setting each slide to Advance . [3] X Trustworthy Source Microsoft Support Technical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source

Step 1 Review your PowerPoint.

  • If you need to exit the presentation, press Esc .

Step 5 Make any necessary changes before proceeding.

  • Windows - Click File , click Save , double-click This PC , select a save location, enter a name for your presentation, and click Save .
  • Mac - Click File , click Save As... , enter the presentation's name in the "Save As" field, select a save location by clicking the "Where" box and clicking a folder, and click Save .

Community Q&A

Community Answer

  • If you save your PowerPoint presentation in .pps format instead of the default .ppt format, double-clicking your PowerPoint presentation file will prompt the presentation to open directly into the slideshow view. Thanks Helpful 5 Not Helpful 0
  • If you don't have Microsoft Office, you can still use Apple's Keynote program or Google Slides to create a PowerPoint presentation. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

presentation prepare power point

  • Your PowerPoint presentation (or some features in it) may not open in significantly older versions of PowerPoint. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 1
  • Great PowerPoint presentations avoid placing too much text on one slide. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

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Create a Powerpoint Handout

  • ↑ https://onedrive.live.com/view.aspx?resid=DBDCE00C929AA5D8!252&ithint=file%2cpptx&app=PowerPoint&authkey=!AH4O9NxcbehqzIg
  • ↑ https://www.virtualsalt.com/powerpoint.htm
  • ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/set-the-timing-and-speed-of-a-transition-c3c3c66f-4cca-4821-b8b9-7de0f3f6ead1#:~:text=To%20make%20the%20slide%20advance,effect%20on%20the%20slide%20finishes .

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How to Make a PowerPoint Presentation (Step-by-Step)

  • PowerPoint Tutorials
  • Presentation Design
  • January 22, 2024

In this beginner’s guide, you will learn step-by-step how to make a PowerPoint presentation from scratch.

While PowerPoint is designed to be intuitive and accessible, it can be overwhelming if you’ve never gotten any training on it before. As you progress through this guide, you’ll will learn how to move from blank slides to PowerPoint slides that look like these.

Example of the six slides you'll learn how to create in this tutorial

Table of Contents

Additionally, as you create your presentation, you’ll also learn tricks for working more efficiently in PowerPoint, including how to:

  • Change the slide order
  • Reset your layout
  • Change the slide dimensions
  • Use PowerPoint Designer
  • Format text
  • Format objects
  • Play a presentation (slide show)

With this knowledge under your belt, you’ll be ready to start creating PowerPoint presentations. Moreover, you’ll have taken your skills from beginner to proficient in no time at all. I will also include links to more advanced PowerPoint topics.

Ready to start learning how to make a PowerPoint presentation?

Take your PPT skills to the next level

Start with a blank presentation.

Note: Before you open PowerPoint and start creating your presentation, make sure you’ve collected your thoughts. If you’re going to make your slides compelling, you need to spend some time brainstorming.

For help with this, see our article with tips for nailing your business presentation  here .

The first thing you’ll need to do is to open PowerPoint. When you do, you are shown the Start Menu , with the Home tab open.

This is where you can choose either a blank theme (1) or a pre-built theme (2). You can also choose to open an existing presentation (3).

For now, go ahead and click on the  Blank Presentation (1)  thumbnail.

In the backstage view of PowerPoint you can create a new blank presentation, use a template, or open a recent file

Doing so launches a brand new and blank presentation for you to work with. Before you start adding content to your presentation, let’s first familiarize ourselves with the PowerPoint interface.

The PowerPoint interface

Picture of the different parts of the PowerPoint layout, including the Ribbon, thumbnail view, quick access toolbar, notes pane, etc.

Here is how the program is laid out:

  • The Application Header
  • The Ribbon (including the Ribbon tabs)
  • The Quick Access Toolbar (either above or below the Ribbon)
  • The Slides Pane (slide thumbnails)

The Slide Area

The notes pane.

  • The Status Bar (including the View Buttons)

Each one of these areas has options for viewing certain parts of the PowerPoint environment and formatting your presentation.

Below are the important things to know about certain elements of the PowerPoint interface.

The PowerPoint Ribbon

The PowerPoint Ribbon in the Microsoft Office Suite

The Ribbon is contextual. That means that it will adapt to what you’re doing in the program.

For example, the Font, Paragraph and Drawing options are greyed out until you select something that has text in it, as in the example below (A).

Example of the Shape Format tab in PowerPoint and all of the subsequent commands assoicated with that tab

Furthermore, if you start manipulating certain objects, the Ribbon will display additional tabs, as seen above (B), with more commands and features to help you work with those objects. The following objects have their own additional tabs in the Ribbon which are hidden until you select them:

  • Online Pictures
  • Screenshots
  • Screen Recording

The Slides Pane

The slides pane in PowerPoint is on the left side of your workspace

This is where you can preview and rearrange all the slides in your presentation.

Right-clicking on a slide  in the pane gives you additional options on the slide level that you won’t find on the Ribbon, such as  Duplicate Slide ,  Delete Slide , and  Hide Slide .

Right clicking a PowerPoint slide in the thumbnail view gives you a variety of options like adding new slides, adding sections, changing the layout, etc.

In addition, you can add sections to your presentation by  right-clicking anywhere in this Pane  and selecting  Add Section . Sections are extremely helpful in large presentations, as they allow you to organize your slides into chunks that you can then rearrange, print or display differently from other slides.

Content added to your PowerPoint slides will only display if it's on the slide area, marked here by the letter A

The Slide Area (A) is where you will build out your slides. Anything within the bounds of this area will be visible when you present or print your presentation.

Anything outside of this area (B) will be hidden from view. This means that you can place things here, such as instructions for each slide, without worrying about them being shown to your audience.

The notes pane in PowerPoint is located at the bottom of your screen and is where you can type your speaker notes

The  Notes Pane  is the space beneath the Slide Area where you can type in the speaker notes for each slide. It’s designed as a fast way to add and edit your slides’ talking points.

To expand your knowledge and learn more about adding, printing, and exporting your PowerPoint speaker notes, read our guide here .

Your speaker notes are visible when you print your slides using the Notes Pages option and when you use the Presenter View . To expand your knowledge and learn the ins and outs of using the Presenter View , read our guide here .

You can click and drag to resize the notes pane at the bottom of your PowerPoint screen

You can resize the  Notes Pane  by clicking on its edge and dragging it up or down (A). You can also minimize or reopen it by clicking on the Notes button in the Status Bar (B).

Note:  Not all text formatting displays in the Notes Pane, even though it will show up when printing your speaker notes. To learn more about printing PowerPoint with notes, read our guide here .

Now that you have a basic grasp of the PowerPoint interface at your disposal, it’s time to make your presentation.

Adding Content to Your PowerPoint Presentation

Notice that in the Slide Area , there are two rectangles with dotted outlines. These are called  Placeholders  and they’re set on the template in the Slide Master View .

To expand your knowledge and learn how to create a PowerPoint template of your own (which is no small task), read our guide here .

Click into your content placeholders and start typing text, just as the prompt suggests

As the prompt text suggests, you can click into each placeholder and start typing text. These types of placeholder prompts are customizable too. That means that if you are using a company template, it might say something different, but the functionality is the same.

Example of typing text into a content placeholder in PowerPoint

Note:  For the purposes of this example, I will create a presentation based on the content in the Starbucks 2018 Global Social Impact Report, which is available to the public on their website.

If you type in more text than there is room for, PowerPoint will automatically reduce its font size. You can stop this behavior by clicking on the  Autofit Options  icon to the left of the placeholder and selecting  Stop Fitting Text to this Placeholder .

Next, you can make formatting adjustments to your text by selecting the commands in the Font area and the  Paragraph area  of the  Home  tab of the Ribbon.

Use the formatting options on the Home tab to choose the formatting of your text

The Reset Command:  If you make any changes to your title and decide you want to go back to how it was originally, you can use the Reset button up in the Home tab .

Hitting the reset command on the home tab resets your slide formatting to match your template

Insert More Slides into Your Presentation

Now that you have your title slide filled in, it’s time to add more slides. To do that, simply go up to the  Home tab  and click on  New Slide . This inserts a new slide in your presentation right after the one you were on.

To insert a new slide in PowerPoint, on the home tab click the New Slide command

You can alternatively hit Ctrl+M on your keyboard to insert a new blank slide in PowerPoint. To learn more about this shortcut, see my guide on using Ctrl+M in PowerPoint .

Instead of clicking the New Slide command, you can also open the New Slide dropdown to see all the slide layouts in your PowerPoint template. Depending on who created your template, your layouts in this dropdown can be radically different.

Opening the new slide dropdown you can see all the slide layouts in your PowerPoint template

If you insert a layout and later want to change it to a different layout, you can use the Layout dropdown instead of the New Slide dropdown.

After inserting a few different slide layouts, your presentation might look like the following picture. Don’t worry that it looks blank, next we will start adding content to your presentation.

Example of a number of different blank slide layouts inserting in a PowerPoint presentation

If you want to follow along exactly with me, your five slides should be as follows:

  • Title Slide
  • Title and Content
  • Section Header
  • Two Content
  • Picture with Caption

Adding Content to Your Slides

Now let’s go into each slide and start adding our content. You’ll notice some new types of placeholders.

Use the icons within a content placeholder to insert things like tables, charts, SmartArt, Pictures, etc.

On slide 2 we have a  Content Placeholder , which allows you to add any kind of content. That includes:

  • A SmartArt graphic,
  • A 3D object,
  • A picture from the web,
  • Or an icon.

To insert text, simply type it in or hit  Ctrl+C to Copy  and Ctrl+V to Paste  from elsewhere. To insert any of the other objects, click on the appropriate icon and follow the steps to insert it.

For my example, I’ll simply type in some text as you can see in the picture below.

Example typing bulleted text in a content placeholder in PowerPoint

Slides 3 and 4 only have text placeholders, so I’ll go ahead and add in my text into each one.

Examples of text typed into a divider slide and a title and content slide in PowerPoint

On slide 5 we have a Picture Placeholder . That means that the only elements that can go into it are:

  • A picture from the web

A picture placeholder in PowerPoint can only take an image or an icon

To insert a picture into the picture placeholder, simply:

  • Click on the  Picture  icon
  • Find  a picture on your computer and select it
  • Click on  Insert

Alternatively, if you already have a picture open somewhere else, you can select the placeholder and paste in (shortcut: Ctrl+V ) the picture. You can also drag the picture in from a file explorer window.

To insert a picture into a picture placeholder, click the picture icon, find your picture on your computer and click insert

If you do not like the background of the picture you inserted onto your slide, you can remove the background here in PowerPoint. To see how to do this, read my guide here .

Placeholders aren’t the only way to add content to your slides. At any point, you can use the Insert tab to add elements to your slides.

You can use either the Title Only  or the  Blank  slide layout to create slides for content that’s different. For example, a three-layout content slide, or a single picture divider slide, as shown below.

Example slides using PowerPoint icons and background pictures

In the first example above, I’ve inserted 6 text boxes, 3 icons, and 3 circles to create this layout. In the second example, I’ve inserted a full-sized picture and then 2 shapes and 2 text boxes.

The Reset Command:  Because these slides are built with shapes and text boxes (and not placeholders), hitting the  Reset button up in the  Home tab  won’t do anything.

That is a good thing if you don’t want your layouts to adjust. However, it does mean that it falls on you to make sure everything is aligned and positioned correctly.

For more on how to add and manipulate the different objects in PowerPoint, check out our step-by-step articles here:

  • Using graphics in PowerPoint
  • Inserting icons onto slides
  • Adding pictures to your PowerPoint
  • How to embed a video in PowerPoint
  • How to add music to your presentation

Using Designer to generate more layouts ideas

If you have Office 365, your version of PowerPoint comes with a new feature called Designer (or Design Ideas). This is a feature that generates slide layout ideas for you. The coolest thing about this feature is that it uses the content you already have.

To use Designer , simply navigate to the  Design tab  in your Ribbon, and click on  Design Ideas .

To use Designer on your slides, click the

NOTE: If the PowerPoint Designer is not working for you (it is grey out), see my troubleshooting guide for Designer .

Change the Overall Design (optional)

When you make a PowerPoint presentation, you’ll want to think about the overall design. Now that you have some content in your presentation, you can use the Design tab to change the look and feel of your slides.

For additional help thinking through the design of your presentation,  read my guide here .

A. Picking your PowerPoint slide size

If you have PowerPoint 2013 or later, when you create a blank document in PowerPoint, you automatically start with a widescreen layout with a 16:9 ratio. These dimensions are suitable for most presentations as they match the screens of most computers and projectors.

However, you do have the option to change the dimensions.

For example, your presentation might not be presented, but instead converted into a PDF or printed and distributed. In that case, you can easily switch to the standard dimensions with a 4:3 ratio by selecting from the dropdown (A).

You can also choose a custom slide size or change the slide orientation from landscape to portrait in the Custom Slide Size dialog box (B).

To change your slide size, click the Design tab, open the slide size dropdown and choose a size or custom slide size

To learn all about the different PowerPoint slide sizes, and some of the issues you will face when changing the slide size of a non-blank presentation,  read my guide here .

 B. Selecting a PowerPoint theme

The next thing you can do is change the theme of your presentation to a pre-built one. For a detailed explanation of what a PowerPoint theme is, and how to best use it,  read my article here .

In the beginning of this tutorial, we started with a blank presentation, which uses the default Office theme as you can see in the picture below.

All PowerPoint presentations start with the default Microsoft Office theme

That gives you the most flexibility because it has a blank background and quite simple layouts that work for most presentations. However, it also means that it’s your responsibility to enhance the design.

If you’re comfortable with this, you can stay with the default theme or create your own custom theme ( read my guide here ). But if you would rather not have to think about design, then you can choose a pre-designed theme.

Microsoft provides 46 other pre-built themes, which include slide layouts, color variants and palettes, and fonts. Each one varies quite significantly, so make sure you look through them carefully.

To select a different theme, go to the  Design tab  in the Ribbon, and click on the  dropdown arrow  in the  Themes section .

On the Design tab you will find all of the default PowerPoint templates that come with the Microsoft Office Suite

For this tutorial, let’s select the  Frame  theme and then choose the third Variant in the theme. Doing so changes the layout, colors, and fonts of your presentation.

Example choosing the Frame PowerPoint theme and the third variant of this powerpoint presentation

Note: The theme dropdown area is also where you can import or save custom themes. To see my favorite places to find professional PowerPoint templates and themes (and recommendations for why I like them), read my guide here .

C. How to change a slide background in PowerPoint

The next thing to decide is how you want your background to look for the entire presentation. In the  Variants area, you can see four background options.

To change the background style of your presentation, on the Design tab, find the Background Styles options and choose a style

For this example, we want our presentation to have a dark background, so let’s select Style 3. When you do so, you’ll notice that:

  • The background color automatically changes across all slides
  • The color of the text on most of the slides automatically changes to white so that it’s visible on the dark background
  • The colors of the objects on slides #6 and #7 also adjust, in a way we may not want (we’ll likely have to make some manual adjustments to these slides)

What our PowerPoint presentation looks like now that we have selected a theme, a variant, and a background style

Note: If you want to change the slide background for just that one slide, don’t left-click the style. Instead, right-click it and select Apply to Selected Slides .

After you change the background for your entire presentation, you can easily adjust the background for an individual slide.

You can either right-click a PowerPoint slide and select format background or navigate to the design tab and click the format background command

Inside the Format Background pane, you can see you have the following options:

  • Gradient fill
  • Picture or texture fill
  • Pattern fill
  • Hide background

You can explore these options to find the PowerPoint background that best fits your presentation.

D. How to change your color palette in PowerPoint

Another thing you may want to adjust in your presentation, is the color scheme. In the picture below you can see the Theme Colors we are currently using for this presentation.

Example of the theme colors we are currently using with this presentation

Each PowerPoint theme comes with its own color palette. By default, the Office theme includes the Office color palette. This affects the colors you are presented with when you format any element within your presentation (text, shapes, SmartArt, etc.).

To change the theme color for your presentation, select the Design tab, open the Colors options and choose the colors you want to use

The good news is that the colors here are easy to change. To switch color palettes, simply:

  • Go to the  Design tab in the Ribbon
  • In the Variants area, click on the  dropdown arrow  and select  Colors
  • Select  the color palette (or theme colors) you want

You can choose among the pre-built color palettes from Office, or you can customize them to create your own.

As you build your presentation, make sure you use the colors from your theme to format objects. That way, changing the color palette adjusts all the colors in your presentation automatically.

E. How to change your fonts in PowerPoint

Just as we changed the color palette, you can do the same for the fonts.

Example of custom theme fonts that might come with a powerpoint template

Each PowerPoint theme comes with its own font combination. By default, the Office theme includes the Office font pairing. This affects the fonts that are automatically assigned to all text in your presentation.

To change the default fonts for your presentation, from the design tab, find the fonts dropdown and select the pair of fonts you want to use

The good news is that the font pairings are easy to change. To switch your Theme Fonts, simply:

  • Go to the  Design tab  in the Ribbon
  • Click on the  dropdown arrow  in the  Variants  area
  • Select  Fonts
  • Select  the font pairing you want

You can choose among the pre-built fonts from Office, or you can customize them to create your own.

If you are working with PowerPoint presentations on both Mac and PC computers, make sure you choose a safe PowerPoint font. To see a list of the safest PowerPoint fonts, read our guide here .

If you receive a PowerPoint presentation and the wrong fonts were used, you can use the Replace Fonts dialog box to change the fonts across your entire presentation. For details, read our guide here .

Adding Animations & Transitions (optional)

The final step to make a PowerPoint presentation compelling, is to consider using animations and transitions. These are by no means necessary to a good presentation, but they may be helpful in your situation.

A. Adding PowerPoint animations

PowerPoint has an incredibly robust animations engine designed to power your creativity. That being said, it’s also easy to get started with basic animations.

Animations are movements that you can apply to individual objects on your slide.

To add an animation to an object in PowerPoint, first select the object and then use the Animations tab to select an animation type

To add a PowerPoint animation to an element of your slide, simply:

  • Select the  element
  • Go to the  Animations tab in the Ribbon
  • Click on the  dropdown arrow  to view your options
  • Select the  animation  you want

You can add animations to multiple objects at one time by selecting them all first and then applying the animation.

B. How to preview a PowerPoint animation

There are three ways to preview a PowerPoint animation

There are three ways to preview a PowerPoint animation:

  • Click on the Preview button in the Animations tab
  • Click on the little star  next to the slide
  • Play the slide in Slide Show Mode

To learn other ways to run your slide show, see our guide on presenting a PowerPoint slide show with shortcuts .

To adjust the settings of your animations, explore the options in the  Effect Options ,  Advanced Animation  and the  Timing  areas of the  Animation tab .

The Animations tab allows you to adjust the effects and timings of your animations in PowerPoint

Note:  To see how to make objects appear and disappear in your slides by clicking a button,  read our guide here .

C. How to manage your animations in PowerPoint

You can see the animations applied to your objects by the little numbers in the upper right-hand corner of the objects

The best way to manage lots of animations on your slide is with the Animation Pane . To open it, simply:

  • Navigate to the  Animations tab
  • Select the  Animation Pane

Inside the Animation Pane, you’ll see all of the different animations that have been applied to objects on your slide, with their numbers marked as pictured above.

Note: To see examples of PowerPoint animations that can use in PowerPoint, see our list of PowerPoint animation tutorials here .

D. How to add transitions to your PowerPoint presentation

PowerPoint has an incredibly robust transition engine so that you can dictate how your slides change from one to the other. It is also extremely easy to add transitions to your slides.

In PowerPoint, transitions are the movements (or effects) you see as you move between two slides.

To add a transition to a slide, select the slide, navigate to the transitions tab in PowerPoint and select your transition

To add a transition to a PowerPoint slide, simply:

  • Select the  slide
  • Go to the  Transitions tab in the Ribbon
  • In the Transitions to This Slide area, click on the  dropdown arrow  to view your options
  • Select the  transition  you want

To adjust the settings of the transition, explore the options in the  Timing  area of the Transitions tab.

You can also add the same transition to multiple slides. To do that, select them in the  Slides Pane  and apply the transition.

E. How to preview a transition in PowerPoint

There are three ways to preview a transition in PowerPoint

There are three ways to preview your PowerPoint transitions (just like your animations):

  • Click on the Preview  button in the Transitions tab
  • Click on the little star  beneath the slide number in the thumbnail view

Note:  In 2016, PowerPoint added a cool new transition, called Morph. It operates a bit differently from other transitions. For a detailed tutorial on how to use the cool Morph transition,  see our step-by-step article here .

Save Your PowerPoint Presentation

After you’ve built your presentation and made all the adjustments to your slides, you’ll want to save your presentation. YOu can do this several different ways.

Click the file tab, select Save As, choose where you want to save your presentation and then click save

To save a PowerPoint presentation using your Ribbon, simply:

  • Navigate to the  File tab
  •  Select  Save As  on the left
  • Choose  where you want to save your presentation
  • Name  your presentation and/or adjust your file type settings
  • Click  Save

You can alternatively use the  Ctrl+S keyboard shortcut to save your presentation. I recommend using this shortcut frequently as you build your presentation to make sure you don’t lose any of your work.

The save shortcut is control plus s in PowerPoint

This is the standard way to save a presentation. However, there may be a situation where you want to save your presentation as a different file type.

To learn how to save your presentation as a PDF, see our guide on converting PowerPoint to a PDF .

How to save your PowerPoint presentation as a template

Once you’ve created a presentation that you like, you may want to turn it into a template. The easiest – but not technically correct – way, is to simply create a copy of your current presentation and then change the content.

But be careful! A PowerPoint template is a special type of document and it has its own parameters and behaviors.

If you’re interested in learning about how to create your own PowerPoint template from scratch, see our guide on how to create a PowerPoint template .

Printing Your PowerPoint Presentation

After finishing your PowerPoint presentation, you may want to print it out on paper. Printing your slides is relatively easy.

The print shortcut is control plus P in PowerPoint

To open the Print dialog box, you can either:

  • Hit Ctrl+P on your keyboard
  • Or go to the Ribbon and click on File and then Print

In the Print dialog box, make your selections for how you want to print your PowerPoint presentation, then click print

Inside the Print dialog box, you can choose from the various printing settings:

  • Printer: Select a printer to use (or print to PDF or OneNote)
  • Slides: Choose which slides you want to print
  • Layout: Determine how many slides you want per page (this is where you can print the notes, outline, and handouts)
  • Collated or uncollated (learn what collated printing means here )
  • Color: Choose to print in color, grayscale or black & white

There are many more options for printing your PowerPoint presentations. Here are links to more in-depth articles:

  • How to print multiple slides per page
  • How to print your speaker notes in PowerPoint
  • How to save PowerPoint as a picture presentation

So that’s how to create a PowerPoint presentation if you are brand new to it. We’ve also included a ton of links to helpful resources to boost your PowerPoint skills further.

When you are creating your presentation, it is critical to first focus on the content (what you are trying to say) before getting lost inserting and playing with elements. The clearer you are on what you want to present, the easier it will be to build it out in PowerPoint.

If you enjoyed this article, you can learn more about our PowerPoint training courses and other presentation resources by  visiting us here .

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How-To Geek

8 tips to make the best powerpoint presentations.

Want to make your PowerPoint presentations really shine? Here's how to impress and engage your audience.

Quick Links

Table of contents, start with a goal, less is more, consider your typeface, make bullet points count, limit the use of transitions, skip text where possible, think in color, take a look from the top down, bonus: start with templates.

Slideshows are an intuitive way to share complex ideas with an audience, although they're dull and frustrating when poorly executed. Here are some tips to make your Microsoft PowerPoint presentations sing while avoiding common pitfalls.

define a goal

It all starts with identifying what we're trying to achieve with the presentation. Is it informative, a showcase of data in an easy-to-understand medium? Or is it more of a pitch, something meant to persuade and convince an audience and lead them to a particular outcome?

It's here where the majority of these presentations go wrong with the inability to identify the talking points that best support our goal. Always start with a goal in mind: to entertain, to inform, or to share data in a way that's easy to understand. Use facts, figures, and images to support your conclusion while keeping structure in mind (Where are we now and where are we going?).

I've found that it's helpful to start with the ending. Once I know how to end a presentation, I know how best to get to that point. I start by identifying the takeaway---that one nugget that I want to implant before thanking everyone for their time---and I work in reverse to figure out how best to get there.

Your mileage, of course, may vary. But it's always going to be a good idea to put in the time in the beginning stages so that you aren't reworking large portions of the presentation later. And that starts with a defined goal.

avoid walls of text

A slideshow isn't supposed to include everything. It's an introduction to a topic, one that we can elaborate on with speech. Anything unnecessary is a distraction. It makes the presentation less visually appealing and less interesting, and it makes you look bad as a presenter.

This goes for text as well as images. There's nothing worse, in fact, than a series of slides where the presenter just reads them as they appear. Your audience is capable of reading, and chances are they'll be done with the slide, and browsing Reddit, long before you finish. Avoid putting the literal text on the screen, and your audience will thank you.

Related: How to Burn Your PowerPoint to DVD

use better fonts

Right off the bat, we're just going to come out and say that Papyrus and Comic Sans should be banned from all PowerPoint presentations, permanently. Beyond that, it's worth considering the typeface you're using and what it's saying about you, the presenter, and the presentation itself.

Consider choosing readability over aesthetics, and avoid fancy fonts that could prove to be more of a distraction than anything else. A good presentation needs two fonts: a serif and sans-serif. Use one for the headlines and one for body text, lists, and the like. Keep it simple. Veranda, Helvetica, Arial, and even Times New Roman are safe choices. Stick with the classics and it's hard to botch this one too badly.

use fewer bullets

There reaches a point where bullet points become less of a visual aid and more of a visual examination.

Bullet points should support the speaker, not overwhelm his audience. The best slides have little or no text at all, in fact. As a presenter, it's our job to talk through complex issues, but that doesn't mean that we need to highlight every talking point.

Instead, think about how you can break up large lists into three or four bullet points. Carefully consider whether you need to use more bullet points, or if you can combine multiple topics into a single point instead. And if you can't, remember that there's no one limiting the number of slides you can have in a presentation. It's always possible to break a list of 12 points down into three pages of four points each.

avoid transitions

Animation, when used correctly, is a good idea. It breaks up slow-moving parts of a presentation and adds action to elements that require it. But it should be used judiciously.

Adding a transition that wipes left to right between every slide or that animates each bullet point in a list, for example, starts to grow taxing on those forced to endure the presentation. Viewers get bored quickly, and animations that are meant to highlight specific elements quickly become taxing.

That's not to say that you can't use animations and transitions, just that you need to pick your spots. Aim for no more than a handful of these transitions for each presentation. And use them in spots where they'll add to the demonstration, not detract from it.

use visuals

Sometimes images tell a better story than text can. And as a presenter, your goal is to describe points in detail without making users do a lot of reading. In these cases, a well-designed visual, like a chart, might better convey the information you're trying to share.

The right image adds visual appeal and serves to break up longer, text-heavy sections of the presentation---but only if you're using the right images. A single high-quality image can make all the difference between a success and a dud when you're driving a specific point home.

When considering text, don't think solely in terms of bullet points and paragraphs. Tables, for example, are often unnecessary. Ask yourself whether you could present the same data in a bar or line chart instead.

find a color palette

Color is interesting. It evokes certain feelings and adds visual appeal to your presentation as a whole. Studies show that color also improves interest, comprehension, and retention. It should be a careful consideration, not an afterthought.

You don't have to be a graphic designer to use color well in a presentation. What I do is look for palettes I like, and then find ways to use them in the presentation. There are a number of tools for this, like Adobe Color , Coolors , and ColorHunt , just to name a few. After finding a palette you enjoy, consider how it works with the presentation you're about to give. Pastels, for example, evoke feelings of freedom and light, so they probably aren't the best choice when you're presenting quarterly earnings that missed the mark.

It's also worth mentioning that you don't need to use every color in the palette. Often, you can get by with just two or three, though you should really think through how they all work together and how readable they'll be when layered. A simple rule of thumb here is that contrast is your friend. Dark colors work well on light backgrounds, and light colors work best on dark backgrounds.

change views

Spend some time in the Slide Sorter before you finish your presentation. By clicking the four squares at the bottom left of the presentation, you can take a look at multiple slides at once and consider how each works together. Alternatively, you can click "View" on the ribbon and select "Slide Sorter."

Are you presenting too much text at once? Move an image in. Could a series of slides benefit from a chart or summary before you move on to another point?

It's here that we have the opportunity to view the presentation from beyond the single-slide viewpoint and think in terms of how each slide fits, or if it fits at all. From this view, you can rearrange slides, add additional ones, or delete them entirely if you find that they don't advance the presentation.

The difference between a good presentation and a bad one is really all about preparation and execution. Those that respect the process and plan carefully---not only the presentation as a whole, but each slide within it---are the ones who will succeed.

This brings me to my last (half) point: When in doubt, just buy a template and use it. You can find these all over the web, though Creative Market and GraphicRiver are probably the two most popular marketplaces for this kind of thing. Not all of us are blessed with the skills needed to design and deliver an effective presentation. And while a pre-made PowerPoint template isn't going to make you a better presenter, it will ease the anxiety of creating a visually appealing slide deck.

presentation prepare power point

How to Prepare Great PowerPoint Presentations – 12 tips

February 13, 2021

Prepare Better PowerPoint Presentations

Powerpoint can be great.  or it can be crap. we all know what death by powerpoint feels like. but, how do you prepare better powerpoint presentations and avoid mistakes, how do you prepare your powerpoint presentations how do you build your presentations now, if you want really good powerpoint presentations, you may need to re-think how you write them..

If you switch to PowerPoint as soon as you hear the word ‘presentation’, then we can show you how you should build your presentation. We suggest you completely re-think how you approach your presentations.

First, understand how NOT to prepare a PowerPoint presentation.

This what most people do to prepare presentations:

1. Switch on their computer 2. Open up PowerPoint 3. Search out other presentations given recently 4. Start making changes to PowerPoint slides 5. Print out the first batch of slides 6. Scribble all over them 7. Re-edit these slides 8. Keep on at the slides until late at night 9. Work at it over the weekend 10. Give it to a colleague to look at 11. Incorporate those comments 12. Work until late at night again 13. Rehearse in the taxi on the way to the meeting

Then, start with:

“Hello, my name is John Smith and I am here today to talk about…..”

If this is how you prepare your PowerPoint presentations, then this advice is for you.   You’ll learn a lot that will help you prepare much more effective presentations and will build your presentation skills.

It is why so many presentations are deathly boring .  Learn how to prepare a business presentation.

How to prepare your PowerPoint presentation – 10 steps

1. Do NOT open PowerPoint 2. Be clear on who your audience is and what you want to achieve. 3. Have a single message that summarises your talk 4. Break down your presentation into clear parts  5. Start your presentation with a high impact statement 6. Identify stories , anecdotes and examples   7. Finish your presentation with a clear message, request or call to action  8. Use clear simple language  9. Incorporate pauses , short sentences, great eye contact 10. Work out what questions you could be asked 11. Now, work out if you really need any visual aids or handouts 12. Practise, practise, practise 

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We have identified five common PowerPoint mistakes that send presentations to the graveyard:

Five ways not to prepare powerpoint presentations, 1. the wrong document.

When you work in PowerPoint, are you clear what you are producing?   Is it a handout, visual aids or your speaker’s notes? These three documents are as different as a book, a film and a film script. Too often, we see handouts projected on a screen, or what should be speaker notes printed and distributed.

If you are creating visual aids to accompany your talk, make sure they really are Visual Aids – something that reinforces what you say and helps the listener understand. If it’s a handout, make it self-sufficient.

2. Not Easy for Your Audience

Your job as a presenter is to make it easy for your audience. A good slide is simple to interpret. That means using a clear hierarchy of information on the page. Lay out your messages, headings, evidence and facts in a logical way. If you can make it simpler , then do so.

3. All Bullets and Text

The default PowerPoint approach , with lines of text and bullet points, usually means you are creating speakers notes for yourself. If you create slides to remind yourself what to say, it’s going to be bad for the audience. Instead, you should be making visual aids that always make it easier for your audience.

4. Too Many Facts

Lists of facts do not work. Great communication needs stories , messages, evidence and facts. You should appeal to those who need emotional arguments as well as logical arguments. In fact, facts work best when they are embedded in a story or narrative.

5. Challenging the Audience to Read

When using Visual Aids , you need to understand how the human brain works. People cannot both read and listen at the same time. If given a choice, they will read, not listen.  Then when they tune in, they will hear you saying things they have just read. This means you, as the presenter, thinking through how you should help the audience absorb information.

Prepare PowerPoint Presentations Differently

So, when you next switch on PowerPoint ask yourself first whether this really is the best way to communicate your point. Sometimes, a report, a talk or an email can be more effective. And PowerPoint is NOT a planning tool.  You should only use PowerPoint at the end of your presentation planning process.

Put yourself into your audience’s shoes and imagine what they are experiencing. PowerPoint can be powerful, but only if you use it properly. Avoid PowerPoint Presentation mistakes.

What can we learn from Harry Potter about better presentations?

One simple rule:  Like magic, PowerPoint is powerful, and to do good it has to be used properly.

Let me explain. Like the magic in Harry Potter, PowerPoint is a powerful tool. And the ease of using PowerPoint sometimes makes us forget what we are creating.

And the language we use to describe A Presentation makes us forget how we are going to communicate using the materials that PowerPoint produces.

Is Your Presentation a Book, Movie or Script?

When you talk about creating a presentation, are you always clear what you are making?

For example, is it a document to be read at a desk, or is it a document to be shown, or are they notes to help you remember what to say?

These three uses are as different as Harry Potter the book, Harry Potter the movie and Harry Potter the film script. They all have the same characters; they all have the same story. but they are all completely different.

So that you do not fall into this trap, we suggest changing the language you use in your firm:

Words you should Ban from your organisation

We suggest  you forbid the use of the following:

Presentation Slide Deck

 Words you should Adopt instead

Instead,  use the following more useful words:

Visual Aid Handout Speaker’s Notes

This simple change can transform the clarity of your communication and help you avoid Death by PowerPoint.

As Albus Dumbledore said:

“The truth is a beautiful and terrible thing, and should therefore be treated with caution”

Start preparing better PowerPoint presentations now

Download our  free ebook to start your journey towards becoming a Powerful Presenter. You’ll learn our 5-step process for transforming your presentations: inspirational, memorable and persuasive.

It’s full of practical tips and insights:

  • Increase your confidence
  • Persuade your audience
  • Engage your audience
  • Plan and structure your talks

Download your free copy of our  Five Steps to Transform your Leadership Talks  ebook now.

For more information and a free consultation, contact our customer services director Louise Angus today. 

You will work with award-winning coaches who regularly support senior executives. 

Our coaching costs from just £395/hr.  And we work very fast.

About Benjamin Ball Associates

Benjamin Ball Associates  Presentation skills coaching team

At Benjamin Ball Associates, we help our clients to communicate better. You get presentation coaching for executives.

Over 15+ years the award-winning BBA team has coached thousands of senior executives globally to present powerfully. You get access to a transformational toolbox of presentation skills & techniques to help you become a clear, confident communicator.

We’ll help you create a powerful first impression that hooks and engages your audience immediately, and we’ll transform you to deliver clearly, confidently and with impact.

Speak to Louise on +44 20 7018 0922 or email [email protected] to find out more and discuss your upcoming speech or presentation.

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17 PowerPoint Presentation Tips to Make More Creative Slideshows [+ Templates]

Jamie Cartwright

Published: August 16, 2023

Creating a great PowerPoint presentation is a skill that any professional can benefit from. The problem? It’s really easy to get it wrong. From poor color choices to confusing slides, a bad PowerPoint slideshow can distract from the fantastic content you’re sharing with stakeholders on your team.

powerpoint tricks

That’s why it’s so important to learn how to create a PowerPoint presentation from the ground up, starting with your slides. Even if you’re familiar with PowerPoint, a refresher will help you make a more attractive, professional slideshow. Let’s get started.

How to Make a PowerPoint Presentation

  • Presentation Tips

PowerPoint Design

I like to think of Microsoft PowerPoint as a test of basic professional skills. To create a passing presentation, I need to demonstrate design skills, technical literacy, and a sense of personal style.

If the presentation has a problem (like an unintended font, a broken link, or unreadable text), then I’ve probably failed the test. Even if my spoken presentation is well rehearsed, a bad visual experience can ruin it for the audience.

Expertise means nothing without a good PowerPoint presentation to back it up. For starters, grab your collection of free PowerPoint templates below.

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10 Free PowerPoint Templates

Download ten free PowerPoint templates for a better presentation.

  • Creative templates.
  • Data-driven templates.
  • Professional templates.

You're all set!

Click this link to access this resource at any time.

Tell us a little about yourself below to gain access today.

No matter your topic, successful PowerPoints depend on three main factors: your command of PowerPoint's design tools, your attention to presentation processes, and your devotion to consistent style. Here are some simple tips to help you start mastering each of those factors, and don't forget to check out the additional resources at the bottom of this post.

A presentation is made up of multiple slides, let's delve deeper into PowerPoint's capabilities.

Getting Started

1. open powerpoint and click ‘new.’.

If a page with templates doesn‘t automatically open, go to the top left pane of your screen and click New. If you’ve already created a presentation, select Open then double-click the icon to open the existing file.

presentation prepare power point

4. Create a variety of slides for different purposes.

You don‘t want to present the same exact slide, only with different content on it. This would bore your audience. Ensure that you create multiple variations, accommodating some of the common uses for slides. At minimum, you’ll need:

  • A title slide
  • An agenda or table of contents slide
  • A slide that introduces the speaker
  • Various content slides (create different layouts considering what kind of multimedia you'll use)

presentation prepare power point

powerpoint presentation: types of fonts

That said, you can still use fun and eccentric fonts — in moderation. Offsetting a fun font or large letters with something more professional can create an engaging presentation.

Above all, be sure you're consistent so your presentation looks the same throughout each slide. That way, your audience doesn't become distracted by too many disparate fonts. Check out this example from HubSpot’s company profile templates:

Interested in this presentation template? Download it for free here.

5. Make sure all of your objects are properly aligned.

Having properly aligned objects on your slide is the key to making it look polished and professional. You can manually try to line up your images ... but we all know how that typically works out. You're trying to make sure all of your objects hang out in the middle of your slide, but when you drag them there, it still doesn't look quite right. Get rid of your guessing game and let PowerPoint work its magic with this trick.

Here’s how to align multiple objects:

  • Select all objects by holding down Shift and clicking on all of them.
  • Select Arrange in the top options bar, then choose Align or Distribute .
  • Choose the type of alignment you'd like.

Here’s how to align objects to the slide:

  • Select Align to Slide .
  • Select Arrange in the top options bar again, then choose Align or Distribute .

6. Use "Format Object" to better control your objects' designs.

Format menus allow you to do fine adjustments that otherwise seem impossible. To do this, right-click on an object and select the Format Object option. Here, you can fine-tune shadows, adjust shape measurements, create reflections, and much more. The menu that will pop up looks like this:

powerpoint presentation: format object pane

Although the main options can be found on PowerPoint’s format toolbars, look for complete control in the format window menu. Other examples of options available include:

  • Adjusting text inside a shape.
  • Creating a natural perspective shadow behind an object.
  • Recoloring photos manually and with automatic options.

7. Take advantage of PowerPoint's shapes.

Many users don’t realize how flexible PowerPoint’s shape tools have become. In combination with the expanded format options released by Microsoft, the potential for good design with shapes is readily available. PowerPoint provides the user with a bunch of great shape options beyond the traditional rectangle, oval, and rounded rectangle patterns.

Today’s shapes include a highly functional Smart Shapes function, which enables you to create diagrams and flow charts in no time. These tools are especially valuable when you consider that PowerPoint is a visual medium. Paragraphing and bullet lists are boring — you can use shapes to help express your message more clearly.

8. Create custom shapes.

When you create a shape, right click and press Edit Points . By editing points, you can create custom shapes that fit your specific need. For instance, you can reshape arrows to fit the dimensions you like.

Another option is to combine two shapes together. To do so, select the two shapes you’d like to work with, then click Shape Format in the top ribbon. Tap Merge Shapes .

You’ll see a variety of options.

  • Combine creates a custom shape that has overlapping portions of the two previous shapes cut out.
  • Union makes one completely merged shape.
  • Intersect builds a shape of only the overlapping sections of the two previous shapes.
  • Subtract cuts out the overlapping portion of one shape from the other.
  • Fragment will split your shape into different parts depending on where they overlap.

By using these tools rather than trying to edit points precisely, you can create accurately measured custom shapes.

9. Crop images into custom shapes.

Besides creating custom shapes in your presentation, you can also use PowerPoint to crop existing images into new shapes. Here's how you do that:

  • Click on the image and select Picture Format in the options bar.
  • Choose Crop , then Crop to Shape , and then choose your desired shape. Ta-da! Custom-shaped photos.

10. Present websites within PowerPoint.

Tradition says that if you want to show a website in a PowerPoint, you should just create a link to the page and prompt a browser to open. For PC users, there’s a better option.

Third party software that integrates fully into PowerPoint’s developer tab can be used to embed a website directly into your PowerPoint using a normal HTML iframe. One of the best tools is LiveWeb , a third-party software that you can install on your PowerPoint program.

By using LiveWeb, you don’t have to interrupt your PowerPoint, and your presentation will remain fluid and natural. Whether you embed a whole webpage or just a YouTube video, this can be a high-quality third party improvement. To install the add-on, simple head to the LiveWeb website and follow the instructions.

Unfortunately, Mac users don’t have a similar option. A good second choice is to take screenshots of the website, link in through a browser, or embed media (such as a YouTube video) by downloading it directly to your computer.

11. Try Using GIFs.

GIFs are looped animated images used to communicate a mood, idea, information, and much more. Users add GIFs to PowerPoints to be funny or quickly demo a process. It's easy to add GIFs to your slides. To do so, simply follow these steps:

  • Download and save the GIF you want.
  • Go to the slide you want the GIF on.
  • Go to the Home tab, and click either Insert or Picture .
  • From the Picture drop-down menu, choose Picture from File .
  • Navigate to where you saved your GIF and select it. Then, choose Insert .
  • It will play automatically the moment you insert it.

PowerPoint Process

12. keep it simple..

PowerPoint is an excellent tool to support your presentation with visual information, graphics, and supplemental points. This means that your PowerPoint should not be your entire presentation. Your slides — no matter how creative and beautiful — shouldn't be the star of the show. Keep your text and images clear and concise, using them only to supplement your message and authority.

If your slides have dense and cluttered information, it will both distract your audience and make it much more likely that you will lose their attention. Nothing in your slides should be superfluous! Keep your presentation persuasive by keeping it clean. There are a few ways to do this:

  • Limit bullet points and text.
  • Avoid paragraphs and long quotes.
  • Maintain "white space" or "negative space".
  • Keep percentages, graphs, and data super basic.

13. Embed your font files.

One constant problem presenters have with PowerPoint is that fonts seem to change when presenters move from one computer to another. In reality, the fonts are not changing — the presentation computer just doesn’t have the same font files installed . If you’re using a PC and presenting on a PC, then there is a smooth workaround for this issue.

Here’s the trick: When you save your PowerPoint file (only on a PC), you should click File , then Options, then open up the Save tab. Then, select the Embed fonts in the file check box under Preserve fidelity when sharing this presentation . Now, your presentation will keep the font file and your fonts will not change when you move computers.

The macOS PowerPoint version has a similar function. To embed your fonts on a Mac, do the following:

  • Open up your presentation.
  • On the top bar, click PowerPoint , then click Preferences .
  • Under Output and Sharing , click Save .
  • Under Font Embedding , click Embed fonts in the file.

14. Save your slides as a PDF file for backup purposes.

If you’re still scared of your presentation showing up differently when it’s time to present, you should create a PDF version just in case. This is a good option if you’ll be presenting on a different computer. If you also run into an issue where the presenting computer doesn’t have PowerPoint installed, you can also use the system viewer to open up the PDF. No laptop will ever give you trouble with this file type.

The only caveat is that your GIFs, animations, and transitions won’t transfer over. But since the PDF will only work as a backup, not as your primary copy, this should be okay.

To save your presentation as a PDF file, take the following steps:

  • Go to File , then click Save as …
  • In the pop-up window, click File Format.
  • A drop-down menu will appear. Select PDF .
  • Click Export .

You can also go to File , then Export , then select PDF from the file format menu.

15. Embed multimedia.

PowerPoint allows you to either link to video/audio files externally or to embed the media directly in your presentation. You should embed these files if you can, but if you use a Mac, you cannot actually embed the video (see note below). For PCs, two great reasons for embedding are:

  • Embedding allows you to play media directly in your presentation. It will look much more professional than switching between windows.
  • Embedding also means that the file stays within the PowerPoint presentation, so it should play normally without extra work (except on a Mac).

Note: macOS users of PowerPoint should be extra careful about using multimedia files.

If you use PowerPoint for Mac, then you will always need to bring the video and/or audio file with you in the same folder as the PowerPoint presentation. It’s best to only insert video or audio files once the presentation and the containing folder have been saved on a portable drive in their permanent folder. Also, if the presentation will be played on a Windows computer, then Mac users need to make sure their multimedia files are in WMV format. This tip gets a bit complicated, so if you want to use PowerPoint effectively, consider using the same operating system for designing and presenting, no matter what.

16. Bring your own hardware.

Between operating systems, PowerPoint is still a bit jumpy. Even between differing PPT versions, things can change. One way to fix these problems is to make sure that you have the right hardware — so just bring along your own laptop when you're presenting.

If you’re super concerned about the different systems you might have to use, then upload your PowerPoint presentation into Google Slides as a backup option. Google Slides is a cloud-based presentation software that will show up the same way on all operating systems. The only thing you need is an internet connection and a browser.

To import your PowerPoint presentation into Google Slides, take the following steps:

  • Navigate to slides.google.com . Make sure you’re signed in to a Google account, preferably your own.
  • Under Start a new presentation , click the empty box with a plus sign. This will open up a blank presentation.
  • Go to File , then Import slides .
  • A dialog box will come up. Tap Upload , then click Select a file from your device .
  • Select your presentation and click Open .
  • Select the slides you’d like to import. If you want to import all of them, click All in the upper right-hand corner of the dialog box.
  • Click Import slides.

powerpoint presentation: importing slides into google slides

When I tested this out, Google Slides imported everything perfectly, including a shape whose points I had manipulated. This is a good backup option to have if you’ll be presenting across different operating systems.

17. Use Presenter View.

In most presentation situations, there will be both a presenter’s screen and the main projected display for your presentation. PowerPoint has a great tool called Presenter View, which can be found in the Slide Show tab of PowerPoint. Included in the Presenter View is an area for notes, a timer/clock, and a presentation display.

powerpoint presentation: using presenter view

For many presenters, this tool can help unify their spoken presentation and their visual aid. You never want to make the PowerPoint seem like a stack of notes that you’re reading off of. Use the Presenter View option to help create a more natural presentation.

Pro Tip: At the start of the presentation, you should also hit CTRL + H to make the cursor disappear. Hitting the "A" key will bring it back if you need it!

Your Next Great PowerPoint Presentation Starts Here

With style, design, and presentation processes under your belt, you can do a lot more with PowerPoint than just presentations for your clients. PowerPoint and similar slide applications are flexible tools that should not be forgotten. With a great template, you can be on your way to creating presentations that wow your audience.

Editor's note: This post was originally published in September 2013 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

Blog - Beautiful PowerPoint Presentation Template [List-Based]

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AI presentation maker

When lack of inspiration or time constraints are something you’re worried about, it’s a good idea to seek help. Slidesgo comes to the rescue with its latest functionality—the AI presentation maker! With a few clicks, you’ll have wonderful slideshows that suit your own needs . And it’s totally free!

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Generate presentations in minutes

We humans make the world move, but we need to sleep, rest and so on. What if there were someone available 24/7 for you? It’s time to get out of your comfort zone and ask the AI presentation maker to give you a hand. The possibilities are endless : you choose the topic, the tone and the style, and the AI will do the rest. Now we’re talking!

Customize your AI-generated presentation online

Alright, your robotic pal has generated a presentation for you. But, for the time being, AIs can’t read minds, so it’s likely that you’ll want to modify the slides. Please do! We didn’t forget about those time constraints you’re facing, so thanks to the editing tools provided by one of our sister projects —shoutouts to Wepik — you can make changes on the fly without resorting to other programs or software. Add text, choose your own colors, rearrange elements, it’s up to you! Oh, and since we are a big family, you’ll be able to access many resources from big names, that is, Freepik and Flaticon . That means having a lot of images and icons at your disposal!

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How does it work?

Think of your topic.

First things first, you’ll be talking about something in particular, right? A business meeting, a new medical breakthrough, the weather, your favorite songs, a basketball game, a pink elephant you saw last Sunday—you name it. Just type it out and let the AI know what the topic is.

Choose your preferred style and tone

They say that variety is the spice of life. That’s why we let you choose between different design styles, including doodle, simple, abstract, geometric, and elegant . What about the tone? Several of them: fun, creative, casual, professional, and formal. Each one will give you something unique, so which way of impressing your audience will it be this time? Mix and match!

Make any desired changes

You’ve got freshly generated slides. Oh, you wish they were in a different color? That text box would look better if it were placed on the right side? Run the online editor and use the tools to have the slides exactly your way.

Download the final result for free

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What is an AI-generated presentation?

It’s exactly “what it says on the cover”. AIs, or artificial intelligences, are in constant evolution, and they are now able to generate presentations in a short time, based on inputs from the user. This technology allows you to get a satisfactory presentation much faster by doing a big chunk of the work.

Can I customize the presentation generated by the AI?

Of course! That’s the point! Slidesgo is all for customization since day one, so you’ll be able to make any changes to presentations generated by the AI. We humans are irreplaceable, after all! Thanks to the online editor, you can do whatever modifications you may need, without having to install any software. Colors, text, images, icons, placement, the final decision concerning all of the elements is up to you.

Can I add my own images?

Absolutely. That’s a basic function, and we made sure to have it available. Would it make sense to have a portfolio template generated by an AI without a single picture of your own work? In any case, we also offer the possibility of asking the AI to generate images for you via prompts. Additionally, you can also check out the integrated gallery of images from Freepik and use them. If making an impression is your goal, you’ll have an easy time!

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Don't start your work presentations by simply saying 'hello.' Here's how to be more engaging in the conference room.

  • I'm a public-speaking expert, and I've trained many executives and senior teams.
  • I tell all of them to stop starting work presentations with a salutation or a "hello."
  • Instead, you should engage your audience by telling a story or asking a question.

Insider Today

I'm sure you've sat through plenty of presentations where the presenter starts with a polite salutation like, "Hello, thank you for having me here today," or, "I am so glad to be here" — often followed by their name and professional résumé . Sometimes, if it's an internal meeting, you get the same salutations followed by an agenda slide with bullet points and the presenter narrating it.

As a public-speaking coach who has worked with many executives and senior teams, I know how to make work presentations more engaging. Here's how you should change your approach.

If you stick to your old ways, you aren't leaving a memorable first impression

Your audience is thinking three things when you walk into that conference room or onto that stage: Who is this person, why should I care, and how are they going to solve my problem?

Let's face it: Most people are more interested in how you will solve their problem than in you and your professional résumé. So let's flip the script a bit. Start with the solution to their problem, briefly talk about yourself for credibility, and then give them a reason to care.

Instead, try to capture their attention

Begin your presentation with a hook or a story — something that grabs their attention right from the start. For instance, your hook might be, "Did you know this?" or "What if that?" It could also be a short story that humanizes your services or products.

Most presentations are predictable; wouldn't it be better for both your time and your audience if you could introduce an element of surprise?

Some might feel it rude not to thank the organizer or greet the audience, so I suggest finding another place in your presentation for this. Here's a good structure:

Intro: "What if you could be a more confident and credible presenter? What if you could engage with your audience so they remember your products or services?"

Credibility: "My name is Meridith, and I've been coaching entrepreneurs and executives on how to speak with spark for over a decade, and I am really excited to be here. I want to thank [insert name] for inviting me to share the afternoon with you."

Solution: "Today, I will give you three ways to make your audience remember your products and services, helping you stand out in a competitive market. Let's get this party started!"

You could also try to form a personal connection

Often, presentations lack a personal touch. Try sharing a relevant personal anecdote or experience that relates to your topic. This not only makes your work presentation more relatable but also helps to establish a deeper connection with your audience.

For example, you could say: "When I was younger, I often hid in the back of the classroom, hoping the teacher wouldn't call on me because I didn't want to sound stupid or have the wrong answer. Later in life, I discovered acting and improv comedy . It was through the practice of these two art forms that I developed my confidence and learned how to engage more courageously with others. Today, I will give you solutions for how you can also better engage your audience with spark."

Try to encourage interaction

At the very least, you should try to engage your audience from the beginning — whether in person or on virtual calls. You can ask a thought-provoking question or propose a challenge that involves them directly. This approach shifts the dynamic to more interactive and engaging sessions.

If you implement any of these suggestions, you can make your presentation memorable and impactful immediately. And you'll most likely get a larger return on your investment of time and energy.

In today's fast-paced world, where attention spans are increasingly shorter than ever, it's crucial to grab and hold your audience's attention from the very beginning. By doing so, you set the stage for a more engaging and productive interaction. So challenge yourself to break free from presentation norms and embrace a style that resonates deeply with your audience and leaves a lasting impression.

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Watch: A public speaking champion reveals 3 keys to nailing your business presentation

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Power bi february 2024 feature summary.

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Welcome to the Power BI February 2024 update. We’ve got a lot of great features this month. Here are some key highlights:

  • Visual calculations make it easier than ever to do calculations that were very hard or even impossible.
  • The Power BI home provides a centralized location for all your Power BI desktop activities.
  • Fabric Copilot for Power BI can now add measure descriptions to your semantic model measures.
  • The Power BI add in now supports shareable links to make it easier for people to consume reports.
  • The new Explore feature gives you a better understanding of what’s in the data you’re exploring.

Fabric Community Conference

Join us at the Microsoft Fabric Community Conference the ultimate Microsoft Data & AI learning event, on March 26-28, 2024, at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas. With over 150 sessions for everyone who works with Power BI, Microsoft Fabric, SQL, Azure AI, and Purview , the conference promises a rich learning experience.

This is a unique opportunity to meet the Microsoft product teams building these technologies, the customers betting their businesses on them, and the partners that are at the forefront of deployment and adoption. Engage with this vibrant community, learn from their real-world experiences, stay abreast of the latest developments.

Please note that this event is in-person only. Sessions will not be recorded, streamed or made available for on-demand consumption.

Register today using code MSCUST for an exclusive discount ! Need help convincing your boss to attend? No problem!  Use this letter  to share with your boss about this unforgettable opportunity.

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  • Version number: v: 2.126.927.0
  • Date published: 02/16/2024

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On-object Interaction Updates

  • Enhanced Reference Layer in Power BI Azure Maps Visual 

Data connectivity

Certified connectors updates, storytelling in powerpoint – replace report urls with shareable links in power bi add-in, data overview in explore, directquery connections update, shared device mode is now ga, power bi custom visuals new local storage api, on-object interaction support for custom visuals, tmdl in power bi desktop developer mode, editor’s pick of the quarter, new visuals in appsource, multiple sparklines, rose donut pie chart by powerviz, xviz gantt chart by lumel, control chart xmr by nova silva, drill down graph pro, more users can now collaborate with protected pbix in power bi desktop.

Visual calculations 

A new way of doing calculations has arrived! You can now add calculations directly on your visual using visual calculations, which are DAX calculations that are defined and executed directly on a visual. A calculation can refer to any data in the visual, including columns, measures, or other visual calculations. This approach removes the complexity of the semantic model and simplifies the process of writing DAX. You can use visual calculations to complete common business calculations such as running sums or moving averages. Visual calculations make it easy to do calculations that were previously very hard or even almost impossible to do.

To use visual calculations while in preview, you need to enable it in Options and Settings  ➡️  Options  ➡️  Preview features . Select visual calculations and select OK . Visual calculations will be enabled after Desktop is restarted.

To add a visual calculation, you first need to select a visual. Next, select the New calculation button in the ribbon:

The new calculation button is shown on the Home tab of the ribbon in Power BI Desktop in the Calculations group.

To add a visual calculation, type the expression in the formula bar in the visual calculations edit mode that opens. For example, in a visual that contains Sales Amount and Total Product Cost by Fiscal Year , you can add a visual calculation that calculates the profit for each year by simply typing: Profit = [Sales Amount] – [Total Product Cost].

The visual matrix is updated as you add visual calculations using in the formula bar. New visual calculations are added as columns to the visual matrix.

Additionally, you can easily add a running sum of profit by writing:

Here is a visual with the two visual calculations we have just created:

A screenshot of a graph Description automatically generated

You can use many existing DAX functions in visual calculations. Functions specific to visual calculations are also available, such as RUNNINGSUM , PREVIOUS and MOVINGAVERAGE . Using these and other functions, visual calculations are much easier to read, write and maintain than the current DAX required.

We are only just getting started with this preview. There is a lot more that we have planned, so please stay tuned for updates in future releases. However, we invite you to jump in now!

For more information, read the dedicated blog post and documentation . Please try the preview today and let us know what you think .

Dynamic subscriptions for Power BI reports

Dynamic per recipient subscriptions is now available in Preview for Power BI reports! Like dynamic subscriptions for paginated reports , you can now distribute a personalized copy of a Power BI report to each recipient of an email subscription.

Imagine you have a report that includes sales data for your entire team. You want to schedule an email subscription that sends out a PDF copy of this report to each salesperson on a weekly basis, with the report filtered to only show their sales results.

This can now be done by connecting to a semantic model (previously Power BI dataset) that defines the mapping between recipients and respective filter values. When it’s time to send out the report, the latest data available in your semantic model will determine which employees should receive a report in their inbox, and with what filter values applied.

A screenshot of a computer New dynamic subscription, select and filter data.

See the documentation for dynamic subscriptions here.

This February release we added multi-visual container format support ! Previously, when multi-selecting across different visual types, the format pane did not support any options for formatting the visuals. Now, when multi-selecting different visuals, we’ve added formatting support for container formatting such as changing the size, background color, adding a shadow or turning on/off titles in bulk.

When multi-selecting different visual types (e.g. a line chart and bar chart):

A screenshot of a graph, Visualizations. Order Quantity by Year, Sales by Category.

We’ve also added the ability to format a visual’s container size and position even if it’s empty:

A screenshot of a graph, Visualizations. Select or drag fields to populate the visual.

This month we also bring you a handful of quality improvements to the on-object experience:

  • Bug fix : when working with a non-visual (text box, button, image, shape) the build pane accidentally closing automatically. The build pane now stays open unless explicitly closed regardless of selected item type.
  • Bug fix : style bug where the build pane was showing 5 icons across instead of the usual 6 has been fixed.
  • Bug fix : in some cases, the data flyout was extending beyond the window size making the search box hard to use, this has now been fixed.
  • Enhancement : When choosing a field using the data flyout – you can now click anywhere on the name, not just the checkbox next to it to select the field.

A screenshot of a computer, Data selecting Order Quantity.

5.Enhancement : If replacing a field in a visual that does not use an aggregation or date hierarchy (other dropdowns are disabled), we auto open the data dropdown to save an extra click.

A screenshot of a graph, Data selecting Category.

Power BI Home in Desktop is Enabled by Default  

We are excited to announce the new and improved Power BI Home as the default experience! The Power BI Home has been redesigned to provide a centralized and familiar location for all your Power BI activities within the desktop application. Our aim is to enhance your productivity and make it easier to discover and consume content.

With Power BI Home, you no longer need to navigate through multiple menus or tabs to access your files and reports. This intuitive interface serves as a hub, like other popular office products, where you can effortlessly manage your reports, all from a single location.

Whether you’re a seasoned Power BI user or new to the platform, Power BI Home ensures a consistent and seamless experience across all your Power BI activities.

Now, you can:

  • Initiate a new report directly from the new home screen.
  • Access reports from recommendations that we have curated.
  • Locate your most recent reports through the Quick Access lists.

A screenshot of a computer abilities within the new home screen.

Please continue to submit your feedback directly in the comments of this blog post or in our feedback forum .

Enhanced Reference Layer in Power BI Azure Maps Visual

We’re excited to introduce a significant enhancement to the Power BI Azure Maps visual reference layer feature. In response to valuable user feedback and in alignment with evolving industry standards, we have expanded the capabilities of the reference layer. Now, in addition to supporting the existing GeoJSON format, users can also utilize KML (Keyhole Markup Language) and WKT (Well-Known Text) formats.

We’re also adding URL as a data source alongside file upload. This addition offers users even more flexibility and convenience in importing spatial data into Power BI. Whether your data resides in GeoJSON, KML, WKT, or through a URL link, the Power BI Azure Maps visual seamlessly integrates these formats, ensuring a comprehensive and versatile geospatial analysis experience.

Measure descriptions with Copilot

Add descriptions to your semantic model measures with Fabric Copilot for Power BI! People building reports from your semantic model can see the name and description of your measures, making the description property essential documentation. And Fabric Copilot is here to help!

A screenshot of a computer Description automatically generated

Streamline your semantic model documentation by creating measure descriptions with Copilot .

1. Click on the model measure in the Data pane of Model view to see the measure properties .

2. Click on the Create with Copilot (preview) button under the Description textbox.

3. Review the measure description from Copilot, then click Keep it .

4. Now the measure description is in the Description box. Fine tune the description, as needed.

5. You update the measure later? No worries, just click the button again when you need the description updated!

Try this out today and let us know what you think! Get started today by turning on this public preview feature in Options > Preview features and learning more about how to get access to Fabric Copilot for Power BI on your tenant at https://learn.microsoft.com/power-bi/create-reports/copilot-introduction#copilot-requirements .

DAX query view improvements  

We released the public preview of DAX query view in November 2023, and in this release, we made the following improvements:

A screenshot of a computer, Boolean values are now showing in the Results grid.

  • A share feedback link has been added in Options > Preview features. We would love to hear your feedback on DAX query view!
  • A bug causing active query tab to stop being highlighted is fixed.
  • A bug with close brackets of a nested IFs DAX formula is fixed.

And we have released additional INFO DAX functions.

  • INFO.CHANGEDPROPERTIES()
  • INFO.EXCLUDEDARTIFACTS()
  • INFO.FUNCTIONS()
  • INFO.LINGUISTICMETADATA()

A screenshot of a computer, we have released additional INFO DAX functions.

Learn more about DAX query view at https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/transform-model/dax-query-view .

SingleStore, we’re thrilled to inform you that our connector has now officially moved out of beta. We want to express our gratitude for your valuable feedback and for being an essential part of our beta journey. Your insights have played a crucial role in shaping the enhancements we’ve made.

This upgrade comes with an exciting new feature – you can now cancel running queries, hassle-free. No more queries running in the background after you refresh the UI/visual or navigate across the pages in the report.

Our team is dedicated to continuously improving and adding even more useful features to enhance your experience. Thank you for your ongoing support, and we can’t wait to continue providing you with top-notch features that elevate your data connectivity and reporting capabilities.

When you add the Power BI add-in to a presentation, you can pick a report suggested to you or paste a link to a specific report.

When you paste a standard report link (the URL copied from the browser address bar), and if sharable links are enabled for your organization and allowed for this report, you have re-share permissions to this report, Power BI add-in can replace the link you pasted with shareable link. In that case you will see a checkbox added below the report URL that offers you automatic access to this report. Just mark this checkbox and Power BI add-in will create a shareable link for you.

Using a sharable link ensures that other users viewing the presentation have the required permission to see the report, and do not need to request access when viewing the presentation.

A screenshot of a computer, Using a sharable link ensures that other users viewing the presentation have the required permission to see the report, and do not need to request access when viewing the presentation.

Have you tried out the new Explore feature yet? This month we added a data overview feature to Explore that allows you to get the “gist” of what your data is all about. Powered by Copilot, data overview gives you a summary of what’s contained in the data you’re exploring and highlights some interesting tidbits to get you started. Let us know what you think!

A screenshot of a computer, Powered by Copilot, data overview gives you a summary of what’s contained in the data you’re exploring and highlights some interesting tidbits to get you started.

Maximum connections per data source  is a setting to configure the maximum number of connections DirectQuery opens for each underlying data source. This controls the maximum number of queries that can be executed concurrently against each data source and is configurable per semantic model.

We recently updated the upper limit of the number of concurrent Direct Query connections allowed per semantic model. The updated limits for each SKU are listed in the table below.

The upper limit for Power BI PPU is 100 active connections. Note that there is no change to the Power BI Pro and Report Server limits and the default maximum value remains as 10 concurrent connections.

Introduced last September, shared device mode is now generally available! With shared device mode, organizations can safely deploy the Power BI mobile app across their pool of shared devices.  Check it out !

This API allows Custom Visuals to store data directly in the local browser. Data stored locally is more secure and improves the performance of web apps. The API will be controlled by a global admin setting. Learn more about the API.

Our February release introduces the support of the new on-object interaction. This enhancement allows users to build and customize visuals directly on the visual in Power BI Desktop. It puts common actions for creating and formatting visuals on the visuals themselves, actions such as adding fields, changing visualization types, and formatting text.

The primary objective of Power BI Desktop developer mode is to provide friendly source control and co-development experience. With this objective in mind, you can now save your Power BI Project files (PBIP) using  Tabular Model Definition Language (TMDL)  format. TMDL has been designed from the ground up to be human-friendly, facilitating not only readability but also easy editing in any text editor. This represents a substantial enhancement for source control and collaborative development experiences, particularly when dealing with complex file diffs.  

Saving as a PBIP using TMDL is currently in preview. Before giving it a try, you must first enable this feature in Preview features: go to  File  >  Options and settings  >  Options  >  Preview features  and check the box next to “Store semantic model using TMDL format”.  

After enabling the preview feature, when saving as PBIP, your semantic model will be saved as a TMDL folder named “\definition” with separate files for each table, perspective, role, culture:  

After enabling the preview feature, when saving as PBIP, your semantic model will be saved as a TMDL folder named “\definition” with separate files for each table, perspective, role, culture: 

You can also upgrade existent PBIP files to TMDL , by just opening them and choosing “Upgrade” when you save:  

You can also upgrade existent PBIP files to TMDL, by just opening them and choosing “Upgrade” when you save: 

By default, Fabric Git Integration will still use Tabular Model Scripting Language (TMSL) to export the semantic model during the Public Preview. However, if the semantic model is imported into Fabric using TMDL, then Fabric Git Integration will export the definition into Git using TMDL in the event of any semantic model changes in the service.  

Learn more about TMDL in Power BI Project files  here .  

Visualizations

  • Inforiver Analytics+ (Charts+Cards+Tables)
  • Inforiver Premium Matrix / Table
  • Drill Down Donut PRO (Filter) by ZoomCharts
  • Date Picker
  • Enlighten Aquarium
  • Deneb: Declarative Visualization in Power BI
  • Comment – Dynamics 365 Finance business performance planning
  • Reporting – Dynamics 365 Finance business performance planning
  • Variance – Dynamics 365 Finance business performance planning
  • Matrix planning – Dynamics 365 Finance business performance planning
  • Copy – Dynamics 365 Finance business performance planning
  • Table edit – Dynamics 365 Finance business performance planning
  • Graphical planning – Dynamics 365 Finance business performance planning
  • Waterfall-Visual-Extended
  • Processifier Process Mining
  • flashbi fantail
  • Map by Squillion
  • Charticulator Visual Community (View)

New features were added to Multiple Sparklines on Oct 23

  • When you double click a line chart, it will zoom in to screen size of visual and you can then compare it with any other line chart in that column.
  • You can use different colors for each line chart in a field/column.
  • You can insert ratings with bands.
  • You can add beeswarm / distribution microchart.

A screenshot of a graph New features were added to Multiple Sparklines on Oct 23

Once you double click the line chart, it zooms in to the visual size. You can then compare it with another line chart in the same column. This is shown below:

A graph with purple lines Once you double click the line chart, it zooms in to the visual size. You can then compare it with another line chart in the same column.

Download this visual from APPSOURCE

For more information visit https://www.excelnaccess.com/sparklines/

or contact [email protected]

Rose/Donut/Pie Chart is a powerful visual that lets you build four types of charts – a rose, a rose donut, a donut, and a pie chart. These chart types are commonly used to display part-to-whole relationships, proportions of categorical data, and ratios. Each arc represents the ratio from the total for easy comparison.

Key Features:

  • Chart Options: Rose, donut, pie charts with style customization.
  • Data Colors: Choose from 30+ palettes, including color-blind mode.
  • Fill Patterns: Apply patterns or use custom images.
  • Smart Labels: Improve readability with data and leaf labels.
  • Arc Customization: Easily adjust arc radius, padding, and stroke.
  • Ranking: Filter Top/Bottom N, show others intelligently.
  • Center Circle: Multiple layers, text, icons, and images in the center.
  • Mouseover Text: Display dynamic details when hovering over arcs.
  • Image Labels: Integrate dynamic image URLs for enhanced visuals.
  • Conditional Formatting: Detect outliers and set smart rules for measures/categories.

Other features included are annotation, grid view, show condition, and accessibility support.

Business Use Cases: Finance, Healthcare, E-commerce, Education, Customer Demographics

🔗 Try Rose/Donut/Pie Chart for FREE from AppSource

📊 Check out all features of the visual: Demo file

📃 Step-by-step instructions: Documentation

💡 YouTube Video: Video Link

📍 Learn more about visuals: https://powerviz.ai/

✅ Follow Powerviz : https://lnkd.in/gN_9Sa6U

A screenshot of a chart Rose/Donut/Pie Chart is a powerful visual that lets you build four types of charts - a rose, a rose donut, a donut, and a pie chart. These chart types are commonly used to display part-to-whole relationships, proportions of categorical data, and ratios. Each arc represents the ratio from the total for easy comparison.

xViz Gantt Chart by Lumel is a Microsoft Power BI Certified Visual. As the most feature rich Gantt in Power BI – it is widely used across most Fortune 500 companies world-wide.

Why Large Enterprises Choose xViz Gantt Chart:

Real-time Alerts for Project Managers: Leverage Conditional Formatting to receive color-coded alerts and status flags, ensuring timely awareness of schedule delays or progress issues.

Visualize Task Dependencies: Easily identify causes of delays with the ability to plot task dependencies using connectors within the roadmap view.

Adaptable for Different Users: From Stakeholders tracking yearly progress to Project Managers analysing monthly views and Developers scrutinizing smaller time grains with flexibility across three distinct timeline levels.

Strategic Planning with Reference Lines and Ranges: Utilize Reference Lines and Ranges to mark crucial dates, holidays, sprints, or deadlines across projects.

Customization Galore:   Wide range of customizable options, including adjustable timeline limits, selectable week start days, and indentation customization for ragged hierarchies.

Hassle-Free Licensing:   The visual is free for use in Power BI Desktop. For sharing & collaborating on Power BI service, the licenses can be purchased directly from Microsoft AppSource.

A screenshot of a computer

Try xViz Gantt Chart today after watching the 2-minute video highlights.

Years ago, Stacey Barr introduced us to the magic of Control Charts. Magic it is, because it allows everyone to split their temporal data in two: random noise and real signals. And we all are looking for real signals, and don’t want to be distracted by random noise.

In our last release of the Control Chart XmR we have added several new features to make it even easier to find real signals and ignore random noise in your data.

First, we added a feature to allow any report consumer to override the applied rules. This allows everyone to analyze the effects of one specific rule or set of rules.

A screenshot of a computer First, we added a feature to allow any report consumer to override the applied rules. This allows everyone to analyze the effects of one specific rule or set of rules.

Several customers asked for a possibility to download the calculated values from the visual. Now you can download all values calculated by the Control Chart XmR, like: LCL, CL, UCL, sigmas and signals.

Don’t hesitate and try the new Control Chart XmR now on your own data by downloading it from the AppSource . All features are available for free to evaluate this visual within Power BI Desktop.

Questions or remarks? Visit us at: https://visuals.novasilva.com/ .

Drill Down Graph PRO lets you create elegant and user-friendly graphs to represent complex relationships between nodes. It’s ideal for both small and large network graphs and offers advanced features like cross-chart filtering and vast customization options. You can create hierarchies and explore them using this visual’s intuitive interactions.

Main features include:

  • Multiple layout options – dynamic, hierarchical, and radial
  • Focus nodes mode – for gradual exploration of graphs.
  • Customization options – choose colors, shapes, images, and labels.
  • Bidirectional links – show reciprocal relationships between nodes.
  • Touch device support – explore your data anywhere.

Popular use cases:

  • IT – asset management, IT infrastructure, IoT monitoring
  • Logistics – fleet management, stock management, parcel tracking
  • Sales & Marketing – community detection, account management, web analytics

ZoomCharts Drill Down Visuals are known for interactive drilldowns, smooth animations, and rich customization options. They support interactions, selections, custom and native tooltips, filtering, bookmarks, and context menu. Use them to create visually appealing and intuitive reports that business users will love on any device.

Get Drill Down Graph PRO from AppSource!

Learn more about Drill Down Graph PRO by ZoomCharts.

A screenshot of a computer ZoomCharts Drill Down Visuals are known for interactive drilldowns, smooth animations, and rich customization options. They support interactions, selections, custom and native tooltips, filtering, bookmarks, and context menu. Use them to create visually appealing and intuitive reports that business users will love on any device.

Have you ever wondered how to collaborate with your colleagues on sensitive data without compromising its security? Do you want to learn how to use Microsoft Purview Information Protection sensitivity labels to protect your data ?

If so, you’re in the right place! We’ll show you how to use sensitivity labels with protection to encrypt and protect your data, and how to enable more users to edit and republish encrypted PBIX files. By the end of this article, you’ll be able to collaborate more securely with your data in Power BI.

Protecting your data with Microsoft Purview

Compliance admins in your organization can use Microsoft Purview Information Protection  sensitivity labels  to manage their org’s sensitive data across different apps and services and meet regulatory and compliance requirements.

They define file protection policies for the sensitivity labels, which result in files being encrypted when such labels are applied, allowing only authorized users to open and edit these files in Office apps and Power BI Desktop.

Sensitivity labels are widely adopted by enterprises today and used to label and protect content in  Microsoft 365  apps such as Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Outlook, and now in Power BI and Fabric as well.

All you have to do is enable Information Protection in Microsoft Fabric’s Admin Portal and let the labels do the rest.

A screenshot of a computer All you have to do is enable Information Protection in Microsoft Fabric’s Admin Portal and let the labels do the rest.

How Power BI Desktop enforces sensitivity label protection

In Power BI Desktop , we enforce label protection on PBIX files. To open a PBIX file, you either must be the label issuer or have one of the following usage rights .

These usage rights are elevated permissions, as they grant permission to change the sensitivity label. Because Power BI and Office apps use the same label policies, compliance admins may prefer not to grant these usage rights for Highly confidential labels. This might block you from collaborating with your colleagues when you’re sharing or downloading Power BI reports and trying to open them in the desktop app.

Collaborating and keeping label protection on PBIX files

By enabling “ Increase the number of users who can edit and republish encrypted PBIX files (preview) ” in your tenant, users that have been assigned with all of the following usage rights should be able to open, edit, and republish the protected PBIX file to the Power BI service:

  • View Content (VIEW)
  • Edit Content (DOCEDIT)
  • Save (EDIT)
  • Copy and extract content (EXTRACT)
  • Allow Macros (OBJMODEL)

Thus, users who were once restricted can now collaborate with protected files, while keeping protection consistent with the organizational policy.

Note: These usage rights are a sub-set of the “Co-Author” permissions preset in Microsoft Purview compliance center.

What are the restrictions and why?

In order to align with compliance requirements, users with these usage rights are lightly restricted while editing a protected PBIX file.

No exporting to unsupported formats –The user won’t be able to export to formats that don’t support sensitivity labels, such as CSV files.

A screenshot of a computer In order to align with compliance requirements, users with these usage rights are lightly restricted while editing a protected PBIX file. No exporting to unsupported formats –The user won’t be able to export to formats that don’t support sensitivity labels, such as CSV files.

No label change – The user can’t change the label on the PBIX file.

A screenshot of a computer No label change - The user can't change the label on the PBIX file.

Republishing to the original workspace only

Republishing to the original workspace only

Why restrict republishing into the original workspace only?

To remain compliant, we must keep users from gaining more permissions, including Power BI permissions (i.e., Read, Write, Reshare and Build). Meaning that a user who wishes to publish should not be able to publish to a workspace that might grant them additional permissions through Workspace roles.

Additionally, this feature is meant for collaborating and sharing items that are more restricted than usual, and confidential data is usually managed in a dedicated workspace. This restriction will prevent users from publishing confidential data across the tenant.

Side note: The file must be published at least once for other users to be able to republish it to that specific workspace. If the file has not yet been published, then the latest label issuer (the one who set the protected label) or a user with sufficient usage rights must publish it and then share the file with the other editors.

How to enable it

Prerequisite: The compliance admin must assign you and your colleagues the proper permissions for that sensitivity label.

Next, Fabric/Power BI admins must enable the feature in Admin Portal > Information protection > Increase the number of users who can edit and republish encrypted PBIX files (preview).

In Power BI Desktop, users who would like to open and edit protected PBIX files must enable the feature by opening File > Options and settings > Options > Preview feature > Less elevated user support.

Final words

With this new feature, users can now collaborate more easily with other users when working on confidential data in Power BI Desktop, without any loss of protection along the way.

That is all for this month! Please continue sending us your feedback and do not forget to vote for other features that you would like to see in Power BI! We hope that you enjoy the update! If you installed Power BI Desktop from the Microsoft Store,  please leave us a review .

Also, don’t forget to vote on your favorite feature this month on our community website. 

As always, keep voting on  Ideas  to help us determine what to build next. We are looking forward to hearing from you!

  • Microsoft Fabric
  • visual calculations

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Descargador de SlideShare: Descarga presentaciones gratuitas

Imagina encontrarte con una serie de diapositivas en línea que podrían ser valiosas para tus necesidades. En este artículo, exploraremos el enfoque más efectivo para descargar y adquirir estas diapositivas utilizando la descarga de presentaciones de SlideShare. Al profundizar en los detalles, te proporcionaremos un método fácil de usar para obtener e integrar con éxito estas diapositivas en tus materiales

Cómo descargar PPT desde SlideShare

Si deseas descargar una presentación de PowerPoint de SlideShare, una plataforma en línea popular que aloja diversas presentaciones sobre diferentes temas.

Usando el sitio web de SlideShare

Para descargar la presentación de SlideShare desde su sitio web, sigue estos pasos:

Paso 1: Abre tu navegador e ingresa a SlideShare.net

Paso 2: Utiliza la barra de búsqueda para encontrar la presentación que deseas descargar.

Step 3: Haz clic en el botón Descargar debajo de la presentación. Si eres un usuario nuevo, deberás crear una cuenta o iniciar sesión con tu cuenta de redes sociales para continuar descargando.

Algunas presentaciones no se pueden descargar para su uso posterior. Sin embargo, los lectores pueden aprovechar un Descargador de SlideShare en línea gratuito para descargar y guardar la presentación para un uso posterior.

Paso 4: Abre Slidersharedownloader.com en una nueva pestaña, un descargador gratuito de presentaciones de PowerPoint de SlideShare.

Paso 5: Copia la URL de la presentación que deseas descargar y pégala en el campo "Enlace" en SlideShare PowerPoint Downloader.

Paso 6: Elige si deseas descargar la presentación como archivo de PowerPoint o archivo PDF.

Después de descargar las presentaciones de SlideShare, los usuarios pueden ver y editar sus presentaciones o PDF en WPS Office con facilidad. WPS Office es un conjunto de oficina completo que te ofrece tanto el software como la capacidad de manejar diferentes formatos de archivo de forma gratuita. Visita  WPS Office y descarga su aplicación ahora mismo.

Usando su aplicación móvil

La aplicación móvil de SlideShare está disponible para dispositivos iOS y Android y permite a los usuarios guardar presentaciones en la aplicación. Para guardar diapositivas para su uso sin conexión:

Paso 1: Inicia sesión en SlideShare.

Paso 2: Busca la presentación que estás buscando usando la barra de búsqueda.

Paso 3: Haz clic para abrir la presentación en SlideShare.SlideShare.

Paso 4: Haz clic en el ícono del "Corazón" ubicado en la parte inferior para guardar el archivo para su uso sin conexión. El ícono del corazón se volverá azul, indicando que la presentación se ha guardado.

Paso 5: La presentación ahora se puede ver visitando la pestaña "Tú", donde se almacenan todas las diapositivas guardadas.

Descarga de diapositivas en tu dispositivo móvil:

SlideShare no ofrece a los usuarios acceso a sus presentaciones fuera de la aplicación. Sin embargo, es posible descargar presentaciones de SlideShare a tu dispositivo móvil utilizando un Descargador de PowerPoint de SlideShare gratuito. Aprendamos cómo hacerlo:

Paso 1: Busca la presentación que deseas descargar usando la barra de búsqueda.

Paso 2: Haz clic para ver la presentación en SlideShare.

Paso 3: Haz clic en el ícono "Compartir" en la parte inferior de la pantalla.

Paso 5: Copia el enlace de la presentación.

Paso 6: Abre tu navegador y visita el descargador de SlideShare.

Paso 7: Pega el enlace de la presentación y haz clic en "Descargar PDF" o "Descargar PPT". La descarga comenzará en unos momentos y el tipo de archivo preferido se almacenará en tu dispositivo móvil.

Descargar y guardar presentaciones para su uso posterior puede ser beneficioso tanto para estudiantes como para profesionales. Puede ayudarles a evitar el riesgo de perder su trabajo o tener problemas de conexión a Internet durante una presentación. También les permite acceder a las diapositivas en cualquier momento y lugar, incluso sin una conexión en línea.

Además, les permite editar o personalizar las diapositivas según sus necesidades y preferencias. Por lo tanto, descargar y guardar presentaciones es una habilidad útil que puede mejorar el aprendizaje y la productividad de una persona.

Opción Alternativa Gratuita: WPS Office

WPS Office refleja las capacidades de Microsoft Office y ofrece una ventaja única: es completamente gratuito. Además, opera de manera fluida en una amplia gama de dispositivos, incluyendo macOS, Windows y Linux. Su naturaleza compatible con dispositivos móviles agrega otro nivel de atractivo, ofreciendo una aplicación de productividad potente pero ligera, adecuada para varios dispositivos móviles.

Una de las características que distingue a WPS Office de otras suites de oficina es su capacidad para ver y editar archivos PDF y PPT. Esto significa que los usuarios pueden cambiar fácilmente entre diferentes formatos sin perder calidad ni formato. Los usuarios también pueden convertir archivos PDF a Word, Excel o PowerPoint con solo unos pocos clics. Además, WPS Office admite almacenamiento en la nube y uso compartido de archivos, lo que permite a los usuarios acceder a sus documentos en cualquier momento y lugar, además de colaborar con otros en línea.

Otra característica que hace destacar a WPS Office es su integración con la inteligencia artificial. WPS Office utiliza la IA para mejorar su funcionalidad y rendimiento, proporcionando sugerencias inteligentes, corrección automática, reconocimiento de voz y cifrado de documentos. Los usuarios también pueden disfrutar de varias plantillas, temas y efectos impulsados por la IA que pueden ayudarles a crear presentaciones profesionales y atractivas.

Con sus características completas y versátiles, WPS Office es una herramienta que todos aquellos que valoran la productividad y la eficiencia deben llevar consigo. Es completamente gratuito para descargar y usar, y no compromete la calidad ni la compatibilidad. WPS Office es la suite de oficina definitiva para el mundo moderno.

Cómo Descargar WPS Office?

Paso 1: Primero, abre tu navegador web y ve al sitio web de WPS Office. Luego, haz clic en el ícono "Descargar" ubicado en el centro de la página.

Paso 2: Una vez que hayas descargado el archivo, simplemente haz doble clic en él para abrirlo. Esto iniciará el proceso de instalación.

Paso 3: Después de que la instalación haya terminado, estarás listo para comenzar a usar WPS Office.

Preguntas Frecuentes

P1. ¿puedo hacer mis presentaciones privadas en slideshare.

Sí, puedes hacer tus presentaciones privadas en SlideShare. Esto hace que la presentación sea accesible solo para ti. También ofrece el modo Limitado, que permite el acceso a quienes compartas el enlace directo, con la opción de agregar una contraseña para mayor protección. La opción Privado asegura que los motores de búsqueda no indexen tu carga, lo que permite un control completo sobre la visibilidad y accesibilidad de la presentación, convirtiéndola en una plataforma ideal para compartir de forma privada y gestionar contenido de manera segura.

P2. ¿Puedo colaborar con otros en presentaciones de SlideShare?

Sí, puedes colaborar en presentaciones de SlideShare con otros utilizando la función de edición compartida. Utiliza el botón Colaborar en la esquina superior derecha del editor para invitar a personas a revisar, presentar o editar. A continuación se muestran los roles que puede tener un colaborador:

Espectador: Solo puede comentar.

Presentador: Puede comentar y presentar.

Editor: Puede comentar, presentar y modificar la presentación.

Administrador: Puede agregar y eliminar colaboradores (solo accesible en el plan Team).

Al hacer clic en el ícono de un colaborador, puedes modificar su rol o eliminarlo. Esta herramienta mejora el trabajo en equipo al monitorear adecuadamente el acceso.

Saber más sobre el  descargar microsoft office gratis para PC .

Desbloqueando los Tesoros de SlideShare: Dominando el Arte de la Descarga de Diapositivas

En este artículo, exploramos las prácticas más efectivas para descargar de manera segura archivos de SlideShare, asegurando una experiencia fluida mientras aprovechas al máximo estos valiosos recursos. WPS Office se destaca por proporcionar una serie de herramientas excepcionales, especialmente su función de presentación diseñada para la descarga perfecta de PPT de SlideShare y una presentación impactante. No dudes en aprovechar esta oportunidad; continúa y inicia la descarga de tu WPS Office WPS Office  para desbloquear su versátil potencial.

presentation prepare power point

Con una maestría en Desarrollo de Software, aporto más de 10 años de experiencia ofreciendo soluciones técnicas y consejos especializados para software de oficina.

presentation prepare power point

How to find and enable missing Copilot button in Microsoft 365 apps

Copilot is available in the Home ribbon tab of Word, Excel (Preview), PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote if you are a Copilot Pro subscriber who also has a subscription to Microsoft 365 Personal or Family.

If you have those subscriptions and are not seeing Copilot in these Microsoft 365 apps, follow these steps:

Important:  Copilot in Outlook only supports work or school accounts, and Microsoft accounts using outlook.com, hotmail.com, live.com, and msn.com email addresses at this time. Any Microsoft account using an account from a third-party email provider, such as a Gmail, Yahoo, or iCloud, can still use Outlook, but won’t have access to the Copilot features in Outlook.

Step 1 - Ensure you're using the correct account

Make sure you're signed into your Microsoft 365 apps with an account that has a Copilot license.

For home users ...this means you should have a Microsoft 365 Personal or Family subscription, and Copilot Pro.

For business users ...this means you should have a Microsoft 365 Business Standard, Business Premium, E3, or E5 subscription, and Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365.

Step 2 - Make sure that the current file is saved in that account

If you have multiple file locations available to you - such as your business OneDrive and your personal OneDrive - Copilot will only appear if the file you have open is saved to the location associated to your Copilot subscription.

For example, if you have Copilot through your work account, but not through your personal account, and you open a file from your personal OneDrive, Copilot won't work with that file.

For new, unsaved files, or files on your local hard drive, the current primary account shown at the top of the Microsoft 365 window must be licensed for Copilot.

A picture with a red arrow pointing to the current primary user name which is on the app title bar towards the top right of the window.

Important:  Copilot in Excel requires AutoSave to be turned on, which means the file has to be saved to OneDrive. It currently doesn't work with unsaved files.

Step 3 - Refresh your license

Force a refresh of the license.

Note:  These steps must be done by the account administrator.

 In any Microsoft 365 app, go to File > Account .

Locating the Update License button in Microsoft Word on Windows.

Close and restart all Microsoft 365 apps you might have open so that the license refresh can take effect.

  In any Microsoft 365 app, select the app name at the top of your screen.

Locating the Update License button in Microsoft Word on MacOS.

Close any open documents and restart all Microsoft 365 apps you may have open so the license refresh can take effect.

Ensure your apps are updated to their latest versions via your device's app store.

Close your app completely, and then re-launch it.

Refresh the page

Select the Refresh icon in your browser to see if the Copilot features appear.

The Refresh icon in Microsoft Edge.

You may have third-party cookies blocked in your browser, which currently causes Copilot to be unable to validate your license. If Copilot still isn't working for you try enabling third-party cookies. For more information see:  I am getting license validation errors with Copilot.

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