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Microsoft PowerPoint 2004

Basic PowerPoint Tasks

PowerPoint is a powerful and versatile program for creating presentations. Many of the concepts that you know from working with other programs will carry through to PowerPoint. This document will show you how to complete some of the basic tasks involved in creating a presentation. 

Return to TopOpening PowerPoint

In order to perform tasks with PowerPoint 2004, use the following instructions to open the program: 

NOTE: The procedure for opening PowerPoint may vary depending on the setup of the computer you are using.

  1. From your hard drive double click APPLICATIONS » MICROSOFT OFFICE 2004 » MICROSOFT POWERPOINT
     NOTE: Depending on the set up of your computer, this location may vary.

Return to TopStarting a New Presentation

When PowerPoint is opened, by default a blank Title slide appears as the first slide in your new presentation. You may start a new presentation when you first open PowerPoint or after PowerPoint is already open.

Starting a New Presentation: When Opening PowerPoint

  1. Open PowerPoint
    A blank title slide appears as the first slide in your presentation.

Starting a New Presentation: PowerPoint Already Open

  1. From the File menu, select New Presentation
    A blank title slide appears as the first slide in your presentation.

  2. Choose a Slide Layout

Return to TopInserting New Slides

PowerPoint offers you a quick way to add new slides to your presentation. By default the new slide will be the Bulleted List slide layout.

  1. From the Insert menu, select New Slide
    A new Bulleted List slide is inserted in your presentation.
    HINT: PowerPoint will create a new slide in the view you are currently in. If you want to change the view, use the view buttons in the lower left-hand corner of the PowerPoint window. See The PowerPoint Views for more information.

  2. Choose a Slide Layout

Return to TopChanging a Slide Layout

  1. From the Format menu, select Slide Layout...
    The Slide Layout pane appears.

  2. Select the desired slide layout

  3. Click APPLY
    The selected slide layout appears on your slide.

Return to TopApplying a Design Template

A design template can be a convenient way to add some color to your presentation. To learn more about PowerPoint templates see Customizing Templates.

  1. From the Format menu, select Slide Design...
    The Choose a Slide Design dialog box appears.

  2. Select Designs
    Design template choices appear in the scroll box on the right.

  3. Select a slide design
    The design is previewed on the right.

  4. To apply the design to all slides, select Apply to all slides
    To apply to the current slide, select Apply to current slide

  5. Click APPLY
    The design template is applied.

Return to TopSaving a Presentation

It is important to save your presentation for future usage. If you have already saved your presentation to a file, it is as easy as one step. If you are saving for the first time, you need to select a location and a name for your file.

Saving a Presentation: First Time

  1. From the File menu, select Save
         OR
    On the Standard toolbar, click SAVESave button
    The Save As dialog box appears.

  2. Using the Where pull-down list, navigate through folders/files to the desired save location

  3. In the Save As text box, type a file name

  4. Click SAVE

Saving a Presentation: Already Named

  1. From the File menu, select Save
         OR
    On the Standard toolbar, click SAVESave button

Return to TopOpening a Presentation

You can open a saved presentation using the File menu.

  1. From the File menu, select Open...
    The Open dialog box appears.

  2. Navigate to and select your saved presentation

  3. Click OPEN

Return to TopPreparing to Print

Before you print your slides, you need to set them up. You can prepare your slides by selecting the Page Setup... option from the File menu. This option lets you identify your output medium (e.g., paper, on-screen slide show, 35mm slides) as well as the orientation (portrait or landscape) of slides, notes, handouts, and outlines. For instructions on using Page Setup..., refer to Setting Up Slides to Print within Printing Your Presentation.

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