Launching PowerPoint from StartèProgramsèMicrosoft PowerPoint  

Activity 1: Launching PowerPoint from StartèProgramsèMicrosoft PowerPoint  

1. Start PowerPoint by clicking on the PowerPoint icon in the Start-Programs menu.

2. PowerPoint opens to a blank title slide layout.

To change the layout of an existing slide, follow these steps

1. In normal or slide sorter view, select the slide you want to change.
2. On the Formatting toolbar or in the Task Pane, click Slide Layout.
3. Use the scroll bar to view all layouts, then click the one you want.
4. Rearrange any overlapping or hidden objects to fit the new layout.

Creating a Shortcut to PowerPoint on the Desktop  

Activity 2: Creating a Shortcut to PowerPoint on the Desktop  

It is easy to create a Shortcut icon to any program, folder, or file and place the shortcut on your desktop.

1.Go to Start - Programs and find the folder or icon you want (you may also open the My Computer window and navigate to the file location)

2. Right click and hold, then drag and drop onto the desktop

3. In the resulting pop-up menu choose "Create shortcut here"

4. To start PowerPoint from the desktop icon, double click

A shortcut is a quick way to start a program or open a file or folder without having to go to its permanent location in Windows Explorer. Shortcuts are especially useful for programs, files, and folders you use frequently. 

To delete a shortcut, drag it to the Recycle Bin. The original item still exists on the disk.

Creating a Shortcut to PowerPoint on the Quick-Launch Toolbar  

Activity 3: Creating a Shortcut to PowerPoint on the Quick-Launch Toolbar  

1.Go to Start - Programs and find the folder or icon you want (you may also open the My Computer window and navigate to the file location)

2. Right click and hold, then drag onto the desktop (do not drop yet)

3. Drag "Ghost" icon down into the QuickLaunch toolbar and drop

3. In the resulting pop-up menu choose "Create shortcut here"

4. To start PowerPoint from the QuickLaunch toolbar, click

 If the QuickLaunch toolbar is not showing, right click on the Taskbar, point to Toolbars, and then check "QuickLaunch"

In Windows 98 the QuickLaunch toolbar is located on the Taskbar (just to the right of the Start button). Shortcut buttons to any folder, file, or program can easily be created on this toolbar and the folder, file, or program can be launched with a single click.

Launching PowerPoint from The New Office Document Menu  

Activity 4: Launching PowerPoint from The New Presentation Menu on the Task Pane  

1. To start a PowerPoint presentation from a template, click on the General Templates button on the Task Pane.

2. Choose a tab at the top of this window to see the available templates.

Any Office program can be started from a template. Templates for PowerPoint are located in the New Presentation menu of the Task Pane.

The General tab contains templates for blank presentations using default settings (slide size, fonts, font sizes, colors, etc). It also contains the AutoContent Wizard. Wizards are step by step processes which help you create customized documents

The Presentations tab contains templates to help you create a presentation based upon generic topics such as "Brainstorming Session", Communicating Bad News", "Introducing a Speaker", etc. To use these templates, you simply open them up and replace the placeholder text and images with your own content.

The Design Templates tab allows you to begin a blank presentation by choosing from several professionally created designs which include fonts, page designs, and matching color schemes.

You have now completed this module. Take a few minutes to review and practice what you have learned.