PowerPoint Basics

Opening PowerPoint

To open PowerPoint, following these steps:

On the PC:	On the Mac:
Choose Start on the Windows taskbar	Double-click your hard drive icon
Choose Programs	Double-click the Applications folder
Click Microsoft PowerPoint	Double-click the Microsoft Office icon
	Double-click the Microsoft PowerPoint icon
Note: For information on creating a shortcut on your desktop, click here.	Note: For information on creating an alias on your desktop, click here.

Starting a New Presentation

When you open PowerPoint, you see the Startup dialog box, shown here. You can choose from these options:

• AutoContent Wizard: guides you through the process of creating an entire presentation. You start by clicking Next, then choose a category and presentation topic. You choose the presentation format and title and then click Finish. PowerPoint creates a presentation based on your choices. Of course, you still need to add your own text (to replace the boilerplate text) and graphics. You can change any aspect of this presentation at any time, using PowerPoint's tools.
• Template: lets you choose a background design template for all the slides to start with. You create all the text and graphics from scratch. You can change this template at any time.
• Blank Presentation: for when you want to start with a blank slate. You create the background, text, and graphics.
• Open an Existing Presentation: Lets you browse for an existing presentation so you can open it.

After choosing an option, click OK. PowerPoint opens your new presentation.

Opening an Existing Presentation

If you don't open an existing presentation from the Startup dialog box described in the previous section, you can open one from within PowerPoint.

1. Click Open from the Standard toolbar or choose File > Open.
2. Locate the presentation you want to open and click it.
3. Click Open.

Saving a Presentation

To save a presentation, click Save on the Standard toolbar or choose File > Save.

Getting Help

There are a few ways to access PowerPoint's Help:

• Click the Office Assistant and type your question in the box that opens.
• Choose Help > Contents and Index to find the answer to your question by topic (in the Contents) or alphabetical index. (In PowerPoint 2000, you must first go through the Office Assistant and open up a topic before you can get to the Contents and Index, unless you turn off the Assistant.)
• Click F1 to get a list of Help topics related to what you are doing (context-sensitive help) -- PC only.