Software Tips & Tricks Slide Show Pointer Options in a PowerPoint 97, 2000 or XP

By Laura Noble

During a PowerPoint slide presentation (in '97, 2000, and XP) the mouse pointer can be hidden or changed to a pen for drawing.

• Hiding the Mouse Pointer:
  
  By default, the white arrow of the mouse pointer is displayed during a slide presentation when the mouse is moved. Hide the mouse pointer by pressing Ctrl + H. Left-clicking the mouse button will still advance the slide show. Pressing Ctrl + A will restore the mouse pointer.
  
  

  

  
  
  
• Changing the Mouse Pointer to a Pen:
  
  During the slide presentation press Ctrl + P and the mouse pointer will change to a pen. With the pen pointer you can draw to emphasize key points.
  
  Each click or drag of the mouse (pen) will be drawn on the slide. To advance to the next slide, press the spacebar.
  
  Draw a straight line by pressing the Shift key and left dragging.
  
  

  

  
  
  
• Hide Pen Pointer:
  
  Press Ctrl + H and restore pen pointer by pressing Ctrl + P Erase Drawings on Slide: Press E on keyboard
  
  OR
  
  Move to another slide
  
  
• Change Pen Pointer to an Arrow:
  
  Press Ctrl + A
  
  
• Changing the Colour of the Pen Pointer:
  
  Left-click on the triangle in the bottom left-corner of your presentation, select Pointer Options, Pen Color, and then click on new colour choice.
  

Stay tuned to Networking Today in the coming months for more Software Tips & Tricks from Noble Software Solutions.

Laura Noble is the owner of Noble Software Solutions. Laura can be contacted at 519-680-2689 or by e-mail at lnoble@noblesoftwaresolutions.com. www.NobleSoftwareSolutions.com

Published in Networking Today, August 2002.