Glen Millar PowerPoint WorkBench PowerPoint MVP
since 2003
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Welcome to these tutorials, many of which were unique concepts when first published!

animatebuildvisualizeinteract2007logicvideo


logic: of presentations

logic 1: presentation structure ] logic 2: tri-pane view ] logic 3: move text fast ] logic 4: edit text ruthlessly ] logic 5: notes pane ] logic 6: visual clarity ] logic 7: powerpoint layouts ] logic 8: slide masters ] logic 9: slide grid and guides ] [ logic 10: ribbon logic ] logic 11: animate with confidence ] logic 12: present with confidence ] logic 13: the ending ] logic14: get powerpoint help ] logic 15: annoying prompts (new) ]


 

PowerPoint 2007 (and soon, 2010) Ribbon Logic

Logic: what is the logic behind the Ribbon menu system

Why the new menu system? Well, I can only guess and in doing so, tell you what it means to me. The trick is to follow the logic and work from left to right across the menu (the Australian version, anyway). Actually, it is about 2 things:

LOGIC AND DISCIPLINE!

Now, before you start! I'm about to include customisation of the Quick Access Toolbar (QAT). Echo Swinford has an excellent series of tutorials on customising the actual Ribbon in 2010, plus a bunch of other stuff:

Customising the 2010 Ribbon (Opens in a new window)

New features of version 2010  (Opens in a new window)

Importing a customised Ribbon  (Opens in a new window)


Let's have a brief look:

PowerPoint 2007 Home tab

"Home" is where the file and presentation options are. You use this to start, whether loading an existing presentation or creating a new one. There are also save and export options.

Notice (above) Tabs (1), Groups (2), Command Buttons (3) and the QAT (Quick Access Toolbar).

PowerPoint 2007 insert tab

"Insert" is used to create your presentation. This includes inserting objects such as text, charts, SmartArt or graphs. Again. note the bar at the bottom (normally it is located at the top, but this position can be changed) with the save icon (and others). This is for customisation (more later). Anyway, use the "Insert section to build the slides, text, images and objects. Refrain from formatting individual objects as you add them- you will totally waste your time.

PowerPoint 2007 design tab

"Design" is where you add formatting through "Templates" or "Styles". To me, Styles are a subset of a template. You apply a template first, then change the style.

PowerPoint 2007 animations tab

"Animations". When you get to here, your presentation should largely be built. A lot more of the animation and transition settings are exposed here, although you will have to click the "Custom Animation" button to bring up that Task Pane.

PowerPoint 2007 slide show tab

"Slideshow" is all about finalising your presentation for viewing.

PowerPoint 2007 review tab

"Review", when you want to send it to someone else to check. A great new feature of PowerPoint 2007 is Slide Libraries, if you have access to SharePoint Server.

PowerPoint 2007 view tab

"View" contains options about how you want to work in your presentation, including slide views, Masters, the ruler and grid and various window options.

Customising. If you are a power user, you will need this to be able to get to those functions you use most (you might also discipline yourself to learn the keyboard shortcuts you will most frequently use!). Remember that we lost the ability to tear off menus. Now, I hate that, but I think I can see some of the logic that went into the decision. It is called "Discipline"! That is, if you work the Ribbon from Left to Right as I have described, you will spend a lot less time looking for stuff.

Anyway. Right click on any menu area and you get the option to Customise the Quick Access Toolbar. You can choose commands from various Tabs and "promote" or move them to the Quick Access Toolbar. That is the little toolbar area below the ribbon.

customize PowerPoint 2007

Now, once again, what is the logic? Easy:

  1. Work from left to right!

  2. Be disciplined to work from left to right.

It is that simple!


  

 

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