Getting started

Start PowerPoint.

The screen will normally show a slide in the middle for you to work on, a panel of miniature slides on the left and a task pane on the right. Use the View menu to change what’s displayed if necessary.

The first slide offered should be a title slide. If not, use Create new presentation, the bottom entry on the otherwise ill-named Getting started panel.

The title slide

Whether you actually plan to use this layout or not it is recommended that you put a title at least on the first slide – it can easily be changed later.

Next slides

This is where the content starts and you’ll need to click the New Slide button on the toolbar or use Insert | New Slide. The default offer is a heading and space for several lines. This will often be suitable but there are other options available.

getting started | slide layout | text | images | designs | Slide Sorter | backgrounds | more backgrounds | background images | first and last slides | printing | Master slides | transitions | animation