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Microsoft PowerPoint X

PowerPoint Online Help

The Microsoft Office Help system provides concise, printable descriptions and procedures suggesting how most effectively use the features in the PowerPoint. Help offers a variety of methods for searching for the information you need. This document explains the methods you can use to search the Help system.

Return to topSearch PowerPoint Help: Office Assistant

Using the Search command is most beneficial when you have a pretty good idea of what you are looking for. The Search command uses the image of the Office Assistant as a guide to find the most relevant documents for your search terms. Instead of going directly to the Help dialog box, you will ask the Office Assistant, which must be enabled.
Microsoft Office Assistant

  1. From the Help menu, select Search PowerPoint Help
    The Office Assistant search tool appears.
    OR
    From the Standard toolbar, click OFFICE ASSISTANT Office Assistant button
    The Office Assistant search tool appears.
    OR
    If the Office Assistant is already open, click OFFICE ASSISTANT

  2. In the What would you like to do? text box, type a word or phrase that describes the information you are searching for

  3. Click SEARCH
    A list of related topics is displayed.

  4. Select the topic that best suits your search terms
    The Help dialog box appears displaying the selected information.

To enable Office Assistant:

  1. From the Help menu, select Use the Office Assistant
    A checkmark will appear next to the choice.

To disable Office Assistant:

  1. From the Help menu, select Use the Office Assistant
    The checkmark next to the option will disappear.

Return to topPowerPoint Help Contents: Help Dialog Box

Using PowerPoint Help Contents is the most common and useful search method. You can browse existing contents and indexes of program functions using the Help dialog box. Using the Help dialog box also gives you navigation and print options. While the Help dialog box may be a bit more complex, it can help you narrow your search. Since you go directly to the dialog box to begin your search, you will not need to access the Office Assistant. However, you still have the Office Assistant at your disposal. The Help dialog box gives you three different ways of searching for your topic: Contents, Index, and Search.

Accessing the Help dialog box:

  1. From the Help menu, select PowerPoint Help Contents
    The Microsoft Office Help dialog box appears.
    Microsoft Office Help dialog box

Using the Help Dialog Box: Toolbar

The Help dialog box includes a toolbar to aid in your search.

Button

Icon

Action

Index

 Index button Allows you to search by the first letter of a topic for which you need help with.

Search

 Search button Allows you to search for help by keyword.

Contents

 Contents button Takes you back to the Table of Contents in the Microsoft Office Help Dialog box.

Back

 Back button Navigates backward through the list of topic instructions.

Forward

 Forward button Navigates forward through the list of topic instructions.

Print

 Print button Prints the instructions currently in view.

Using the Help Dialog Box: Contents Button

Using the Contents option allows you to search the entire library of Help topics to find your topic. This can be beneficial if a keyword search does not bring up any relevant topics. 

  1. Open the Help dialog box

  2. From the Help toolbar, click CONTENTSContents button
    A list of the primary Help topics appears in the left frame.

  3. From the topics list, select a topic
    A sublist appears.

  4. From the sublist, select a topic
    The instructions for that topic appear in the right frame.
    NOTE: If another list of subtopics appears instead of the instructions, keep navigating through the list until your search is complete.

Using the Help Dialog Box: Index Button

The Index tab searches via keywords. You have the choice of either typing in your own keywords or selecting from the list of keywords. 

  1. Open the Help dialog box

  2. Click INDEXIndex button
    An alphabetical list appears in the left frame

  3. From the alphabetical list, select a letter that begins a keyword for the topic you are searching for
    A list of keywords appears below.

  4. Select the desired keyword
    The instructions appear in the right frame.
    NOTE: If another list of subtopics appears below the keywords, keep navigating through the list until your search is complete.

Using the Help Dialog Box: Search Button

  1. Open the Help dialog box

  2. Click SEARCHSearch button
    The Office Assistant search tool appears.

  3. In the What would you like to do? text box, type a word or phrase that describes the information you are searching for

  4. Click SEARCH
    A list of related topics is displayed.

  5. Select the topic that best suits your search terms
    The information is displayed in the right frame of the Help dialog box.

Return to topAdditional Help Resources

Microsoft also provides its powerful online help system allowing users to search for information that both available and unavailable with its other search tools. To access these additional resources, you must be connected to the internet.

  1. From the Help menu, select Additional Help Resources
    The Help tool will open in a browser window.

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