Interface
Author: Geetesh Bajaj
Product/Version: PowerPoint 2002 and 2003
Date Created: February 26th 2007
Last Updated: February 26th 2009
Excerpt/Capsule:
Here's a quick walkthrough of the PowerPoint 2003 interface -- PowerPoint 2002 (XP) looks almost the same.
Figure 1 shows a screenshot of the interface -- each part of the interface is explained later in this page.
Figure 1: The PowerPoint 2003 interface
- Menu bar: The menu bar contains several
menu names -- when clicked, these names display a drop-down
list
of menus and sub-menus. Select the required menu option.
- Standard toolbar: The Standard toolbar contains
several icons that provide quick access to options already available
from within the menus.
This toolbar is normally displayed directly
under
the menu bar, although it is possible to drag this toolbar
to any part of the PowerPoint interface.
- Formatting toolbar: The Formatting toolbar
is normally displayed directly below the Standard toolbar
(see above) -- it contains icons that provide shortcuts
for
formatting the various elements on a slide. For example,
the prominent B icon bolds or unbolds selected text on
a slide.
- Slide and Outline pane: Normally placed on
the left of the interface, this pane contains two tabs -- the
Slides tab and the Outline tab. The Slides tab shows thumbnails
of all the slides in the open presentation. The Outline tab shows
the same slides in outline view. The Outline (or Outlining) tab
is explained in more detail on
this page on the Outlining toolbar.
Note: If the Slides and Outline pane is not visible, choose the View | Normal (Restore Panes) menu option.
- View buttons: Essentially there are
three view buttons displayed right beneath the Slides and
Outline pane:
- Normal View - Clicking this enables Normal view,
Shift-clicking this gets you to Slide Master view.
- Slide Sorter View - Clicking this displays zoomable
thumbnails of every slide in the open presentation. Shift-clicking
this button gets you to Handout Master view.
- Slide Show from current slide - Show the presentation
as a full screen slideshow from the current selected
slide. Shift-clicking brings up the Set Up Show dialog
box.
- Normal View - Clicking this enables Normal view,
Shift-clicking this gets you to Slide Master view.
- Drawing toolbar: This toolbar is normally
found below the slide area and panes, right above the Status
bar. This contains icons used for drawing and formatting shapes
and other objects on the slide.
Note: If the Drawing toolbar is not visible, choose the View | Toolbars | Drawing menu option.
- Status bar: A thin, horizontal strip that
provides information pertaining to the open presentation such
as the slide number, the slide template used, etc.
- Notes pane: An area where you can enter
speaker notes for the current slide -- this is helpful
for the speaker. None of this content is visible on the actual
slide.
- Ruler: The Ruler allows you to visually place
slide objects in relation to each other.
Note: If the Ruler is not visible, choose the View | Ruler menu option.
- Task pane: The Task pane is a rectangular
window that appears docked on the right side of your PowerPoint
window. There are several task panes that use the same
pane area. Most of the time, the task pane area will automatically
activate when you select a particular menu option.
- Slide area: Represents the area where your actual slide is visible.
