Video:Using Google Presentation

SHARE ON                

Transcript:Using Google Presentation

Hi, I'm Shane Murphy, your technology Guru for About.com Today we'll go over how Google Presentation can give you a lift in your next meeting, and see how it fits in with the rest of the Google Docs

What Is Google Presentation?

Google Presentation is very similar to programs like PowerPoint and others that you've probably used before. The added benefit of Presentation is it's web-based format and integration into the rest of Google Docs.

Create a New Google Presentation

Just like the other applications contained in Google Docs, you'll need to head to docs.google.com and sign in with your Google Email account to start creating a new presentation.

From here, simply click on "Create New" in the far left for the drop down column, then click on “Presentation”. A new page will open displaying your soon to be Slide Show.

Navigating Google Presentations

Presentation's layout is intuitively arranged and buttons for functions are placed in close proximity to what they modify. For instance, you can insert, delete, and duplicate a slide with the buttons above the left hand column.

The insert function allows you to add media, plus tables and shapes to the slide you've selected. You can even use Google's drawing editor to quickly create a custom design to insert.

Insert a Video in Google Presentations

If you choose to insert a video, you'll automatically be taken to a search screen for Youtube and shown options for videos. After finding the video you want, perhaps one that you've uploaded yourself just for this project, you can insert it and then modify its dimensions

There are still a few limitations inherent to this feature of Presentation though. For one, there is no way to have the video start automatically once you move to the slide it's contained on. You must manually mouse over and click play.

Also, there is currently no way to start loading the video before you start the presentation. It will only start loading once you've clicked play, something to keep in mind if you using your slide show in a place with poor internet connectivity.

Google Presentation Themes

Under the Presentation Settings tab in the Format dropdown menu you'll find options for changing the background and theme for individual slides or the whole slide show. Like themes for the Google Forms, you unfortunately can't design your own.

Google Presentation Slide Show

When you're all set, simply click on "Start Presentation" for a new window to open and immediately start playing your slideshow. Just like in PowerPoint, you can click the slide or hit the space bar to advance to the next slide.

Saving Google Presentations

As with your other Google Docs, your Presentation will be saved in your Google Docs main page and can be accessed at any time to email or print out, or can be exported to a powerpoint, word of PDF document.

Remember that using Google Presentation requires an internet connection unless you export your slide show via one of these methods. Make sure you'll have reliable access to the internet before planning on playing off of Google's servers.

Thanks for watching. To learn more, visit About.com!