Creating a PowerPoint XP Presentation

Using Windows 98/2000/Me/

Created:  25 April 2002

Starting PowerPoint XP

Double click on the PowerPoint XP icon on the Windows desktop (see right), or click-on the Start button in the lower left corner of the screen, then click-on Programs, and then on Microsoft PowerPoint.

In this tutorial, whenever we indicate that you need to click a mouse button, it will mean to click the left mouse button – unless we indicate that you should click the right mouse button.  So, always move the cursor over the “place” we indicate and “click left” unless we tell you otherwise.

If you have used PowerPoint 97 or 2000, XP will be a whole new adventure.  Almost everything is now “graphical.”  So, when PowerPoint loads, the appearance of the monitor screen will be very different.  Once you get used to the new XP/2002 features (which apply to all the Office modules) we think you’ll find it much easier to use as you create and edit your PowerPoint slides.

Notice that in the image on the last page that the screen is “sort of” divided into three sections.  On the left (left arrow), you’ll see an area that indicates Outline and Slides at the top.  When you first open PowerPoint XP you’ll notice that the Slides Tab is “white.”  This means that you’ll be able to see a small version of each slide as we create it.

In the center of the screen (center arrow) you’ll see a PowerPoint Design Template.  We’ll be using these templates to create our slide show.  We’ll come back to this in more detail in a few minutes.

On the right side of the screen (right arrow) you’ll see a New Presentation Area.  This is “really” new in PowerPoint XP.  This is where you’ll select and edit all of the various screen templates, images, and sounds that you’ll use to create your slide show. 

Take a few moments to look over each of these three areas.

The image on the right is an enlarged view of this New Presentation portion of the screen (on the right side of your screen). 

In the image on the right (New Presentation) especially notice the Blank Presentation icon in the New group (see arrow at right).

Move your cursor over the small white image to the left of Blank Presentation.  When you do, you will see the “small pointy hand” that indicates that this is a link to the Template Pages.  When you see the pointy hand, click the left mouse button. 

The right side of your screen should look similar to the one on the next page. 

This Apply slide layout – Text Layouts will be the screen we will use to select different templates for each of our slides.  As we move along through this tutorial, you’ll see how to do this.

You’ll notice in the Text Layouts area that the top left slide has a blue line around it.  This marks this Title Slide as the first slide in your presentation. 

In PowerPoint XP the Title Slide always appears first. PowerPoint “thinks” that you want to start your presentation with a title.  So, the Title Slide appears in the middle section of the screen.

After you understand PowerPoint a bit more, you can choose any of the templates in the Apply slide layout area to be your first slide.

Beginning the Presentation