Everyone is familiar with Microsoft PowerPoint these days, some more than others. Reading this article, you might think you're already at a professional level when it comes to making the most of PowerPoint's features. We don't doubt your skills, but you'll be surprised by the variety of keyboard combinations you can use to boost your productivity.
Like Excel hotkeys, these keyboard shortcuts allow users to complete tasks faster using just the keyboard. While we have no reason to doubt your abilities, you may be surprised by the variety of keyboard shortcuts available to increase productivity.
Now, the point isn't to make you remember every keyboard combination: that can seem a little complicated! Everyone has their own needs, and when creating sales materials, some shortcuts may be more useful than others. Even if you end up taking just one or two shortcuts, it can have an impact. Also, if you are not a fan of keyboard shortcuts, this article still has a tip for you: create your own custom toolbar for PowerPoint that keeps your most used functions with just one click.
PowerPoint Keyboard Shortcuts
General shortcuts
Let's start with some basic keyboard shortcuts that will help you open, close, and navigate PowerPoint.
- Ctrl+Tab: switch between different open layouts
- Ctrl+N: create a new presentation
- Ctrl+O: open an existing presentation
- Ctrl+Q: save and close a presentation
- Ctrl+S: save a presentation
- Ctrl+Y: repeat last action
- Ctrl+W: Close a presentation
- Ctrl+Z: Undo an action
- Ctrl+F: search a layout or use Find and Replace
- Ctrl+F1: show or hide the ribbon
- Ctrl+F2: Print preview
- Alt+F2: open the Save As dialog box
- Alt+F: open the File tab menu
- Alt+A: Go to the Animations tab
- Alt+G: open the Design tab
- Alt+H: Go to the Home tab
- Alt+K: Go to the Transitions tab
- Alt+N: open the Insert tab
- Alt+Q: Ir al cuadro «Dime qué quieres hacer»
- Alt+R: Go to the Review tab
- Alt+S: go to Slideshow tab
- Alt+W: Go to View tab
- Alt+X: go to Plugins tab
- Alt+Y: Go to the Help tab
Selection and navigation shortcuts
Keyboard shortcuts can also be a big help when it comes to quickly navigating your presentation. The following shortcuts will allow you to select multiple objects on your slides or move slides within the presentation.
- Ctrl+A: select all text in a text box, all slides in a presentation, or all objects on a slide
- Tab: select and/or switch to the next object on a slide
- Shift+Tab: select or move to the previous object on a slide
- Start: go to the first slide or, from a text box, go to the beginning of the line
- End: go to the last slide or, from a text box, go to the end of the line.
- Av Pág: Go to next slide
- Re Pág: Go to previous slide
- Ctrl+Down arrow: moves a slide down in the presentation (click a slide thumbnail first)
- Ctrl+Up arrow: move a slide up in the presentation
- Ctrl+Shift+Up Arrow: move a slide to the beginning of the presentation (click a slide thumbnail first)
- Ctrl+Shift+Down Arrow: moves a slide to the end of the presentation.
Formatting and editing shortcuts
Editing and formatting your presentation has never been easier! These shortcuts will make you a pro at quick PowerPoint editing.
- Ctrl+B: add or remove bold to selected text
- Ctrl+C: copy selected text, selected objects, or selected slides
- Ctrl+D: duplicate the selected object or slide (for the latter, first click on a slide thumbnail)
- Ctrl+E: center a paragraph
- Ctrl+I: add or remove italics to selected text
- Ctrl+J: justify a paragraph
- Ctrl+K: Insert a hyperlink
- Ctrl+L: align a paragraph to the left
- Ctrl+M: Insert a new slide
- Ctrl+R: align a paragraph to the right
- Ctrl+T: opens the Font dialog box when text or object is selected
- Ctrl+U: add or remove underline to selected text
- Ctrl+V: paste selected text, selected objects, or selected slides
- Ctrl+X: Cut selected text, selected objects, or selected slides
- Ctrl+Alt+V: opens the Paste Special dialog box
- Delete: deletes selected text, selected objects, or selected slides.
How to create a custom PowerPoint toolbar?
The Quick Access Toolbar
The Quick Access Toolbar allows users to customize what should be displayed in the PowerPoint toolbar. In other words, you can include the commands you use frequently and make them available with a single click.
The process for creating your QAT (Quick Access Toolbar) is actually very simple and can definitely help you create your sales material faster.
Right-click on the command you want to add to your QAT
Select “Add to Quick Access Toolbar”
If your QAT is hidden, you can make it visible by right-clicking at the top of the window (above the ribbon) and selecting “Show Quick Access Toolbar.”
Our Top PowerPoint Commands for Creating Sales Materials
You may be wondering what commands you should add to your QAT. Here are our 4 personal favorites, which make it easier to create content and work with your sales material:
- Alignment commands: These commands allow you to align objects on the left, right, top or bottom side.
- Send object to front/back: These commands are very useful when working in layers and allow you to make objects more or less visible that are stacked on top of each other.
- Group/Ungroup: The commands allow quick editing of multiple objects at the same time (for example, when you want to stretch or shrink different shapes by the same proportion). Additionally, grouping is also useful when you want to create a single object from several layered shapes, for example. Distribute Horizontally/Vertically: These commands allow you to distribute objects at the same distance from each other to create a neater appearance.
