Join us at the 2008 PowerPoint Live User Conference

This year's PowerPoint Live Conference will be in beautiful San Diego on September 21 -24. It is a great venue to meet PowerPoint experts from around the world and network with people that create and manage PowerPoint.

The conference agenda is packed with good, practical information that you can put to use immediately.

As one of the long-standing sponsors of this event, we will be there, demonstrating the latest version of SlideManager. If you have the opportunity to attend, do it, you won't be disappointed. To learn more visit the PPT Live web site.

Stop PowerPoint From Changing Font Sizes

Have you ever typed text in a placeholder and the font size suddenly gets smaller? For example you are adding bullets to a slide and suddenly the type size shrinks and the line spacing changes, moving the bullets closer together.

At first glance this is really convenient... you can add really long bullet copy and get more on a slide. However, at the same time you may drive you audience crazy. If every slide has different font sizes your message can get lost as your audience struggles to read it. And we all know that too much text on a slide can convert your audience to readers instead of listeners.

There is a setting in PowerPoint 2002 and 2003 that will prevent font sizes from changing...you can turn off a couple of AutoCorrect options that are automatically turned on, by default, when you first install PowerPoint.

Go to Tools>AutoCorrect Options

Click the "AutoFormat As you Type Tab." Uncheck "AutoFit title text to placeholder"and "AutoFit body text to placeholder"

I also recommend unchecking "Automatic layout for inserted objects" which will prevent existing content from moving when inserting an object.

By turning off these defaults you will create more consistent slides and enforce more concise messaging. Your audience will appreciate it.

Where are my favorite PowerPoint 2003 commands in 2007?

You finally upgraded to PowerPoint 2007. Do you wonder where your commands from PowerPoint 2003 went in PowerPoint 2007? Microsoft developed a visual, interactive reference guide that guides you to each command’s new location in 2007.



If Microsoft’s guide doesn’t show you the commands that you’re looking for, customize your Quick Access Toolbar. If you want to add your favorite commands, use the Quick Access Toolbar drop down menu and select More Commands....

Here you’ll find hidden commands that aren’t included on the Ribbon by default. Add these commands to your favorites on your Quick Access Toolbar.