What are the best ways to use PowerPoint's advanced features?

1 Animations and transitions

Animations and transitions are the effects that make your slides move and change. They can add visual interest, emphasize key points, and guide your audience's attention. However, they can also be distracting and overdone, so you need to use them wisely and sparingly. To apply animations and transitions, go to the Animations or Transitions tab on the ribbon and choose from the options available. You can customize the timing, direction, and duration of each effect, and preview them before applying. You can also use the Animation Pane to see and edit all the animations on a slide.

2 SmartArt and charts

SmartArt and charts are the tools that help you visualize and communicate complex or numerical data in a clear and engaging way. They can transform boring lists, tables, or graphs into attractive and meaningful graphics. To insert SmartArt or charts, go to the Insert tab on the ribbon and select the type of graphic you want. You can choose from various layouts, styles, and colors, and edit the data and labels as needed. You can also add animations and transitions to your SmartArt and charts to make them more dynamic.

3 Hyperlinks and action buttons

Hyperlinks and action buttons are the features that make your slides interactive and navigable. They can link to other slides, files, websites, or email addresses, and trigger actions such as playing a sound or video, or running a macro. To insert hyperlinks and action buttons, go to the Insert tab on the ribbon and click on the Link or Action icon. You can then choose the destination or action you want, and format the appearance and behavior of the link or button. You can also use hyperlinks and action buttons to create branching scenarios, quizzes, or menus in your presentations.

4 Slide master and layouts

Slide master and layouts are the elements that control the design and format of your slides. They can help you create a consistent and professional look for your presentations, and save you time and effort in editing. To access the slide master and layouts, go to the View tab on the ribbon and click on Slide Master. You can then modify the master slide, which affects all the slides in your presentation, or the individual layouts, which affect specific types of slides. You can change the background, color scheme, fonts, placeholders, and other features of the slide master and layouts.

5 Custom shows and rehearsed timings

Custom shows and rehearsed timings are the options that allow you to tailor your presentations to different audiences, occasions, or purposes. They can help you adapt your content, duration, and delivery to suit your needs. To create custom shows, go to the Slide Show tab on the ribbon and click on Custom Slide Show. You can then select the slides you want to include or exclude in each custom show, and name and save them. To rehearse timings, go to the Slide Show tab on the ribbon and click on Rehearse Timings. You can then practice your presentation and record the time spent on each slide.

6 Macros and add-ins

Macros and add-ins are the features that enable you to automate and extend the functionality of PowerPoint. They can help you perform repetitive or complex tasks, or add new capabilities to your presentations. To record macros, go to the View tab on the ribbon and click on Macros. You can then name and record the actions you want to automate, and assign them to a button, keyboard shortcut, or event. To use add-ins, go to the File tab on the ribbon and click on Options. You can then go to the Add-Ins section and manage the available or installed add-ins for PowerPoint.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?