General Program Options in PowerPoint 2010 for Windows

The General tab of the PowerPoint Options dialog box contains basic, yet some very important options related to the appearance and working of the PowerPoint interface. Changes to these options can result in a very different and more efficient workflow. The PowerPoint Options dialog box can be accessed in multiple ways, as explained in our Options Tab in Backstage view in PowerPoint 2010 for Windows tutorial.

In this tutorial, we will explore the various options within the General tab of the PowerPoint Options dialog box. Follow these steps to understand better:

1. Launch PowerPoint and access the PowerPoint Options dialog box, as shown in Figure 1, below. Make sure that the General tab is selected, as shown highlighted in red within Figure 1.
2. 
   Figure 1: PowerPoint Options dialog box
3. The options within the PowerPoint Options dialog box are explained below, as marked in Figure 1, above:

A. Show Mini Toolbar on selection

4. As the name suggests, selecting this check-box will provide easy access to the Mini Toolbar when you select text on your slide. To learn more about Mini Toolbar, explore our Mini Toolbar in PowerPoint 2010 for Windows tutorial.

B. Enable Live Preview

5. Selecting this check-box enables Live Preview of slide objects, as you hover over options within the Ribbon and elsewhere. To learn more about Live Preview, explore our Live Preview in PowerPoint 2010 for Windows tutorial.

C. Color scheme

6. This option is used to change the interface color of PowerPoint 2010. Click the down-arrow to open a drop-down list, as shown in Figure 2, below.
7. 
   Figure 2: Color scheme drop-down list
8. Here you'll find three color choices:

Blue

9. Figure 3, below, shows the PowerPoint interface with the Blue color scheme.
10. 
    Figure 3: Blue color applied to the interface

Silver

11. Figure 4, below, shows the PowerPoint interface with the Silver color scheme.
12. 
    Figure 4: Silver color applied to the interface

Black

13. Figure 5, below, shows the PowerPoint interface with the Black color scheme.
14. 
    Figure 5: Black color applied to the interface

D. ScreenTip style

15. Change the style of Screen tips using this option. Click the down-arrow to open a drop-down list, as shown in Figure 6, below.
16. 
    Figure 6: ScreenTip style drop-down list
17. Here you'll find three Style choices:

Show feature descriptions in ScreenTips

18. This is the default option. In Figure 7, below, you can see that the Screen tip shows both the command name and a small description.
19. 
    Figure 7: Result of selecting the Show feature descriptions in ScreenTips option

Don't show feature descriptions in ScreenTips

20. In Figure 8, below, you can see how the Screen tip shows the command name without any description.
21. 
    Figure 8: Result of selecting the Don't show feature descriptions in ScreenTips option

Don't show ScreenTips

22. In Figure 9, below, you can see the result of selecting this option. Notice that even though the cursor is hovered upon the Layout button, there is no ScreenTip displayed.
23. 
    Figure 9: Result of selecting the Don't show ScreenTips option

E. Personalize your copy of Microsoft Office

24. This last section includes options to change your User name and Initials. Do remember that the details you provide within this area will identify you in any comments, or review edits you make in your presentation, especially when multiple authors edit the same presentation.