The Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning

Praxis

Volume 8   Issue 5  Oct. 2004
 
Center

FAQ

Workshops

Online Tutorials

Praxis is a publication of the Center for Advancement of Teaching and Learning, Grossmont College, El Cajon, CA

Editor: Pat Morrison
Designer: Nozomi Yokoo

619-644-7747

catl@gcccd.net

http://www.grossmont.net/catl

Create a Menu of Most-Used Commands

Whichever Office XP program you work with, you can make it work even better for you. Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint®, and Microsoft Outlook® all give you the option to create a custom menu of the commands you use most. Here's how:

  1. On the Tools menu, click Customize, and then click the Commands tab.

  2. In the Categories box, click New Menu, and then drag New Menu from the Commands box to the location on the menu bar or toolbar where you want it displayed.

  3. Right-click the new menu, and then give it whatever name you want by typing in the Name box on the shortcut menu. Press ENTER.

  4. To add a command to your new menu, select a category from Categories box, and then drag a command from the Commands box to your custom menu.

 


 

   

Cut PowerPoint Graphics Down to Size

      Add a few images—a photo here, an illustration there—and the size of your PowerPoint presentation can become huge. You could compress images manually, but there's a simpler way: PowerPoint 2002 can do it for you.

  1. On the Picture toolbar, click the Compress Pictures button. If you don't see the Picture toolbar, point to Toolbars on the View menu, and then click Picture.
  2. To compress all pictures in the presentation, click All pictures in document.
  3. Under Change resolution, select how you intend to use your presentation by clicking either Web/Screen or Print.
  4. To further reduce file size, select the Delete cropped areas of pictures check box.
  5. Click OK.

 

Editor's Note: If you compress pictures or delete the cropped areas, you won't be able to restore your pictures to their original resolution or size. This tip also works in Microsoft Word version 2002.

 

 


 
         

Protect Your PowerPoint Presentations

Want to make sure your presentations are safe from changes by other users? With Microsoft PowerPoint 2002, you can help protect your presentations while you are working on them.

  1. On Tools menu, click Options, and then click the Security tab.
  2. Decide on a password, and type it in either the Password to Open or Password to Modify box, depending on whether you want to protect the document from viewing or from modification.
  3. Click OK.

 

 

Pat Morrison