UNIT-4
PowerPoint 2013: Basic Features and Functions
Microsoft PowerPoint 2013 is a powerful tool for creating presentations. It allows you to
design visually appealing slides, add content, and give professional presentations. These
notes will help you understand the essential functions of PowerPoint, including starting
PowerPoint, the ribbon, designing slides, saving your work, and giving presentations.
Starting Microsoft PowerPoint 2013
Opening PowerPoint 2013
Method 1: Start Menu
o Click the Windows Start button (bottom-left of your screen), search for
"Microsoft PowerPoint," and click the application to open it.
Method 2: Desktop Shortcut
o If you have a shortcut on your desktop, simply double-click the PowerPoint
icon to open it.
Method 3: Taskbar
o If PowerPoint is pinned to your taskbar, you can click the PowerPoint icon
directly from the taskbar.
Starting a New Presentation
When PowerPoint opens, you can choose to start with a Blank Presentation or select
a Template (pre-designed slide layouts) from the New Presentation options.
Understanding the Ribbon
The Ribbon is the primary toolbar in PowerPoint 2013, providing access to all the commands
and features needed to work on a presentation. The Ribbon is organized into tabs, each
containing relevant groups of commands.
Key Components of the Ribbon:
Tabs: Tabs are categories of commands for specific tasks. Some common tabs
include:
o Home: Provides basic formatting and editing tools for slides and text.
o Insert: Allows you to add content like images, tables, charts, shapes, and
videos to your slides.
o Design: Contains options to change the theme and background of the
presentation.
o Transitions: Lets you apply slide transition effects (how one slide moves to
the next).
o Animations: Used for adding animation effects to slide elements (text,
images, etc.).
o Slide Show: Provides options for starting and managing your presentation.
o Review: Includes tools for reviewing and editing your presentation, such as
spell check and comments.
o View: Controls the display mode (Normal, Slide Sorter, Reading View, etc.).
Command Groups: Each tab contains command groups, like Font, Paragraph,
Slides, Editing, etc. These groups contain buttons for various tasks like formatting
text or adding new slides.
Designing a Slide
Designing an effective and visually appealing slide is essential for any presentation.
PowerPoint 2013 offers many tools for customizing slide layouts, adding content, and
enhancing the design.
Basic Slide Design:
1. Selecting a Slide Layout:
o To choose a layout, go to the Home tab and click on Layout in the Slides
group.
o You can choose different layouts such as Title Slide, Title and Content, Two
Content, Comparison, etc.
2. Adding Text:
o Click in a Text Box to start typing. You can add text in titles, bullet points, and
other areas.
o Use the Font group on the Home tab to change the font style, size, and color.
o Use the Align options (Left, Center, Right) in the Paragraph group to adjust
the alignment of text.
3. Adding Images:
o Go to the Insert tab and click Pictures in the Images group.
o Select an image from your computer, then click Insert. The image will be
placed on your slide.
o Resize and move the image by dragging the corners.
4. Adding Shapes:
o In the Insert tab, click on Shapes and choose from various options like
rectangles, circles, arrows, lines, etc.
o Draw shapes on your slide by clicking and dragging.
5. Background Design:
o Go to the Design tab, where you can select a theme for your presentation.
o You can also customize the background of each slide by clicking on Format
Background and choosing a color, gradient, or image as the background.
6. Adding Charts or Tables:
o To add a chart, go to the Insert tab and click on Chart. This will open a
spreadsheet for you to enter data.
o To add a table, click Table and select the number of rows and columns.
Saving Your Work
It's essential to save your presentation regularly to avoid losing your work. PowerPoint 2013
provides several options for saving and managing your files.
Steps to Save Your Presentation:
1. Save As:
o Click on the File tab in the ribbon and select Save As.
o Choose a location (e.g., This PC, OneDrive, or Browse).
o Enter a name for your presentation and select the file format (usually .pptx).
o Click Save.
2. AutoSave:
o If your presentation is stored in OneDrive or SharePoint, AutoSave is
automatically turned on, and your work is saved in real-time.
3. Save (Quick Save):
o To quickly save your work, press Ctrl + S or click the Save icon in the top-left
corner of the screen.
Giving Presentations
PowerPoint 2013 is designed to help you deliver professional presentations. Once your slides
are designed, you can use various tools to present effectively.
Starting the Presentation:
1. Start Slide Show:
o Click the Slide Show tab in the ribbon.
o To start from the first slide, click From Beginning.
o To start from the current slide, click From Current Slide.
o Alternatively, you can press F5 to start the slide show from the beginning or
Shift + F5 to start from the current slide.
2. Navigation:
o During the presentation, use the arrow keys or mouse to move between
slides.
o Press Esc to exit the presentation.
3. Using Presentation Tools:
o Pointer Tools: In the Slide Show tab, you can use tools like the Pen,
Highlighter, or Laser Pointer to emphasize points during your presentation.
o Annotations: Use the Pen tool to draw directly on slides during your
presentation.
o Slide Transitions: Transitions control how one slide moves to the next. You
can apply transitions from the Transitions tab. Options include Fade, Push,
Wipe, etc.
o Animations: Use animations to animate objects or text within a slide. Apply
animations from the Animations tab.
4. Presenter View:
o If you have a dual-monitor setup, you can use Presenter View to see notes and
upcoming slides while the audience sees only the current slide.
o To enable Presenter View, go to the Slide Show tab and check Use Presenter
View.
Summary of Key Functions:
Starting PowerPoint: Open PowerPoint from the Start menu, desktop shortcut, or
taskbar. Start with a blank presentation or choose a template.
Ribbon: The ribbon contains tabs like Home, Insert, Design, and others, each with
groups of commands for various tasks.
Designing Slides: Choose slide layouts, add text, images, shapes, and charts.
Customize backgrounds and slide designs using the Design tab.
Saving Work: Use Save As, AutoSave, or Quick Save to save your presentation.
Ensure regular saving to prevent data loss.
Giving Presentations: Start the slide show, navigate slides, use Presenter View, and
apply transitions and animations for a dynamic presentation.