When you first open PowerPoint 2007 you will notice that there are many similar features to previous versions of PowerPoint.  You will also notice that there are many new features that you’ll be able to utilize.  There are three features that you should remember as you work within PowerPoint 2007:  the Microsoft Office Button, the Quick Access Toolbar, and the Ribbon.  The function of these features will be fully explored below.

Microsoft Office Button
The Microsoft Office Button performs many of the functions that were located in the File menu of older versions of PowerPoint.  This button allows you to create a new presentation, Open an existing presentation, save and save as, print, send, or close.

Commonly utilized features are displayed on the Ribbon.  To view additional features within each group, click the arrow at the bottom right corner of each group.

Home: Clipboard, Fonts, Alignment, Number, Styles, Cells, Editing
Insert: Tables, Illustrations, Charts, Links, Text
Design: Themes, Page Setup, Scale to Fit, Sheet Options, Arrange
Animations: Animations, preview, transistion to this slide
Slide Show: Start slide show, set up slide show
Review: Proofing, Comments, Changes
View: Workbook Views, Show/Hide, Zoom, Window, Macros

Quick Access Toolbar
The quick access toolbar is a customizable toolbar that contains common commands that you may want to use.  You can place the quick access toolbar above or below the ribbon.  To change the location of the quick access toolbar, click on the arrow at the end of the toolbar and click Show Below the Ribbon.

You can also add items to the quick access toolbar.  Right click on any item in the Office Button or the Ribbon and click Add to Quick Access Toolbar and a shortcut will be added.

Mini Toolbar
A new feature in Office 2007 is the Mini Toolbar.  This is a floating toolbar that is displayed when you select text or right-click text.  It displays common formatting tools, such as Bold, Italics, Fonts, Font Size and Font Color.