Key Terms
Backstage viewThe view that opens when you click the File tab, containing commands for managing files, setting program options, and printing.
commandA button, list, or other clickable option on the Ribbon.
dialog boxA box that prompts the user for additional information when executing a command.
dialog box launcherIn some command groups on the Ribbon, a small icon that opens a dialog box related to that group.
drop-down arrowA small, downward-pointing arrow next to some tools on the Ribbon.
drop-down listA list that appears once a drop-down arrow is clicked, allowing you to choose from available options.
File tabThe tab on the ribbon that opens the Backstage view.
groupA set of related tools on the Ribbon.
I-beam pointerThe mouse pointer when over a text box or editable text area, appearing as a curly capital I. If you click when the I-beam pointer is displayed, the insertion point moves to that spot.
KeyTipA letter or number that appears next to an onscreen tool when the Alt key is pressed; keying that letter or number activates the associated tool.
Mini toolbarA small toolbar that appears when the mouse pointer is placed on a selected text object; provides commands for working with the text.
Normal viewPowerPoint’s default view, suited for editing individual slides; includes the Slide pane, Notes pane, and Slides/Outline pane.
Notes Page viewA view that displays a single slide and its associated notes.
placeholderOn a slide, a box that holds a specific type of content, such as text.
Quick Access ToolbarToolbar at the upper-left corner of the PowerPoint window that provides easy access to tools you use frequently, such as Save and Undo.
Reading viewA view like Slide Show view that allows the user to preview a presentation on the screen except it’s in a window rather than filling the entire screen.
RibbonA strip of icons that appears across the top of the PowerPoint window; divided into tabs, each of which contains groups of related tools.
ScreenTipA pop-up box that gives a command’s name when you point at its button on the Ribbon.
shortcut menuA menu that appears when you right-click an area or object.
Slide Show viewA view that allows the user to preview a presentation on the screen as it will appear to the audience.
Slide Sorter viewA view that displays all of a presentation’s slides in a single window; suited for reorganizing slides.
tabA labeled section of the ribbon; contains a group of related tools.
text boxA container that holds text on a slide.
viewsThe ways in which presentation content can be displayed onscreen, such as Normal view, Slide Sorter view, or Slide Show view.
zoomThe amount of magnification used to show content onscreen; the higher the zoom, the larger the content.
PowerPointA complete presentation graphics program used to produce a professional looking presentation.
Title BarAt the top of the document and shows the name of the current document.
Status BarA horizontal bar, typically at the bottom of the
screen or window, showing information about a
document being edited or a program running.
Slide Task paneTask panes are user interface panels that are typically docked to one side of a window in a Microsoft Office application. Custom task panes give you a way to create your own task pane and provide users with a familiar interface to access your solution's features. For example, the interface can contain controls that run code to modify documents or display data from a data source.
Note Task PaneLocated to the left or right of the PowerPoint slide as you work on it innormal view, the Task panechanges to show options that are available for the current task that you are working on. For example, when choosing a new slide, theSlide Layouttask pane appears; when choosing adesign template, the Slide Design task pane appears, and so on.
A task pane will also often appear in adialog box, dividing the dialog box window into two or more panes.