microsoft powerpoint presentation 2013

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Microsoft PowerPoint 2013: Hands On

PowerPoint is a staple of the Microsoft Office suite . While PowerPoint is just one of many presentation software options, it has ascended to the ranks of Coke, Kleenex, Band-Aids, and Google as the de facto leader in its field. The word “PowerPoint” is used in a generic sense to refer to presentations and presentation software in general.

Microsoft recently unveiled the new Microsoft Office suite –Office 2013–and with it PowerPoint 2013. Having played with the new PowerPoint for a couple weeks now, here are some of my first impressions.

PowerPoint 2013 starts by presenting a variety of themes and templates to choose from. There are still plenty of people using Office 2007, Office 2003, or even Office XP or Office 97 because it takes care of their basic needs. The challenge for Microsoft when it develops a new version of its software is to add value without simply bloating the software with frivolous features to justify calling it a new version. It hasn’t always succeeded.

With PowerPoint 2013, though, it seems that Microsoft does an admirable job of taking a step back to think about how people use PowerPoint, and what features and capabilities they need. It focuses more on improving and streamlining the existing PowerPoint experience, and less on adding new whiz-bang features. The result is a presentation tool that is easier to use than ever, and enables even novice users to create polished presentations.

The new emphasis is evident right from the start. In PowerPoint 2010 there are themes and templates, but the software defaults to a generic white slide and it’s up to you to find the templates and themes and change the design after the fact. PowerPoint 2013 starts by presenting a variety of design templates to choose from. When you select one of the templates, it also presents you with a few different color themes to choose from to apply to the template.

In a matter of seconds, you’re ready to start adding content to slides that look great. PowerPoint 2013 includes more of the features and capabilities of Excel and Visio to enable you to work with charts and diagrams, or create custom shapes directly from within PowerPoint 2013. PowerPoint 2013 also has broader support of audio and video formats for embedded media.

My two favorite features of PowerPoint 2013 are the eyedropper, and the integration with the cloud. The eyedropper helps you easily tie the colors of your PowerPoint themes and slides in with the images you embed in the presentation. You can pick up colors from an image, and apply them to text or other elements for a smoother, more consistent look.

Like Word 2013 , PowerPoint 2013 defaults to saving files to your SkyDrive account in the cloud. That alone is nice–it helps ensure you have access to your files from anywhere, and from virtually any Web-connected device. The online integration that I appreciate even more, though, is the option to insert online pictures. You can pull images directly from Flickr or Facebook into your presentations.

I have used PowerPoint 2013 primarily from a Samsung Series 7 Slate PC running the Consumer Preview release of Windows 8. As with the other Office 2013 products, Microsoft has worked hard to incorporate touchscreen actions and gestures that make it easier to work with the software from a tablet interface .

In a nutshell, my first impression is that I find PowerPoint 2013 impressive–more so than I did PowerPoint 2010 as compared to PowerPoint 2007. Microsoft has done a nice job of modernizing PowerPoint for tablets and other next generation hardware platforms, and streamlining its functionality so it’s simpler and more intuitive than its predecessor.

10 Powerpoint 2013 Tips and Tricks You Need to Know

Say what you will about the world's most-used presentation software, but PowerPoint 2013 is an indispensable tool for business presenters and amateur slideshow makers alike. First, its interface shores up the TL:DR list of special features found in PP 2010 by sizing down menu options and reorganizing features. Plus, the latest version throws in a host of tools for making decks neater, more media friendly, and, most important, more memorable. Here are 10 tips you need to know to make pristine, exciting presentations in PowerPoint 2013. 

Add Audio and Video to Slides

Whether you’re trying to showcase clips from a film or just looking for something to distract your viewers, adding video to PowerPoint can spice up an otherwise dry presentation. Thankfully, it’s never been easier to add audio and video than it is in Microsoft PowerPoint 2013.

More: How to Add Audio and Video to Slides

Create Custom Animations

The stable of animations available in PowerPoint has grown with each iteration of the software, but with Microsoft PowerPoint 2013 you can create your own custom animations — making the number of animations you can choose from theoretically infinite.

More: How to Create Custom Animations

Add a Graph to Slides

With the latest edition of PowerPoint, the software giant has made it easier than ever to add graphs to a presentation and edit them directly from within a slide.

More: How to Add a Graph to PowerPoint 2013 Presentations

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Change Speed of Slide Transitions

With PowerPoint 2013, Microsoft has made adjusting transition speed a two-step process — meaning you won’t have to waste valuable time fiddling with PowerPoint’s user interface. Follow this quick guide to get started.

More: How to Change the Speed of Slide Transitions in PowerPoint 2013

Merge Shapes

With the new Microsoft PowerPoint 2013, you can make much more than just standard presentations. With the software’s Shapes feature, you can get creative by designing logos and icons to your heart’s content. Read these tips before you get started.

More: How to Merge Shapes in PowerPoint 2013

Add Audio to Slides

Want a cool background song to enhance your presentation? Adding an audio track to your Microsoft PowerPoint 2013 slideshow is a cinch, if you have .MP4 files stored on your computer. Here’s how.

More: How to Add Audio to Slides

Slide Zoom Feature

If you have a particularly detailed chart or want to direct your audience’s focus to one particular element of a slide, Slide Zoom eliminates the noise and takes you directly to that element. Here's how to make the most out of this feature.

More: How to Use PowerPoint 2013's Slide Zoom Feature

Smart Gudes to Align Images and Text

In PowerPoint 2010, you had to eye your slide layout on the fly, trying to line up images and text based on your estimation. With Microsoft’s PowerPoint 2013, the Smart Guides feature lets you be exact. Here’s how to make sure you’re perfectly aligned.

More: How to Use Smart Guides to Align Images and Text

Play Sounds Across Multiple Slides

You’ve found the perfect audio clip for your presentation, only to have the sound cut out the second you change slides. This all-too-familiar problem has virtually disappeared with Microsoft PowerPoint 2013, which makes it easier than ever to play sound across multiples slides.

More: How to Play Sounds Across Multiple Slides

Insert Online Video and Images Into Presentations

Another new feature of Microsoft’s new PowerPoint 2013 is the ability to pull photos or videos directly from the Web. To juice up your next presentation, follow these steps.

More: How to Insert Online Video and Images into Presentations

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PowerPoint 2013  - Creating and Opening Presentations

Powerpoint 2013  -, creating and opening presentations, powerpoint 2013 creating and opening presentations.

PowerPoint 2013: Creating and Opening Presentations

Lesson 5: creating and opening presentations.

/en/powerpoint2013/getting-to-know-powerpoint/content/

Introduction

PowerPoint files are called presentations. Whenever you start a new project in PowerPoint, you'll need to create a new presentation, which can either be blank or from a template . You'll also need to know how to open an existing presentation .

To create a new presentation:

• A new presentation will appear.

To open an existing presentation:

• Select the File tab to go to Backstage view .

If you've opened the desired presentation recently, you can browse your Recent Presentations instead of searching for the file.

To pin a presentation:

If you frequently work with the same presentation , you can pin it to Backstage view for easy access.

• Select the File tab to go to Backstage view . Click Open . Your Recent Presentations will appear.

You can also pin folders to Backstage view for easy access. From Backstage view, click Open, locate the folder you want to pin, then click the pushpin icon .

Using templates

A template is a predesigned presentation you can use to create a new slide show quickly. Templates often include custom formatting and designs , so they can save you a lot of time and effort when starting a new project.

To create a new presentation from a template:

• Click the File tab to access Backstage view .

• A preview of the template will appear, along with additional information on how the template can be used.

• A new presentation will appear with the selected template .

It's important to note that not all templates are created by Microsoft. Many are created by third-party providers and even individual users, so some templates may work better than others.

Compatibility mode

Sometimes you may need to work with presentations that were created in earlier versions of PowerPoint, such as PowerPoint 2003 or PowerPoint 2000. When you open these types of presentations, they will appear in Compatibility mode .

Compatibility mode disables certain features, so you'll only be able to access commands found in the program that was used to create the presentation. For example, if you open a presentation created in PowerPoint 2003, you can only use tabs and commands found in PowerPoint 2003.

In the image below, you can see that the presentation is in Compatibility mode. This will disable some PowerPoint 2013 features, such as newer types of slide transitions.

To exit Compatibility mode, you'll need to convert the presentation to the current version type. However, if you're collaborating with others who only have access to an earlier version of PowerPoint, it's best to leave the presentation in Compatibility mode so the format will not change.

You can review this support page from Microsoft to learn more about which features are disabled in Compatibility mode.

To convert a presentation:

If you want access to all PowerPoint 2013 features, you can convert the presentation to the 2013 file format.

Note that converting a file may cause some changes to the original layout of the presentation.

• The presentation will be converted to the newest file type.
• Create a new blank presentation .
• Open an existing presentation from your computer or OneDrive.
• Pin a folder to Backstage view.
• Create a new presentation using a template .

/en/powerpoint2013/saving-and-sharing/content/

• Use Presenter View Video
• Add speaker notes​ Video
• Practice and time your presentation​ Video
• Record a presentation Video
• Print a presentation Video

Use Presenter View

PowerPoint Presenter View shows you the current slide, the next slide, and your speaker notes, to help you focus while presenting and connect with your audience. 

Select the Slide Show tab.

Select the Use Presenter View checkbox.

Select which monitor to display Presenter View on.

In Presenter View , you can:

See your current slide, next slide, and speaker notes.

Select the arrows next to the slide number to go between slides.

Select the pause button or reset button to pause or reset the slide timer in the upper left.

See the current time to help you pace your presentation.

Select the font icons to make the speaker notes larger or smaller.

Select the annotations pen icon to draw on the screen in real time, or select a laser pointer.

Select the thumbnail icon to see all the slides in your presentation and quickly jump to another slide.

Select the magnifying glass icon to zoom in on a particular part of a slide.

The screen icon let's you make the screen temporarily black to focus the attention on you.

Select END SLIDESHOW when you're done presenting.

Start the presentation and see your notes in Presenter view

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Free PowerPoint Templates

Unlock the full potential of your presentations with our vast collection of free PowerPoint templates from FPPT, all tailored to be fully compatible with Microsoft PowerPoint. Browse through thousands of free slide templates, from business and finance themes to creative and modern designs, ensuring you find the perfect match for your presentation's tone and style.

Featured Free Presentation Templates

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Common benefits of using free powerpoint templates & pre-made slide design for presentation.

• Save time & efforts. Focus in your presentation content
• Ensure compatibility across different versions of PowerPoint
• Easily convert your PowerPoint slides to Google Slides, Keynote and OpenOffice.
• Impress your audience with catchy slides & photos and PowerPoint themes with great backgrounds.

Our free PowerPoint backgrounds and presentation templates are very easy to customize and edit for your presentation needs. Using Microsoft PowerPoint (but now also in Google Slides), you can easily create engaging presentations with our free PowerPoint templates & slideshow templates.

Free Biotecnology PowerPoint Template

Free Influencer PowerPoint Template

Free Business PowerPoint Template

Under this section, you can get immediate access to some of the free PPT templates for PowerPoint available in our catalog. Alternatively, you can browse the entire design templates collection using the top menu or search by keyword. Serious presenters often want to keep their presentations minimalist in terms of design, but this catalog has a variety of free presentation templates and backgrounds available. Get access to thousands of modern presentation templates, backgrounds and free PPT templates, and creative slide templates with abstract designs. If you need help finding a suitable PPT template for your presentation project, contact us and we will help you.

Our PPT slides are 100% free for commercial and education presentations, but if you are looking for professionally-designed free slides templates, ready for business presentations, check out these visually appealing PowerPoint templates for PowerPoint and Google Slides.

Best Free PowerPoint templates & Presentation Slides

Free Logistics PowerPoint Template

Workplan Timeline Template for PowerPoint

Blue & Brown PowerPoint Template

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Microsoft PowerPoint 2013

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Sometimes latest versions of the software can cause issues when installed on older devices or devices running an older version of the operating system. Software makers usually fix these issues but it can take them some time. What you can do in the meantime is to download and install an older version of Microsoft PowerPoint 2013 .

For those interested in downloading the most recent release of Microsoft PowerPoint or reading our review, simply click here .

All old versions distributed on our website are completely virus-free and available for download at no cost.

If you have any questions or ideas that you want to share with us - head over to our Contact page and let us know. We value your feedback!

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