PowerPoint and Presentation Tips and Hints

• PowerPoint Data Tables.  To present data in a table in PowerPoint, copy or type the data into a text box - do NOT use the table tool!  Then turn on the ruler (View, Ruler) and set tabs on the ruler to create the desired spacing. Don't forget that there are 4 types of tabs (left, right, center, and decimal point justification).

• Laptop Remote Control. Avoid the temptation of hooking up a serial cable from your laptop to the projector - this rarely works, and may crash your laptop. Infrared remote controls for laptop presentations are available at Mindpath.com. This company produces several different types of remote controls - but be prepared to wait for delivery.

• Windows XP and Mechanical Switches. This is a bad combination. If you connect the video out from your laptop (running Windows XP) to a mechanical video switch, and the video switch is changed, it may crash your computer. The only cure is to reboot from scratch ... and don't let the projectionist flip the video switch again!

• Computer Projectors - tip 1.  Always turn on and boot up both the projector and your laptop BEFORE you connect the video cable from the laptop to the projector. (Otherwise your laptop may try to load a video driver - which is unnecessary, and oftentimes doesn't work anyway.)

• Computer Projectors - tip 2.  To sync a projector to your laptop, use a screen or slide with a light background. Some projectors interpret dark / black areas as areas of "no signal" and will not synchronize correctly.

• Computer Projector Vendors.  Best experiences have been with Proxima and InFocus projectors.  If you are in the market for a projector, buy one with at least a 1,000 lumen output.

• PowerPoint Full Screen (Presentation) Mode. Useful keyboard shortcuts during a presentation:

- N, spacebar, or ↓: next slide

- P or ↑: previous slide

- [Number] - Enter: goes directly to the slide number

- B or period: toggles to and from a black screen

- Ctrl-H: hides the mouse pointer and the navigation button

- Ctrl-A: "appear" - shows the mouse pointer and navigation button

- Ctrl-P: changes the pointer to a pen, so you can write or draw

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Copyright © 2008 Duke University Health System.  All rights reserved. Last modified: 02/22/08.