Using Microsoft PowerPoint, part 2
BMJ 2004; 329 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.329.7457.s18-a (Published 10 July 2004) Cite this as: BMJ 2004;329:s18- Mohammad Al-Ubaydli, author of Handheld computers for doctors
- mo{at}mo.md, www.mo.md
Microsoft PowerPoint lets you draw diagrams for your essays, flowcharts for your organisation, or designs for your website. Here are some tips on how to get the most out of it.
Create your canvas—From the Insert menu, click New Slide. From the Format menu, click Slide Layout and choose the blank layout. You should now have a new and empty slide.
Tools to use—From the View menu, click on Toolbars, and make sure that there is a tick mark next to Drawing. If not, click on Drawing. The bottom of your window now has tools for your drawing. Clicking AutoShapes reveals a whole range of shapes.
Choose the shape you want, and press the mouse down on your empty slide. This will be the top left corner of your shape. While the mouse is still pressed, drag it down and right. Where you let go will become the bottom right hand corner of your shape.
Add some colour—At the bottom of your window is a bucket of paint - that controls a shape's main colour. To its right is the paintbrush - that controls the border colour.
ALTernative movement—You can move your shapes around your slide. Press the mouse down, move it, and let go. The shape moves, but not freely, because PowerPoint uses a grid.
To escape this grid, and place shapes exactly where you want to put them, press the ALT key (or Apple key on a Macintosh) while moving your mouse.
Connect your thoughts—The AutoShapes menu includes a range of connectors. If you pick one and start drawing from one shape to another, PowerPoint will draw a connecting line. Even if you move the shapes around later on, PowerPoint redraws the connections correctly. This is perfect for organisational flow charts.
Copy right—When your diagram is finished, you can print it, or use it in any other program. From the Edit menu, click Select All. Then choose Copy, also from the Edit menu. Finally, in the other program choose Paste from the Edit menu.