Preparing for Microsoft PowerPoint for NIMCET can be difficult when you need to remember its interface components, file extensions, presentation features and keyboard shortcuts along with other Computer Awareness topics. Questions can test both basic concepts and the functions of commonly used PowerPoint commands, making focused revision important.
These NIMCET Microsoft PowerPoint notes bring the key concepts together in one place, covering PowerPoint basics, file extensions, window components, important shortcuts and practice questions. They provide a focused way to revise Microsoft PowerPoint and strengthen preparation for related Computer Awareness questions.
Microsoft PowerPoint is a slide show presentation program developed by Microsoft. It was officially launched on May 22, 1990, as part of the Microsoft Office suite. It is supported on both Mac and PC platforms and can be used to create presentations for classroom, business and personal purposes.
Microsoft PowerPoint can be used to create and present slides containing text, images and other presentation elements. The commonly associated filename extensions are:
|
File Extension |
Use/Association |
|
.ppt |
PowerPoint presentation format |
|
.pptx |
PowerPoint presentation format |
|
.pps |
PowerPoint Show format |
|
.ppsx |
PowerPoint Show format |
Knowing the different parts of the PowerPoint window is important for understanding how presentations are created and edited. The major components include:
|
Component |
Function |
|
Quick Access Toolbar |
Provides quick access to frequently used commands |
|
Microsoft Office Button |
Provides options for managing the presentation in older versions |
|
Title Bar |
Displays the programme and presentation title |
|
Ribbon |
Contains tabs, groups and commands |
|
Slides/Outline Pane |
Displays slide thumbnails or the presentation outline |
|
Slide Area |
Displays the active slide being edited |
|
Status Bar |
Shows presentation information along with view and zoom options |
|
Slide Number |
Displays the current slide number |
|
Notes Pane |
Used to add speaker notes for the active slide |
|
View Buttons |
Provide different presentation views |
|
Zoom Slider |
Changes the zoom level of the presentation |
|
Min, Max, Close and Help Buttons |
Provide window control and help options |
Microsoft PowerPoint includes several interface components that help you create, edit, organise and present slides. Knowing the purpose of each component can help you understand the software and answer related NIMCET Computer Awareness questions.
The Ribbon contains different tabs, which are divided into groups of related commands. Some groups also contain galleries, such as those used for Themes and Theme Colours.
The Slides and Outline Pane is generally located on the left side of the PowerPoint interface. It contains two tabs:
Slides Tab: Displays thumbnails of all slides in the presentation.
Outline Tab: Displays the presentation in outline form.
If the Slides and Outline Pane is not visible, the Normal option in the View tab can be used to display it.
The Status Bar is located at the bottom of the PowerPoint window. It provides information about the open presentation, such as the slide number and applied theme. It also contains view and zoom options.
The Notes Pane is located below the active slide and is used to add speaker notes. These notes are not displayed on the actual slide during a presentation, although they can be viewed in Notes Page and Presenter views.
PowerPoint provides different views for working with presentations:
|
View |
Function |
|
Normal View |
Used for regular slide editing |
|
Slide Sorter View |
Displays thumbnails of all slides |
|
Slide Show from Current Slide |
Starts the presentation from the selected slide |
The Shift key can also be used with certain view buttons to open related views such as Slide Master and Handout Master.
The Slide Area displays the active slide that is currently being edited.
The Task Pane provides additional options and appears when specific commands are selected from the Ribbon.
The Mini Toolbar is a semi-transparent floating toolbar that appears near the cursor and can also be accessed through a right-click.
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Keyboard shortcuts can help you perform common PowerPoint tasks quickly. The following shortcuts are useful for revision.
|
Task |
Shortcut |
|
Select one character to the right |
Shift + Right Arrow |
|
Select one character to the left |
Shift + Left Arrow |
|
Select to the end of a word |
Ctrl + Shift + Right Arrow |
|
Select to the beginning of a word |
Ctrl + Shift + Left Arrow |
|
Select one line up |
Shift + Up Arrow |
|
Select one line down |
Shift + Down Arrow |
|
Select an object when text is selected inside it |
Esc |
|
Select text within a selected object |
Enter |
|
Select all objects |
Ctrl + A on the Slides tab |
|
Select all slides |
Ctrl + A in Slide Sorter view |
|
Select all text |
Ctrl + A on the Outline tab |
|
Task |
Shortcut |
|
Delete one character to the left |
Backspace |
|
Delete one word to the left |
Ctrl + Backspace |
|
Delete one character to the right |
Delete |
|
Delete one word to the right |
Ctrl + Delete |
|
Cut selected object |
Ctrl + X |
|
Copy selected object |
Ctrl + C |
|
Paste cut or copied object |
Ctrl + V |
|
Undo the last action |
Ctrl + Z |
|
Redo the last action |
Ctrl + Y |
|
Copy formatting only |
Ctrl + Shift + C |
|
Paste formatting only |
Ctrl + Shift + V |
|
Paste Special |
Ctrl + Alt + V |
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|
Task |
Shortcut |
|
Centre a paragraph |
Ctrl + E |
|
Justify a paragraph |
Ctrl + J |
|
Left-align a paragraph |
Ctrl + L |
|
Right-align a paragraph |
Ctrl + R |
|
Task |
Shortcut |
|
Open Font dialogue box to change font |
Ctrl + Shift + F |
|
Open Font dialogue box to change font size |
Ctrl + Shift + P |
|
Increase font size |
Ctrl + Shift + > |
|
Decrease font size |
Ctrl + Shift + < |
|
Task |
Shortcut |
|
Move one character left/right |
Left Arrow / Right Arrow |
|
Move one line up/down |
Up Arrow / Down Arrow |
|
Move one word left/right |
Ctrl + Left Arrow / Ctrl + Right Arrow |
|
Move to the end/beginning of a line |
End / Home |
|
Move up/down one paragraph |
Ctrl + Up Arrow / Ctrl + Down Arrow |
|
Move to end/beginning of a text box |
Ctrl + End / Ctrl + Home |
|
Move to the next title or body text placeholder |
Ctrl + Enter |
|
Repeat the last Find action |
Shift + F4 |
|
Task |
Shortcut |
|
Open Font dialogue box |
Ctrl + T |
|
Change the case of letters |
Shift + F3 |
|
Apply bold formatting |
Ctrl + B |
|
Apply underline |
Ctrl + U |
|
Apply italic formatting |
Ctrl + I |
|
Apply subscript |
Ctrl + = |
|
Apply superscript |
Ctrl + Shift + + |
|
Remove manual character formatting |
Ctrl + Spacebar |
|
Insert a hyperlink |
Ctrl + K |
Presentation mode has several shortcuts that can help with moving between slides and controlling the presentation.
|
Task |
Shortcut |
|
Start presentation from the beginning |
F5 |
|
Move to the next animation or slide |
N / Enter / Page Down / Right Arrow / Down Arrow / Spacebar |
|
Move to the previous animation or slide |
P / Page Up / Left Arrow / Up Arrow / Backspace |
|
Go to a specific slide |
Number + Enter |
|
Display a blank black slide |
B or . |
|
Display a blank white slide |
W or , |
|
Stop or restart an automatic presentation |
S |
|
End presentation |
Esc or - |
|
Erase on-screen annotations |
E |
|
Go to the next slide if hidden |
H |
|
Return to the first slide |
1 + Enter |
|
Change pointer to pen |
Ctrl + P |
|
Change pointer to arrow |
Ctrl + A |
|
Hide pointer immediately |
Ctrl + H |
|
Hide pointer in 15 seconds |
Ctrl + U |
|
Display shortcut menu |
Shift + F10 |
For quick revision, the important Microsoft PowerPoint concepts can be kept together in a single set of notes. These notes cover the basics of PowerPoint, window components, useful keyboard shortcuts and practice questions.
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Microsoft PowerPoint can be revised effectively by dividing the topic into concepts, components, shortcuts and questions. Focus on the following areas:
Revise the basics: Learn the definition of PowerPoint, its launch path and important file extensions.
Learn the components: Remember the functions of the Ribbon, Slides/Outline Pane, Notes Pane, Status Bar, Slide Area and View Buttons.
Memorise shortcuts: Give special attention to shortcuts for selecting, copying, formatting, moving through text and running presentations.
Practise questions: Solve PowerPoint-based questions to check your recall of presentation features and commands.
Connect the topic with wider preparation: The NIMCET exam resources cover broader examination information and preparation material alongside topic-wise revision.
Microsoft PowerPoint is an important Computer Awareness topic for NIMCET preparation, covering presentation basics, interface components, views, file extensions and keyboard shortcuts. Revising these concepts along with topic-based questions can help you strengthen recall and prepare for questions related to Microsoft PowerPoint.
