Microsoft PowerPoint From Beginner to Advanced

Explore the PowerPoint interface from the startup screen to the home tab, using themes and templates for quick setup. Open a blank presentation, browse files, and review account options.

Navigate the PowerPoint interface by exploring the ribbon and quick access toolbar, compare Windows and Mac layouts, and understand essential tools like the home tab, file tab, and auto save.

Explore the PowerPoint presentation interface, including the slide navigator on the left, the active slide workspace, design ideas, and views such as normal, slide sorter, reading, and outline.

Learn to open an existing PowerPoint, navigate slides with the slide navigator and thumbnails, and use keyboard shortcuts like F5 to present and run the show.

Create a new PowerPoint presentation from a blank, using file > new, exploring title slide layouts and templates, and employing the control n shortcut.

Save a PowerPoint presentation frequently to prevent data loss. Name and locate new files with save or save as, choose PPTX, and use ctrl+s or ctrl+shift+s.

Explore built-in PowerPoint help via the search box and the help tab to quickly locate features like format background and format painter, with similar help in Word, Excel, and Outlook.

Add text to a PowerPoint slide using the title and subtitle text boxes on the default title slide, then explore basic formatting and templates as you build a simple guide.

Explore PowerPoint slide layouts and templates from the Home tab, using the new slide button and Ctrl+M to add title, content, section header, and comparison layouts for organized presentations.

Learn to build and format bullet lists in PowerPoint, from top-level bullets to sub bullets, using tab and shift-tab, with shortcuts for new presentations and slides.

Master bullet list adjustments in PowerPoint by indenting and outdenting, applying auto-fit controls, and splitting bullets across slides or into two columns for readability.

Apply color and style to PowerPoint slide backgrounds using the format background options, including solid fill, gradients, pictures or textures, and transparency adjustments.

Explore how to create and customize gradient backgrounds in PowerPoint by using gradient fill, gradient stops, presets, and direction options to achieve layered color transitions.

Learn to set a slide background by using gradients, textures, or images, including inserting from file or online pictures via Bing, and tips to avoid clutter and preserve readability.

Apply the same background to all slides using the format background option, whether you choose a solid fill, gradient, texture, or image.

Format PowerPoint text by adjusting font, size, color, and case within text boxes, and apply bold, italic, underline, or highlighting for contrast against backgrounds.

Format bullet lists in PowerPoint by selecting the text box, using the home tab to adjust font and color, and customizing bullets through the bullets and numbering options, including Wingdings.

Learn to format PowerPoint paragraphs with the home tab, align text, adjust indent and orientation inside text boxes, and use rand for placeholder paragraphs.

Convert a single text box into three readable columns in PowerPoint, adjust column spacing, disable autofit, and keep text flowing within one box for easy resizing.

Apply a first line indent to each paragraph in PowerPoint by using the paragraph options to set a half an inch indentation, improving readability.

Learn to add images with PowerPoint content slide layouts, inserting from computer or online pictures via Bing, then resize, move, and rotate them while noting licensing information.

Format and stylize images in PowerPoint with the picture format tab, picture styles, borders, shadows, reflections, and 3D rotations, using design ideas for quick inspiration.

Learn to insert an image into a PowerPoint slide without a placeholder by using the insert tab, pictures or online pictures, then resize and position it.

Learn to create and format text boxes in PowerPoint, build bullet lists, insert images from various sources, and use the screenshot tool to capture content.

Learn to insert and format shapes in PowerPoint via the insert tab and illustrations, using basic shapes, call outs, and flowchart shapes, and type inside call outs.

Format shapes in PowerPoint using the shape format tab to apply styles, fill colors, and outlines, and ensure a cohesive look across presentations by aligning with brand colors.

Learn to arrange and align shapes in PowerPoint and group them to build cohesive visuals. Use reuse slides to import from other presentations and create a master presentation.

Group shapes on a slide to treat them as one unit, then edit individual shapes inside the group and apply styles to the whole group.

Learn to capture screenshots with the Windows Snipping Tool, save them locally, and post the images in the course Q&A for feedback.

Organize data in PowerPoint with tables, using content slides or the insert tab, featuring a colored header row, and import from Excel.

Create and format a PowerPoint table within a two content slide, select a design, enter two columns with shortcut keys, and link resources for quick reference.

Learn to insert and format PowerPoint tables without a content slide, using the insert tab or a 4x4 example, align precisely, and apply styles with table design and layout tabs.

Modify a PowerPoint table by inserting or deleting rows and columns, using the layout and table design tabs to resize and adjust the table to fit your data.

Learn how to merge table cells in PowerPoint to create unified headers and clean layouts, using the layout tab to center text, adjust font sizes, and organize multi-room examples.

Master table formatting in PowerPoint by adjusting borders, shading, and header styling, including merging cells, adding a thick black border, and applying orange header colors with bevel effects.

Create professional charts by using PowerPoint's insert chart feature, which opens the Excel chart window with templates, allowing you to modify data to build a cluster column chart.

Replace the placeholder data in a PowerPoint chart with your values by editing Excel table, then import an Excel chart and switch row/column to adjust the X axis and legend.

Discover how PowerPoint charts leverage Excel tools to filter data directly within the chart, enabling quick month-by-month comparisons without creating multiple charts.

Format a chart in PowerPoint by adjusting background, colors, fonts, and legend, using chart design and format tabs; edit data via the data window or Excel for deeper changes.

Change a PowerPoint chart title by selecting the title, double-clicking to edit, and applying formatting from the home tab.

Add data labels to a PowerPoint chart to clearly show the numeric values of each bar, and adjust placement, color, and formatting for emphasis.

Learn to insert an existing Excel chart into PowerPoint, choosing between embedding and linking, and edit or update the data from Excel within the presentation.

Update an Excel chart in PowerPoint by editing the linked worksheet, saving, and refreshing links to see immediate changes, and understand when to embed versus link.

Run spell checker from the review tab (F7) to find misspellings in your PowerPoint slides, using ignore, change, change all, or add-to-dictionary; then proofread with a second pair of eyes.

Apply slide transitions in PowerPoint to control how slides move, choose effects like fade or airplane, adjust timing, and preview with F5.

Learn how to set slide durations and transitions in PowerPoint, exploring default timing, one second fades and 1.25 second airplane transitions, and automated advance options to suit your audience.

Learn how to add sounds to PowerPoint slide transitions using built-in presets or local files, and apply them judiciously to enhance, not distract, your presentation.

Learn how to create audience handouts and print your PowerPoint presentations with flexible options, including slide range selection, note pages, outline view, and color or grayscale printing.

Learn to deliver a PowerPoint presentation with Presenter View, monitor setup from the slideshow tab, monitor your timing, view bullets and next slides, and navigate using tools while practicing.

Learn to customize the PowerPoint quick access toolbar by adding favorite commands like bold, print, and tables, with one-click access, and place the toolbar above or below the ribbon.

Customize PowerPoint by turning off design ideas and the mini toolbar, and explore options to adjust live preview, spell checking, language, and auto save.