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Microsoft PowerPoint 2003

Keyboard Shortcuts

This document discusses keyboard shortcuts which are specific to PowerPoint 2003. For more information about commonly used shortcuts, refer to Office 2003: Keyboard Shortcuts.

Return to TopSelecting Objects

In order to format text or objects included in your PowerPoint slides, they must be selected. The following keyboard shortcuts are helpful and specific to PowerPoint.

Action Key Command
Select one object ahead [Tab]
Select one object previous [Shift] + [Tab]
Deselect one object [Esc]

Return to TopCreating a New Slide

You may need to create new slides frequently as you are making your PowerPoint presentation. This keyboard shortcut can help speed up the process of opening and choosing new slides.

  1. With the existing presentation already open, press [Ctrl] + [M]
    A new Title and Text slide and the Slide Layout task pane appears.

  2. Press F6 until the Slide Layout task pane is selected

  3. To select the appropriate slide layout, press the [Up], [Down], [Left], or [Right] arrow keys

  4. Press [Enter]
    The selected layout appears.

Return to TopMoving within the Existing Presentation

Once your presentation is open in Normal view, there are several ways of navigating within the presentation. Using the keyboard shortcuts can help speed up the process and increase the accuracy of commands performed between and within the slides.

Moving within the Existing Presentation: Between Slides

Action Key Command
To move ahead one slide [Page Down]
To move back one slide [Page Up]

Moving within the Existing Presentation: Within Slides

Navigating within slides means you will be moving through all the objects within a single slide using key commands. By using the [Tab] key, you can move over the objects. When you [Tab] over an object, it appears selected and you can begin formatting it to meet your needs. Objects usually include text boxes, images, and AutoShapes.

NOTE: In order to navigate within a slide using the key commands, make sure the desired slide is in view.

Action Key Command
To move ahead one object within the slide [Tab]
To move back one object within the slide [Shift] + [Tab]
To start typing within a text box
  1. By pressing the [Tab] key, select appropriate text box
  2. Press [Enter]
  3. Type the appropriate information
To deselect an object [Esc]
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