Weekly Computer Tip # 336
8 April 2011


Save your presentation so that it always opens in Slide Show view
(PowerPoint 97-2007)

Most people save their PowerPoint presentation as a PowerPoint Presentation (with the file extension ppt or pptx) which means that when they want to present the presentation as a show they click on the Slide Show button (which can be a nightmare if you're shaking nervously or have a mouse that's more like a shopping trolley).

OK, those that have attended one of my PowerPoint courses or read my tips simply press F5 to start the slide show from the beginning, but why not take it a step further and save the presentation as a PowerPoint show (pps or ppsx) that always opens in Slide Show view? It saves some clicks and it can look a lot more professional than you faffing about opening the presentation first and giving away the content of your show.

Here's how:

  1. Open the presentation that you want to save as a Slide Show.
  2. Click the blob/Microsoft Office button (Office 2007) or File menu (Office 97-2003 - and 2010!) and then click Save As.
  3. In the File name box, enter a new name for the show or do nothing to accept its original file name.
  4. In the Save as type list, select PowerPoint Show (pps or ppsx) and then click Save.

In PowerPoint 2007 you can save yourself a few clicks if you - in step 2 - simply hover over Save As and select the second option (PowerPoint Show) from the submenu that appears.

In future, when you double-click the file it will immediately open it in Slide Show view. If you want to modify the slide show simply press CTRL+O and open the relevant pps or ppsx file from within PowerPoint.

By the way, if you want to transform your presentations into a powerful means of communication, the come along to our next PowerPoint Intermediate course, planned for Monday, 9 May. See ppt2007_im.html for full details.

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