We are frequently engaged to review, and edit existing PowerPoint presentations, or create new presentations incorporating the company brand: logo, typography, and color scheme. We have created a six step review process we complete, before beginning our work when it involves an existing presentation. Why? Because less than ten percent of the existing presentations we review pass all six steps, and most clients are surprised there were so many layout problems with their presentation. Keep in mind, at this stage we are only addressing known layout problems, and not design, graphic elements, etc.
Why are these problems meaningful? If you create a presentation that will only be used by you, on and from, the computer used to create the presentation - you can skip the rest of this TechTIP.
The goal of our typical client is to have a generic corporate presentation that will be shared by many users, and can be personalized by them, for their use. The presentation may be shown directly from a laptop to a small group, from a PC via OHP in an auditorium, 35mm slides, or photographic quality color flip charts.
Six Step CA Checklist1. Are the template(s) functional for all slides?
2. Are all the slides legible when printed in B&W?
3. Do all the links function?
4. Do any slides have content extending off the page?
5. Are the header & footer of your Notes and Handouts pages filled-in?
6. Will it properly display on other PCs?
Failing step 1 (which is very common) indicates your presentation is not using the template(s) to control the layout.
Try the following steps to find out:(a) While in the Slide Sorter View, select Format/Slide Layout (ALT+OL)
(b) Choose a Title and Text (bullet) slide from the Slide Sorter View
(c) In the Slide Layout on the right, the icon for Title and Text (bullet) should be outlined in blue.
(d) Select that icon, and a drop down menu should appear. Select Reapply Layout.
(e) If the appearance of your slide did not change, congratulations! You are one of the less than ten percent. If the appearance of your slide did change, your template is not controlling the layout of that slide. (You probably saw the text get larger? Most people try to get more text on a page by making the font smaller than specified by the template.)
Failing steps 2, 4 or 6 can cause your presentation not to output properly, causing additional cost and delay to obtain your output media.
Failing step 3 is embarrassing if you expected to do a 'live' presentation while connected to the internet, or your company LAN.
Failing step 5 can be a problem if you haven't numbered your pages, and the secretary drops your 20 page Handout, just before making collated copies. It is also a good place to insert Copyright, or Confidential information.
The Six Step CA Checklist is just the tip of the iceberg in creating presentations. We also offer our COLUMBUS® navigation methodology. Enabling non-linear slide presentations; go from any slide to any slide. Never get lost again. Click the globe on the left to learn more...
(if you are on one of those inferior windows based machines, that gets all the viruses) some of us use Macintosh (where cut and paste originated) -cj
I had forgot about CTRL+B, CTRL+I, and CTRL+U. It is faster using the keyboard shortcuts, than using the touchpad. - Melanie
I have tried some of your TechTIPs, but can't always reproduce the results. Can you provide a copy of the example you used? - David
Corbitt Associates provides sales, marketing and training capabilities, when you don't have resources available. Your resources may not have the required skill and experience, or they may be committed to another project. Don't let that program get behind, or go undone. Contact us, to be your extended team. When you can't Do It Yourself (DIY), we can Do It For You (DIFY).
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Corbitt Associates
3590 Lester CT SW
Lilburn, GA 30047-7504