Clever Clogs tip # 730
1 July 2023


Create an interactive table of contents slide (Microsoft PowerPoint) *

Welcome to the tip of the month July!

Many many moons ago (my tip about it dates back to October 2004) it was possible to automatically create a slide from titles of other slides. I used it as my Agenda and Recap slide. No idea why it was taken away, as it was fab. OK, I can obviously add manual hyperlinks to my slides, but it's cumbersome.

Instead, you might want to check out the unintuitively named Summary Zoom feature. I think it's mainly meant to be used in combination with sections (I see another tip coming up.) but you might find this handy. I certainly do!

Here's how:

  1. On the Insert tab, click Zoom, followed by Summary Zoom.
  2. Select all slides you want to include in your table of contents slide. (You can even select hidden slides.)

  3. Each slide you pick creates a section. This allows you to click on its thumbnail, move through its section and then return to the summary slide.
  4. Click Insert.
  5. Move the summary slide where you want it. (I typically use it as my second slide.)

When you click on one of the thumbnails when presenting (F5 anyone?!) you will move to (and through) that part of your presentation before coming back to the summary slide. Have a go ... it's easier done than said!

By the way, I know for sure this works in PowerPoint 365 as well as version 2019, but I don't know whether it was already available in v2016. (If you are using v2016 perhaps you can let me know?!)

Related tips

  1. Automatically create a new slide from titles of other slides: tip_83.html - for nostalgic reasons only, as it no longer works
  2. Top ten Microsoft PowerPoint shortcuts : tip_540.php

CleverClogsTipTime on LinkedIn in June

  1. Please state some of the key ideas you will be able to apply at work
  2. Analyze Data privacy concerns?
  3. And last, but not least ... F12
  4. Make it easier to schedule a meeting with someone outside your organisation
  5. Switch between day, week and month views in Outlook calendar
  6. How's your Spanish?
  7. Is this new? Would you like to only read 'Cc emails' when you have time?

That's it. See you next month. In the meantime follow #CleverClogsTipTime on LinkedIn for more shortcuts, hints and tips. And if you like my tips and want to support my work, the best way would be to leave a comment on posts on LinkedIn.


* Unless stated otherwise this tip is written for Microsoft 365 desktop apps and Windows 10 users, but might also be useful in Office 2010, 2013, 2016 and 2019.