Learn the basics of PowerPoint in 5 steps

Nowdays, it's a rare meeting or event where you're not exposed to a PowerPoint slideshows at some point. Knowing how to build one is an essential skill for those in any profession that requires making presentations, and those who fail to use them have their work cut out to seem anything other than unprofessional.

Thankfully, PowerPoint is a simple program to get to grips with. Here's a few pointers that will turn your boring block graphs into interactive works of art in no time.

1. Getting Started

Start by launching PowerPoint 2007. You’ll be shown a blank title slide. You can add text to it by clicking the title or subtitle and typing it in. This kind of slide works well to present quotations, with the subtitle showing the author.

2. Enter The Quote

We’re going to put together a selection of quotes from Winston Churchill. You can find a list of them here. Enter the quote you want to use and the author in the subtitle section.

3. New Slide

We need to add another slide to our presentation. Choose New Slide ➔ Title and content. Now click the picture icon on the slide and browse to the right picture. We found this royalty-free image here.

4. Next Quote

Enter the next quote that you want to use into the title section of the slide. Continue adding new slides until you’re happy with the process, then click the disk icon in the top left hand corner to save your work. Provide a fi lename and location – make the filename something obvious so you can fi nd your work later.

5. View Show

Now you can play back a slideshow of the great man’s wisdom. Move to the Slide Show tab above the Fluent interface and above Start Slide Show click From Beginning. Each slide will be shown full screen so you can see exactly what your audience will see, and you can move on to the next one by clicking the left mouse button.

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