Powerpoint

Tips

Turn mouse into laser pointer

• Hold Ctrl and press left mouse button to show a laser pointer dot.
• Go to Slideshow → Setup slideshow to change pointer color.

Basic presentation rules (source

Skillsoft - Powerpoint 2010 best practices)

• Say it or show it, not both.
• Max. 5 bullets / slides, and 7 words / bullet
• Font size, rule of thumb: age of oldest person / 2

Set picture transparent color

• Select picture
• In Format ribbon menu, click color, then click set transparent color

Generate PDF slides from Powerpoint Presentation

• Requires
  • Primo PDF
  • pdftk (on Cygwin)
• In Powerpoint, open Print Setup,
  • Select PrimoPDF printer,
  • Click Properties,
    • Select Landscape.
    • Click Advanced..., in Paper/Output, select Postscript Custom Paper Size, set Width=3.78in and Height=5.04in (or use Width=7.56in and Height=10.08in for better picture resolution).
  • Click Scale to fit paper.
• Print
• When PrimoPDF window opens, select Print.
  • Note: Seems that Screen, or EBook settings break bitmap pictures.
• Rotate the generate PDF to make it landscape. In Cygwin,

pdftk in.pdf cat 1-endE output out.pdf

Macro

• Macro to rename objects on a slide, very handy when creating an animation (here).
  • The original website here. Also contains some advanced animation samples.