PowerPoint has a new feature called 'PowerPoint Picture Presentation'. When you save your presentation as a picture presentation, PowerPoint converts all your slides into pictures. All the elements on a slide are converted into a single image.
Where is it?
File --> Save As --> Choose a folder --> Save as type --> PowerPoint Picture Presentation. You can save your existing presentation as a picture presentation. Make sure you keep a copy of your original, as you cannot edit the picture presentation. The format of the new presentation is still .pptx
When do you need it?
- To reduce the size of your presentation. The file size will come down significantly.
- To protect your special fonts. If you have used special fonts, converting your presentation into a picture presentation will preserve everything perfectly.
What do you lose?
Animations. Slide transitions remain intact but all the animations on a slide go away. That is because all the elements on a slide are being clubbed together into one single image.
Try this feature out. It will help you one day :)
When we are working on multiple versions of a PowerPoint file, it is possible to get confused as to which one is the final version. This is especially true when a team or a group is working on a PPT. One member updates something and sends it to the other. The PPT crosses multiple hands multiple times and you keep saving the file as version 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 and so on.
If you are working on such a presentation and you have the final version, PowerPoint 2010 now allows you to easily 'mark the presentation as final'. The moment you or your colleagues or friends open this version, they will be intimated that this is the final version and they will be discouraged to make any changes to the file.
How to mark a presentation as final?
Open the presentation. Go to File. Under Info option on the left, go to Permissions and click on the square box named Protect Presentation. Then choose Mark as Final. Save the file and exit. That's it.
If you re-open the file, on the status bar you will find a message; Marked as Final. You can still choose to edit the file, by clicking on Edit Anyway. Unless you click on Edit Anyway you will not be able to make any changes. This way you are ensuring the viewer of the PPT knows this is the final version.
If you want to draw attention to something on the slide, you generally go to the screen and use your hands. This is fine if you are in a small conference room. If you are smart, you might carry a laser pointer (which now-a-days comes inbuilt in wireless presenters). You can also move your mouse and take the cursor to any part of the screen. But did you know there was a free inbuilt laser pointer in PowerPoint?
If you want to highlight anything on your screen (in Slide Show mode), you can press Control (CTRL) and then left click on the mouse and move it. Instead of the normal cursor arrow you will see a laser pointer symbol. The laser pointer dot of a wireless presenter is small but this pointer is bigger, hence easier to see.
