Like every other application in Microsoft Office suite, PowerPoint is loaded with features. So many, in fact, that even veterans don't know where to find them all. Microsoft solved this problem in PowerPoint 2007 by redesigning the user interface with a tabbed toolbar that makes features easy to locate and use. PowerPoint 2007 also boasts improved graphics, additional templates, the ability to save custom layouts, and improved collaboration through SharePoint. One thing Microsoft hasn't improved is its poor documentation. To learn the ins and outs of all the features in PowerPoint 2007, Microsoft merely offers online help. If you're familiar with previous versions of the program, you may be lost the first time you fire up the new PowerPoint; or you would be if it weren't for PowerPoint 2007: The Missing Manual.

This book, written specifically for this version of the software, not only offers the basics of how to create, save, set up, run, and print a basic bullets-and-background slideshow, but takes you into the world of multimedia, animation, and interactivity. You'll learn how to add pictures, sound, video, animated effects, and controls (buttons and links) to their slides, along with ways to pull text, spreadsheets, and animations created in other programs. You can also create your own reusable design templates and learn to automate repetitive tasks with macros. Learn how to take advantage of advanced functions (such as adding custom background images) that existed in previous PowerPoint versions, but were so cleverly hidden that few people ever found them.

Amazon.com® Reader Reviews (Ranked by Helpfulness)

Average Amazon.com® Rating:  Based on 5 Ratings

PowerPoint 2007: The Missing Manual - 2007-03-28
Reviewer Rating:
Title: PowerPoint 2007: The Missing Manual
First Edition: December 2006
Series: The Missing Manuals
ISBN 10: 0-596-52738-1
ISBN 13: 9780596527389
Pages: 488
By E. A. Vander Veer

The introduction tells in general about:
Improvements like Keytips, Less customization, Live previews, MiniToolbar, Improved scree tip help, new file formats, improved graphics, more theme options, and XPS [eXtensible Paper Specification] which is a file format like PDF but a new Windows only option to control slides better.
Microsoft dropping revision tracking in PowerPoint 2007. Do it yourself or purchase MOSS (Microsoft Office SharePoint Server) [or acquire another revision tracking program] are your new options.
There are four parts, each having several chapters:
Slideshow Basics
Presenting Your Slideshow
Beyond Bullet Points: Multimedia, Animation, and Interactivity
Working Faster and More Effectively
This book starts out with a quick success: Creating your first PowerPoint 2007 presentation. Basic but satisfying.
I liked the following chapters quite a bit:
Chapter 11 Slide transitions and animated effects
Chapter 14 Macros: putting slideshows on autopilot

Part Four was the best overall with two outstanding chapters

Chapter 13 Cutomizing PowerPoint
Chapter 15 Collaborating with others
Chapters 13 and 15 were the very best in the book, depending on whether you were more interested in customizing or collaborating.

This book is worth 5 stars. Well done.

I really like PowerPoint 2007 and find it to be an impressive communication and collaboration tool.

Frederick J Eccher Jr
MBA
M.S. Management of Information Systems
A.B. Psychology
B.A. Biology
CIO, Community Partners
President, Board of Directors, Saint Louis Visual Basic Users Group
[...]

Pre-Supposes a Working Knowledge of Power Point - 2007-11-27
Reviewer Rating:
This is a terrific, exhaustive resource for people who have hands on experience with a previous version of Powerpoint and who want to take advantage of all the features the 2007 software has to offer. However, it fails as a How-To Manual for people who have little or no prior experience with Powerpoint.

Good overall, but lacks in one key area - 2009-03-03
Reviewer Rating:
This is a good book on PowerPoint 2007, as are all the "Missing Manual" books. However, there is very little information on writing VBA code for PowerPoint in this book. Since the ability to record macros was removed from this version this strikes me as a fairly glaring omission. Other than that, highly recommended.

PowerPoint 2007: The Missing Manual - 2008-08-26
Reviewer Rating:
These manuals are great for people who aren't dummies! The book is well written, explicit and easy to follow. I've been using PowerPoint for years but of course have to transition to the 2007 version. The book did an excellent job at bringing me up to date.

Seems quite useful - 2008-05-10
Reviewer Rating:
The books seems quite useful. I've already referred to it several times and gotten the answers I needed.

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