PowerPoint Pearls: Preparing Speaker Notes

You probably don't use them often, but when you need to use speaker notes, you'll want them to be big and bold.

Speaker notes are easy to add in PowerPoint. Just click in the Notes section of the normal view and begin typing.

As with any Microsoft application, if you want to increase the font size just select the text and Format, Font… Don't be deceived; the display does not reflect your text changes. To view your text changes, you must preview the notes from the Print window.

Here's how to preview:

1. Click on File, Print…
2. Be sure to choose the correct printer in the Printer box at the top of the window.
3. In the Print window, select Notes from the Print what drop down box.
4. Click on the Preview button in the lower left of the window, if you want check the font of your speaker notes.
5. Click Close to return to the program.

Here's how to print:

1. Click on File, Print…
2. Be sure to choose the correct printer in the Printer box at the top of the window.
3. In the Print window, select Notes from the Print what drop down box.
4. Before you click OK, be sure that you have chosen the correct print range.

Finally, good things really do come to those who wait …

Microsoft has a new feature called Presenter Tools that allows the presenter to view:

• their notes
• elapsed time
• thumbnails of the previous and next slide

Unfortunately, PC users will be waiting a little longer. This feature is only currently available in PowerPoint 2004 for Mac.