Essentials of PowerPoint: Moving Slides

Once a PowerPoint author has created a presentation or slide, he or she may decide it is out of place. There are several methods for changing the order of slides, Depending on the size of the presentation, the PowerPoint author can use one of several methods for changing the location of a slide within a presentation. When slides are moved, all of the text, graphics (including backgrounds), animations, and transitions are moved at once.

Two easy methods for moving slides:

Outline plane: In the outline plane (down the left hand side of the window), users can click a slide to select it, then drag the slide. As a slide is dragged, a line appears and moves between existing slides as the mouse is moved up and down through the stack of slides. Once the line is in the desired location for the slide, simply release the mouse button.

Figure 1. A PowerPoint slide in Normal View with the Outline Pane on the Left Side

(click the image for more details)

Slide Sorter: Near the bottom of the outline pane, there are buttons that allow users to change the way the slides are viewed; the choices are normal view (as in Figure 1), presentation view (which is how the slide will appear when the presentation is running), and slide sorter view. The slide sorter view icon looks like a four square court. Click that icon to open the presentation in slide sorter view; to move slides in slide sorter view, simply drag and drop the slides.

Figure 2. A PowerPoint slide in Slide Sorter View


Introduction Essentials The Interface Organization of Presentations Working with Text Working with Graphics Backgrounds Moving Slides Action Buttons Slide Transitions Animations & Sounds Resources	Moving Slides Once a PowerPoint author has created a presentation or slide, he or she may decide it is out of place. There are several methods for changing the order of slides, Depending on the size of the presentation, the PowerPoint author can use one of several methods for changing the location of a slide within a presentation. When slides are moved, all of the text, graphics (including backgrounds), animations, and transitions are moved at once. Two easy methods for moving slides: Outline plane: In the outline plane (down the left hand side of the window), users can click a slide to select it, then drag the slide. As a slide is dragged, a line appears and moves between existing slides as the mouse is moved up and down through the stack of slides. Once the line is in the desired location for the slide, simply release the mouse button. Figure 1. A PowerPoint slide in Normal View with the Outline Pane on the Left Side (click the image for more details) Slide Sorter: Near the bottom of the outline pane, there are buttons that allow users to change the way the slides are viewed; the choices are normal view (as in Figure 1), presentation view (which is how the slide will appear when the presentation is running), and slide sorter view. The slide sorter view icon looks like a four square court. Click that icon to open the presentation in slide sorter view; to move slides in slide sorter view, simply drag and drop the slides. Figure 2. A PowerPoint slide in Slide Sorter View

created: June 2005 last updated: June 20, 2005 © 2005 Gary L. Ackerman http://www.taconic-learning.net