PowerPoint Tips

CREATING MULTIPLE "SLIDE MASTERS."
PowerPoint has only one Slide Master per file, which means you end up customizing a large number of slides in presentations with more than one repeatedly-used format. You can, however, reduce the amount of customization by creating simulated master slides as follows --

1. Create a separate slide for each layout you want to repeat.
2. To create a new slide based on one of these "masters,"
   1. Switch to the Slide Sorter view,
   2. Select the "master" slide you want to use,
   3. Duplicate that slide (Edit menu), and
   4. Customize the duplicate to include the text and graphics for that slide.

SELECTING CHART ELEMENTS.
If you find it difficult to select a specific chart element with your mouse, make the selection from the keyboard. Here is how --

1. Double click on the chart to make it active;
2. Press the up and down arrow keys to switch between element groups;
3. For elements that consist of more than one item, such as series, use the left and right arrow keys to switch from one item to the next within the group.

RESIZING TEXT CONTAINED IN A SHAPE.
If you have added text to an AutoShape (rectangle, ellipse, etc.) by typing while the shape was selected, PowerPoint treats the text as part of the shape when you move or rotate it. You have two options, however, when you resize the shape --

1. To keep the text size constant while you change the size of the shape, resize the shape by dragging one of its resize handles.
2. To change the size of the text as you change the size of the shape, resize the shape using the "Scale" command ("Draw" menu).