PowerPoint and Presenting Stuff

Why Learning to Present is Like Learning to Swim

By Jerry Weissman

Swimming coaches step students through the component skills in progressive stages. The first lesson takes place out of the water, at the side of a pool, where the novice learns how to do the arm strokes and the leg strokes separately. Then the novice gets into the shallow end of the pool and practices the arm strokes and leg strokes, still separately, but now with training equipment—flotation devices, kickboards, and the rungs of a pool ladder. As the training progresses, the novice puts aside the equipment and swims, first in the shallow end of the pool, then the deep end, and finally, in a lake or the ocean. The fundamental aspect of this approach is to deconstruct the basics and reconstruct them progressively. It works in swimming—as it does in all sports—and it works in presentations as well.

Image: 123RF

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Filed Under: Guest Posts
Tagged as: Guest Post, Jerry Weissman, Presentation Skills

PowerPoint and Presenting News: April 11, 2023

We first feature PowerPoint MVP, Chantal Bossé, who talks about her just-released book, Microsoft PowerPoint Best Practices, Tips, and Techniques. Chantal explores her motivation to write the book.

We then look at changing a diagonal line to a horizontal or vertical line in PowerPoint 365 for Windows and Mac, and PowerPoint for the Web. We also bring you quotes, press releases, and templates from the last few days.

Stay informed about updated tutorials and happenings related to PowerPoint and presenting.

Filed Under: Ezine
Tagged as: Ezine, Indezine, News, PowerPoint

Finding Length of a Diagonal Line in PowerPoint 365 for Windows

What if you draw a line in PowerPoint that is slanted or sloped? Now, if you want to know the length of this line, you should know that there’s no built-in feature within PowerPoint to do so. But, why would you even want to know the size of the line? That’s because you may have to create multiple diagonal lines and the second line may need to be exactly half the length of the first line. There may be any number of other reasons why you need to draw other shapes that are proportional, relative to this line.

Learn how to find out the length of a slanted (diagonal) line in PowerPoint 365 for Windows.

Filed Under: PowerPoint 365
Tagged as: Lines, Microsoft 365, Microsoft Windows, Office 365, PowerPoint 365, Shapes, Tutorials

Change a Diagonal Line to a Horizontal or Vertical Line in PowerPoint for the Web

In PowerPoint, you rotate shapes using the white rotation handle that appears when you select a shape. However, have you ever noticed that the open line shape in PowerPoint doesn’t show a white rotation handle? Yes, notice that the rectangle shape includes a white rotation handle whereas there is no such handle on the Line shape. Now, if you want to rotate any diagonal line to make it either perfectly horizontal or vertical, how would you do so?

Learn how to change a diagonal line to a horizontal or vertical line in PowerPoint for the Web.

Filed Under: PowerPoint for the Web
Tagged as: Lines, Mac OS, Microsoft Windows, Office, Office for the Web, OneDrive, PowerPoint, PowerPoint for the Web, Shapes, Tutorials

Change a Diagonal Line to a Horizontal or Vertical Line in PowerPoint 365 for Mac

In PowerPoint, you rotate shapes using the white rotation handle that appears when you select a shape. However, have you ever noticed that the open line shape in PowerPoint doesn’t show a white rotation handle? Yes, notice that the rectangle shape includes a white rotation handle whereas there is no such handle on the Line shape. Now, if you want to rotate any diagonal line to make it either perfectly horizontal or vertical, how would you do so?

Learn how to change a diagonal line to a horizontal or vertical line in PowerPoint 365 for Mac.

Filed Under: PowerPoint 365
Tagged as: Line, Mac, Microsoft 365, Office 365, Office for Mac, PowerPoint 365, PowerPoint for Mac, Shapes, Tutorials