Seven keyboard shortcuts to use during a presentation

Ever see a presenter who didn't know how to put PowerPoint into presentation mode? Or advance to the next slide or go back a slide?

Painful isn't it?

So let's not let that happen to you.

1. F5 will put Powerpoint into presentation or slide show mode.

Before you push F5 make sure you have set up the presenter view by going to the slide show tab and choosing the right options.

2. During the show you can advance to the next slide or animation using:

N, ENTER, PAGE DOWN, RIGHT ARROW, DOWN ARROW, or SPACEBAR

3. Go to any slide: (slide) number + ENTER
For example if you want to go to slide 24 you enter 24 and ENTER.

To know which slide to go to hold down the Ctrl key and then touch S. That will show every slide and its number.

4. Return to the previous slide: Touch the Backspace key

5. Display a blank black slide, or return to the presentation from a blank black slide.

Touch the B or PERIOD key.

Display a blank white slide, or return to the presentation from a blank white slide.

W or COMMA

6. Display the shortcut menu. Hold down the SHIFT key and then touch F10

7. End a presentation. Touch the ESC or HYPHEN key.

If you are unsure that you will remember them you can make a note card with them. But the best way is to learn them by using them every time you make a presentation. You can still keep the note card handy anyway.

Knowing these seven shortcuts will help build your confidence just when you need it most.

John