Using Bullets
Creating a bulleted list of text is a very common PowerPoint task. If you use the AutoContent Wizard, your presentation probably already contains a bullet list (p. 30) slide. You also can add a new bullet list slide by selecting Common Tasks, New Slide from the Formatting toolbar, and choosing the Bulleted List AutoLayout.
Tip
Click the Bullets button on the Formatting toolbar to automatically add bullets to selected paragraph.
The default style for the bullets comes from the design template applied to the presentation. You can change this if you want, however. To do so, select the bulleted list that you want to change and choose Format, Bullets and Numbering. Figure 3.11 shows the Bullets and Numbering dialog box that appears.
On the Bulleted tab of this dialog box you can choose from among the seven displayed bullet styles or you can choose None to remove bullets. In the Size field you can scroll to enlarge or reduce the bullet size from the default 100%.
To change the color of a bullet, select a new color from the Color drop-down list. Click More Colors at the bottom of the Color drop-down list to open the Colors dialog box (refer to Figure 3.5), in which you can specify the exact color for your bullets. Click OK to apply the color.
Tip
To change the bullets in your entire presentation, do so on the master slide (View, Master, Slide Master).
→ To learn how to change bullets on the master slide, see "Modifying the Master Slide,"
You can also create picture or character bullets, if none of the seven default bullet styles suits your needs.
Creating Picture Bullets
To apply a picture bullet, click the Picture button to open the Picture Bullet dialog box which is a variation of the Clip Gallery. Figure 3.12 illustrates this dialog box, which enables you to choose from a wide variety of more creative bullet styles.
Select your desired bullet and click OK to apply. Figure 3.13 depicts a presentation that uses picture bullets.
Note
You can also add a motion clip as a picture bullet by choosing a clip from the Motion Clips tab on the Picture Bullet dialog box.
→ To learn more about motion clips, see "Understanding Sound and Video Files,"
Tip
You can also use your company logo as a bullet if you want—and if its style and design would work well as a bullet. To do so, add the logo to the Picture Bullet dialog box as you would any other external image to the Clip Gallery. To add the logo, click the Import Clips button in the Picture Bullet dialog box.
→ For step-by-step instructions on importing a logo or other clip art image, see "Importing Clips,"
Figure 3.13. A picture bullet can enhance a creative presentation.
Creating Character Bullets
You can also choose a character bullet for your bulleted list if you want something a little different. In the Bullet dialog box you can choose from a variety of fonts. Each font displays its character set below; you can then choose your new character bullet from among the characters and symbols that display.
To apply a character bullet, click the Character button in the Bullets and Numbering dialog box to open the Bullet dialog box, shown in Figure 3.14.
Figure 3.14. Use a font like Webdings for character bullets.
Select the bullet category from the Bullets From drop-down list, choose the bullet you want from the display area, and click OK.
Tip
Click a bullet in the Bullet dialog box to enlarge it for easier viewing.