Step 1: The Opening Dialog Box

From PowerPoint's opening dialog box, you can start a new presentation or open an existing one. Click the option you want to start. To close the dialog box without making a selection, click the Cancel button. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 2: Use the Program Window Controls

The program window controls, located in the top right corner of the PowerPoint window, let you resize or close the program window. Use the Minimize button to reduce the window to an icon on the taskbar, use the Maximize button to enlarge the window to full screen size, use the Restore button to restore the window to its default size, and use the Close button to close and exit the program window. 

 

 

 

Step 3: View the Window Elements

The figure points out the main on-screen elements found in the PowerPoint program window. The steps to follow will explain how to use each one. 

 

 

 

 

Step 4: View the Title Bar

The title bar tells you what is in the window. When the presentation window is maximized, it has to share the title bar with the program window so that the title bar contains the names of both the program (Microsoft PowerPoint) and the file (such as Marketing Plan). 

 

 

 

Step 5: Use the Menu Bar

The PowerPoint menu bar contains menus that, in turn, contain all the available PowerPoint commands. All the tasks you need to perform are available through menu commands. To use the menu commands, click the menu name to display the commands and click a command.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 6: Use the Toolbars

The Standard and Formatting toolbars share space on the PowerPoint window. Both toolbars contain shortcuts for frequently used commands. To activate a toolbar button, click it. To see a button name, hover the mouse pointer over the button for a moment. A ScreenTip appears identifying the button. 

 

 

 

Step 7: The Drawing Toolbar

In addition to the Standard and Formatting toolbars, a Drawing toolbar at the bottom of the PowerPoint window contains commands for drawing and working with graphics objects. 

 

Step 8: Use the Presentation Window

Use the presentation window to create your slides and arrange them into the presentation. By default, PowerPoint opens in Normal view, which shows the presentation outline, the slide, and the slide notes. 

 

 

 

 

Step 9: Use the Scrollbars

Use the vertical and horizontal scrollbars bordering the presentation window (depending on your view) to navigate the presentation and view the current slide. 

 

 

 

 

Step 10: View the Status Bar

At the very bottom of the screen, the status bar tells you which slide you're currently viewing and displays the name of the current presentation.