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Microsoft
Introduction
Microsoft PowerPoint is the mostly tightly focused program in all of Office. It does one thing, and does it well: make presentation overheads and handouts. As a result, it takes less time to learn, but as a tool that is used less often than the “Big Three” of Excel, Word, and Outlook, it’s not necessarily been a development priority for Bill Gates & Co.—it can be a little disorganized. Computer Help’s courses can take you down the relatively short path from PowerPoint beginner to Expert, while revealing all the pitfalls along the way. The basics of PowerPoint let you create a simple presentation that can handle both roles: projected on a screen and given as a handout. Users would enter text, add a few pictures and other graphical items, and then leave it at that. While this can be effective, the main goal in PowerPoint is to control the flow of information during an overhead-driven presentation so that it follows the pace set by the presenter. This naturally leads to several of PowerPoint’s capabilities, such as animated slides and diagrams that show the presenter’s points schematically—if nothing else, this looks more professional and is more interesting for an audience. The final thing to learn is not just the mechanics of using PowerPoint, but also the “why” of all its features. What distinguishes a good presentation from a bad one, and how do you stay in that first category? Computer Help’s more advanced PowerPoint training focuses on that problem. Upgrading from an Earlier Version? Note that if you’re an PowerPoint user of whatever level of skill who is moving from version 2000/2002/2003 to version 2007 or the latest version 2010, you will be interested in some specialized training. The two newer versions of PowerPoint have eliminated old-style menus and button bars in favour of the Ribbon. Even the most sophisticated PowerPoint user finds the transition disorienting, and can benefit from breaking things back down the basics in the new environment. Coming to understand the newer, more efficient ways of approaching old tasks can make a radical difference in the amount of time it takes to do your work.
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