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Communicating Using Technology
Vol. 4 Issue 8 April 19, 2005
Published and Copyright by Dave Paradi
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In this issue: Announcements 1. PPT - Control Audio Playing 2. Earth Week article 3. Useful Resource - Computer Security from US Government -------------------------------------------- Privacy Policy: I will never sell or distribute your e-mail or information to anyone. -------------------------------------------- If you like the tips, pass it on! If you have received this as a forward from a friend, sign up for your own copy at: http://www.thinkoutsidetheslide.com/newsletter.htm --------------------------------------------
Public Seminars in June Last week I announced the opening of registration for my public Compelling PowerPoint seminars coming to Chicago on June 17 and Washington, DC on June 23. A number of people have already signed up and there is a limited number at each site. This week I will be starting the promotion to the general public, so if you want to assure yourself of a seat, sign up soon. All the details are at http://www.thinkoutsidetheslide.com/resources.htm
Can't Make the Public Seminars? A number of subscribers wrote me that the location of the public seminars in June was not convenient for them. Well, you are in luck. I recorded the entire seminar live last month and have created a four CD set that you can purchase. There are three audio CDs and one multimedia CD. You can purchase it through the same link as above: http://www.thinkoutsidetheslide.com/resources.htm.
1. PPT - Control Audio Playing When you insert an audio clip on a PowerPoint slide, it will ask you if you want the clip to play automatically or not. If you click YES, it will start playing the clip when the slide is first displayed. This may be exactly what you want. But in other situations, you want the audio clip to play at a certain time as you explain something on the slide. I do this in my Compelling PowerPoint seminar when I play an audio clip example after I have explained how it was recorded. I want to give my audience some context before they hear the clip. In order to control the playing of the audio clip, you need to click NO when PowerPoint asks you if you want to automatically play the clip. By default, PowerPoint will then play the clip only if you move your mouse over the clip on the slide and click on it to start the clip playing. This is awkward during the presentation and distracting for your audience. But there is a better way. It is to set the clip to play as an animated item, like the next bullet point comes on when you advance using the keyboard, mouse or presentation remote. To set the clip up to play as an item in the animation sequence, open the Custom Animation task pane by clicking Slide Show->Custom Animation. Find the audio clip in the list of animated items and right click on it to bring up a sub-menu. Click on the Effect Options item in that sub-menu. This will open the Effect Options dialog box. Click on the Timing tab in this dialog box. At the bottom of the tab, you will see two options selectable by radio buttons. Click the radio button that says "Animate as part of click sequence". Then click the OK button to close the dialog box. Now your audio clip is just another item that can be animated in whatever sequence you want. You can now use the Custom Animation task pane to move it to the correct animation spot in the list and set any other options you need.
-------------------------------------------- Learn to use PowerPoint in under 2 hrs Why wade through a big book - get a 13 step process that teaches you the 20% you REALLY need to know. "The step-by-step guide for these functions is far easier to follow than the PowerPoint for Dummies book I had!" -Randy Maples "Dave, many people go over the top with claims as to how great their product is - you know the sort - but I can definitely say that your e-book on Powerpoint is a no-frills, punchy and very helpful tool." - Tom Webb Go to this link: http://www.kickstartcart.com/app/adtrack.asp?AdID=45805 --------------------------------------------
2. Earth Week article This is Earth Week for many, a time for all of us to reflect on our environment and what we can do to improve the environmental conditions for our fellow planet dwellers. I have written an article on reducing paper usage from computers that is now posted to the web site (here is the link: http://tinyurl.com/dlhkp). Computers were supposed to create the "paperless" office, but statistics show that paper usage has increased as computer usage has risen. I share in the article three tips for reducing paper usage: 1) preview before we print, 2) print only the pages necessary and 3) use print options that can literally cut paper usage in half. Not only will you save money with these tips, but you will help the environment. Because this is such an important topic, I am giving every subscriber permission to share this article with others in your office and in corporate or association newsletters. Just make sure to copy the entire article, including the copyright and author details at the bottom when you do so. Enjoy the week and help make our planet a nicer place to live.
------------------------------------------------------- Make Your Next PowerPoint Presentation Compelling Do you have an important presentation coming up? Would you like to make it so compelling that people sit on the edge of their seats listening to you? If you do, let me help you with my ten step PowerPoint presentation consulting approach. This is way more than just slide design, this is professional input on the structure, design and delivery of your PowerPoint presentation. One of my consulting clients wrote "I can confidently say my sales have already increased as a result of this astounding presentation." If you are interested, go to this link: http://www.kickstartcart.com/app/adtrack.asp?AdID=85889 -------------------------------------------------------
3. Useful Resource - Computer Security from US Government Another issue that seems to always be at the top of our lists is computer security. The U.S. government is keenly aware of this and has set up the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team, referred to as US-CERT. Their web site provides a great deal of information on how to protect your computer from attach and how to respond if your computer does come under attack. I suggest you read their information and make sure you have updated virus protection and spyware protection in place. Here's the site: http://www.us-cert.gov/
-------------------------------------------- Tools I use to sell my products: KickStartCart shopping cart system: http://www.kickstartcart.com/app/default.asp?pr=31&id=42487 Credit Card Processor PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/row/mrb/pal=8ADSGLU62YXWW Credit Card Processor 2checkout.com: http://www.2checkout.com/cgi-bin/aff.2c?affid=90267 -------------------------------------------- Would you like me to speak to your professional association or chapter event? I am always looking for opportunities to share my information with others and would consider speaking to your group if you are in or near the following areas: Rochester, NY, Buffalo NY, Detroit, MI, Cleveland, OH, Pittsburgh, PA or Toronto, ON. Just e-mail me at: dave@communicateusingtechnology.com for more info. -------------------------------------------- Check out the books, e-books and other learning tools at: http://www.thinkoutsidetheslide.com/resources.htm ******************************************** This newsletter is: CUT Apr 19/05 [PPT Play Audio, Earth Week] If you want to read back issues of this newsletter, click on the following link to go to the Archives: http://tinyurl.com/nhgl ********************************************