You probably noticed, as soon as you saw the PowerPoint view screen, the area running down the left side of the screen, which contained "little" views of your slides as you were creating them. This first "default view that you see is called Normal View.

In the lower left corner of the screen you will see some "buttons" the look like this:

Slowly point (move) your cursor arrow over each box and pause a moment (don’t click-on any of the box’s yet). Note what the Text Help boxes indicate. The first box (which looks "depressed") indicates: Normal View. The next: Outline View. Then Slide View and Slide Sorter View. And, finally, Slide Show.

Click-on Outline View, then click-on Slide View, then click-on Slide Sorter View. Each one has its own unique use.

The Normal View gives you a view of the entire slide as well as the "mini-previews" of each slide in the area on the left. This is the one we have been using so far. You’ll also notice a Click to add notes section at the bottom of the Normal View screen. In this area you can type "speaker notes" for each slide in the lower portion of the screen. When we get to printing you will see that there is a print selection so that you can print your notes for each slide so that you can refer to them later while you are making your presentation.

The Outline view shows you an "outline" of your slides. You may edit each slide, just as you did in Slide View. Since you can see "so much" in this view, many people use this view to create their initial slide show and then go back to Slide View to put in Clip Art and other effects (sound, transitions, etc.). You will also see a small preview of your slide in the upper right corner. As you edit your text and make changes you will see them "reflected" in the small slide. This view is great for adding and editing text, but you’ll need to go to either the Normal View or Slide View to enter graphics, etc.

In Slide View you see the "whole" slide just like you did in Normal view. However, the "mini-preview" area to the left is much smaller so that you can see more of your slide.

In Slide Sorter View you can see small versions of your slides. In this view you can left click-on a slide and, holding down the left mouse button, drag your slide to any position in your show that you desire. This view assists you in arranging your slides in the order that you desire for your presentation. This view is sort of like the old round 35mm slide show trays where you pulled out and stuck in slides in the order you desired.