Introduction
Welcome to PowerPoint 2010 For Dummies, Mini Edition, the book written especially for people who are lucky enough to use this latest and greatest version of PowerPoint and want to find out just enough to finish that presentation that was due yesterday.
Do you ever find yourself in front of an audience, no matter how small, flipping through flip charts or shuffling through a stack of handwritten transparencies? You need PowerPoint! Have you always wanted to take your notebook computer with you to impress a client at lunch, but you haven’t known what to do with it between trips to the salad bar? You really need PowerPoint!
Or maybe you’re one of those unfortunate folks who bought Microsoft Office because it was such a bargain and you needed a Windows word processor and spreadsheet anyway, and hey, you’re not even sure what PowerPoint is, but it was free. Who can resist a bargain like that?
Whichever circumstance you find yourself in, you’re holding the perfect book right here in your formerly magic-marker-stained hands. Help is here, within these humble pages.
This book talks about PowerPoint in everyday — and often irreverent — terms. No lofty prose here; the whole thing checks in at about the fifth-grade reading level. I have no Pulitzer expectations for this book. My goal is to make an otherwise dull and lifeless subject at least tolerable, and maybe even kind of fun.
About This Book
This isn’t the kind of book that you pick up and read from start to finish as though it were a cheap novel. If I ever see you reading it at the beach, I’ll kick sand in your face. This book is more like a reference — the kind of book you can pick up, turn to just about any page, and start reading.
You don’t have to memorize anything in this book. It’s a need-to-know book: You pick it up when you need to know something. Need to know how to create an organization chart? Pick up the book. Need to know how to override the Slide Master? Pick up the book. After you find what you’re looking for, put it down and get on with your life.
How This Book Is Organized
Inside this book are three parts. Each part is broken down into sections that cover various aspects of the part’s main subject. The parts have a logical sequence, so it makes sense to read them in order if you want. But you don’t have to read the book that way; you can flip it open to any page and start reading.
Here’s the lowdown on what’s in each of the three parts:
Part I: Welcome to PowerPoint 2010
In this part, you review the basics of using PowerPoint. This is a good place to start if you’re clueless about what PowerPoint is, let alone how to use it.
Part II: Editing Slides
Here I show you how to review your work and make corrections.
Part III: Show Time!
This Part shows you how to print copies of your slides, notes, and handouts. It also discusses how to show your presentation on your computer or a big screen.
Icons Used in This Book
This icon flags useful, helpful tips or shortcuts.
Where to Go from Here
Yes, you can get there from here. With this book in hand, you’re ready to charge full speed ahead into the strange and wonderful world of desktop presentations. Browse through the table of contents and decide where you want to start. Be bold! Be courageous! Be adventurous! Above all else, have fun!
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