Concepts


What are the different views of a presentation?

Word documents have normal view and page layout view. Database tables have design view and datasheet view. It only seems fair that PowerPoint documents have their own views. In PowerPoint you can work with presentations in five different views:

  1. Slide
  2. Outline
  3. Slide Sorter
  4. Notes Page
  5. Slide Show

Each view is optimized for a specific purpose. (In the lower left-hand corner of the images below, notice how the view icons change for each view. You can quickly switch between views by clicking on the view icons.)

Slide View shows one slide at a time Slide view is optimized for editing. You can edit not only the text of a slide but also any graphics, sounds, and animations that might be included on the slide. This is usually the best view when you are working with an individual slide.


Slide View


Outline View

Outline View shows the contents of your presentation in outline format. This view is optimized for organizing and arranging the content of your presentation.

Because the contents of all slides (that will fit on the page) are shown at once, you can easily view and change the order of topics and subtopics. This view is also probably the most efficient for entering the contents of your presentation.

Slide Sorter View shows a thumbnail image of each slide in your presentation. This view is best when you want to rearrange the order of your slides or just want to see each slide in your presentation with the formats and colors you have chosen. In Slide Sorter View you can't edit the contents of a slide, but you can quickly switch to Slide View were you can edit the contents.


Slide Sorter View


Notes Page View

Notes Page View shows one slide at a time with speaker's notes. This view is best when you are entering or reviewing the notes you made for slides.
Slide Show View shows your presentation as it will look to the audience when you run it. This view displays one slide at a time in full-screen mode.


Slide Show View


Copyright 1997 by the Curators of the University of Missouri