how to make a presentation in excel

Microsoft Excel

11 minute read

11 Best Excel Presentation Tips in 2024

Brandon Pfaff

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There’s more to a spreadsheet than just the numbers on the page. It is equally important to make your spreadsheets look professional, easy to read, and visually appealing to your viewers.

The same way a lawyer with a crooked tie and disorganized papers might raise an eyebrow in court, your Excel presentation won’t hit the right marks with your audience if it looks clumsy and bland, no matter how many hours of research goes into making it or how important the information contained within it is.

Whether you are creating a spreadsheet for personal use, to pass information to your team or share with your project manager, the secrets locked away in this post will be of immense use to you. Let’s take a look at the best Excel presentation tips to help you create standout spreadsheets .

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1. Get a template online

If you are a busy person, and you cannot fit an Excel presentation design into your schedule, enter the ex machina: pre-made Excel templates. You can choose from an array of purpose-specific templates with beautiful designs, fonts, and colors. Simply enter your values to customize it, and you are ready to go.

Of course, using a template means you will not get better at designing things yourself. If getting things done is your priority instead of getting better at designing presentations, then, by all means, use a template and be done with it. On the other hand, if you want to know how to make your Excel presentation better on your own, then find someone to teach you or stick around until the end of this post.

Check out our 50 best Excel templates to make your life easier  and our  33 Excel business templates for workplace productivity .

2. Name your worksheets correctly

Excel presentation is all about clarity. For this single reason, the importance of a correct and reliable project or worksheet name cannot be overemphasized. It could be a sentence, a phrase or just a word. Just make sure it is easy to understand by you or by anyone you will be sharing the file with.

You also must make sure it is distinct from the names of other worksheets stored on your computer. After all, what is the use of all the tips you will learn here today if you will not be able to find the worksheet you applied them on?

3. Define your header/title

Your header and title can be anything but it needs to stand out. Your header must be able to speak to the reader and make the reader know at first glance what the header is.

To do this, try a larger font for your header, underline and embolden it. You should center align it and use a different font color. It has to stand out but also blend with the template color scheme and overall aesthetic look. You can also use a different readable for your header. Just remember, we want to make it distinct, not isolated.

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4. Dos and don'ts of fonts

Full transparency: Fonts make or break your spreadsheet. Always use a uniform font for your data, you can use the same font for your header or you can change that of the header. You can use three fonts in a single presentation and that is the recommended maximum, else you would be pushing it. In this case, less is infinitely better.

These are the guidelines to follow in selecting the right format for your font.

Here is a quick tip, fonts of the sans-serif group are the best for your Excel spreadsheet if readability is your goal. Calibri, Helvetica, Arial or Playfair are few examples. If used with the right alignment, spacing, and color, they can bring out the best in your Excel presentation.

This ultimately depends on your presentation but officially, font 12 is often advised with double spacing to improve readability. As stated earlier, the header font can be larger. The headers should be larger than sub-headers which in turn should be larger than data fonts.

You want to create a sharp contrast between the text color and the background colors e.g. a light color text on a dark background and vice versa. This is where the "zebra stripes" rule comes in, which will be discussed later in the post.

People don’t often use the alignment tool in Excel. If you want to make your presentation look beautiful and business-like , you will need to maximize the alignment feature.

5. Create space for breathing room

When you see tightly packed, clumsy or wordy text or spreadsheet, your brain automatically gets tired of reading it before you even start. But when there is breathing space and the spreadsheet is divided up into categories, it becomes more pleasant to the eyes and ripe for interpretation by the brain.

This brings us to the B2 rule. Try to start your presentation on column B, row 2. Leaving the A column and the first row blank. It works like magic. You should also make sure that the column and row dimensions are the same.

Additionally, don't autofit the height and width of your document. You need to have flexibility and creative control of your workspace. Instead, manually adjust the height and width so that they have just enough white space but not too much to give your presentation some breathing room and improve readability.

6. Add an image

Whether it’s a photograph, an artistic sketch or your logo, images go a long way in making your spreadsheet better. Images make your presentation look official and possess the professional feel in many of the beautiful presentations you have seen. Pictures speak a thousand words. While Excel is not designed to accomplish the kind of presentation you can make in PowerPoint, a picture will help you to drive the point home and make your presentation memorable.

7. Go off the grid

Do you know that erasing all grid lines apart from those of your result will have people asking how you did it and if you used the same Excel software they use? Try it today. In your spreadsheet

Go to the View tab on the ribbon.

• Under the Show section, uncheck the box next to Gridlines .

8. Zebra stripes: Excel jungle law

Zebra stripes are alternating dark and light colors on rows lying on top of each other. This helps in a number of ways. First, it has this aesthetic feel that makes your work seem orderly, especially if you are displaying hundreds of rows of data. Second, it helps correlation and readability. A reader can track a row from the right-hand side to the far left and not lose track of what row his or her eyes are set upon.

You can zebra stripe using many methods. When you create a table in Excel, by default this will be zebra striped (Tip- select your data and use the shortcut Ctrl + T on a PC or ^ + T on a Mac to quickly create a table). On the Design tab, under Table Styles, you can change the color and style of your zebra stripes.

It can also be done using a formula in conditional formatting if desired. Conditional formatting is done by highlighting values that satisfy certain requirements (e.g. all odd-numbered rows). It can be copied from cell to cell using the painter tool in the Home toolbar.

9. Use charts, tables , and graphs

Most presentations are incomplete without some form of visual representation. Whether table, graph or chart, you need to visually represent your raw data in mediums that would be understood in a single glance. Charts, graphs, and tables should not be underestimated, especially if you have cumbersome data spanning many columns and rows.

In the Excel ecosystem, the chart, graph, and table features are like symbiotic siblings. You need them to bring out the beauty in the brevity of your work.

10. Create cell styles

Excel has many preset cell styles but you can create your own custom styles that will be more customized, and easier to use and edit because you created it. This is actually an alternative to getting a template if graphics consistency is your goal. After creating a beautiful spreadsheet with the above information, you can save the style so that you can apply it to future presentations.

Now your presentation is perfect with the right feel and style. Simply highlight the cells with your design for saving, then go to the Home toolbar, click on "more" at the base of the style gallery, then select "new cell style". A style dialog box will open, name the style, edit its properties and save.

If it isn't broken and it works efficiently, why change it? You can, however, add a touch of variability by changing the color palette from time to time.

11. Show restraint

You have learned all of these tips and you are ready to start your presentation -  be careful of overdoing it. Use color sparingly and don't combine too many tips at once. You need to tread the fine line between underwhelming and too much to find the "just enough" middle ground. Make sure your presentation is perfectly balanced, as all things should be.

Ultimately, the way your Excel presentation turns out depends on how well you communicate your data to your audience. Although, it does help to know the psychology of colors, good fonts. Browse beautiful spreadsheet presentations online to figure out what the "best" looks like. But at the end of the day, the ball is in your court and we hope that your dedication to practicing, sharpening and perfecting your presentation skills in Excel will be rewarded with cheers.

Ready to design your own Excel presentations?

If you would like to sum up the data on your Excel spreadsheet so that its insights are conveyed in a straight-forward manner, then follow this step-by-step guide. You’ll end up with a presentation that summarizes your data in a way that’s painless to analyze.

If you’re eager to brush up on your Excel skills, check out our Excel course and master the fundamentals to boost your productivity.

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Brandon is a full time CPA specializing in all things tax. When he is not serving clients, he enjoys spending time with his wife and son, real estate investing, and sipping fine bourbon.

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How to create your presentation using Excel?

Hrideep barot.

• Presentation

MS- Excel, widely known as Excel, is famous for its spreadsheets and data handling. But little has been explored of this wonderful software other than the standard features.

Do you know that you can create and give your presentation using Excel? Are you curious of how to create a presentation in Excel?

Read till the end to get familiar with the steps and bonus tips in the end!

This is our game plan for this article.

Is excel presentation a good choice?

Step 1: choose a template, step 2: create slides, step 4: remove the grids, add a background picture, add colors to your data, font size matters, make use of cells, title slide, conclusion slide, product sales, comparative analysis, financial resolution or budget proposal, who all can benefit through excel presentations, does excel have presentation mode, how to export excel presentations.

Now, you might wonder: how can a simple spreadsheet be made presentable, especially a business report or pitch?

Well, using Excel might be more advantageous than you think. Here’s why:

Although PPT or PowerPoint Presentations gives a wide variety of options and templates to choose from, it can sometimes be too stretched out or contain lots of information that can be overwhelming.

Often, the main agenda of the presentation gets blurred, as we tend to emphasize and explain each and everything on the PPT.

If you want to give a crisp, short and effective presentation, then consider going for an Excel presentation.

There are fewer chances of your audience losing focus, as you emphasize only the needed information, especially if you are presenting a business report.

You will also save time of giving and making your presentation.

Now that you know why Excel is a good choice, let us see how we can use an Excel sheet in a presentation.

Creating a presentation in Excel

Creating a presentation in Excel can be the easiest way of making a presentation.

Follow these steps to make your presentation in excel:

The first step is to choose a template that goes with the aim of your presentation.

If your aim is to give a business presentation, you can go for templates like the ones seen in the above picture.

If you aim to present a business idea or budget, then you can choose templates such as planner and checklist or expense budget.

Choosing the right template would make things easier for you and your audience.

You might wonder how can I possibly create a slide in excel? Isn’t that a feature of PowerPoint?

Well, the idea is to create one similar to PowerPoint.

By using the sheets as slides, one can easily create an impactful presentation.

Make sure to name the sheets, and arrange them in order to give a smooth presentation.

Step 3: Organize your data

Now enter your required data and arrange it.

Simply select the required data by pressing the SHIFT key and use the ARROW keys to select.

Then, click on the Insert option from the menu tab and click on the Recommended Charts.

Now, select the type of chart you want.

Here are some possible options:

If you have data that depicts a financial report, and you want to explain the profits annually, then go for Line Graphs.

Remember to name your chart. You can click on the chart title to rename it.

If you want to present a monthly report on the expenses, then go for a pie chart.

Pie charts fit well when you present on a single aspect or topic.

Tables work for almost all purposes.

However, the information presented needs to be simple and short.

You can do this by making colored tables.

You can select your data, and from the Page Layout option from the menu, browse the themes and colors.

Go for lighter tones, as they look aesthetic and professional as well.

Also, the audience won’t find it difficult to read the data, which can happen if you use darker colors.

One of the main features of Excel are the grids, i.e., rows and columns.

Our last step is to get rid of the grids, as they can distract the audience and you may also run the risk of giving a shabby presentation.

To remove grids, go to the Page Layout option in the menu tab and unselect or uncheck the boxes under Gridlines and Headings.

After this step, your presentation would seem as if it was made using a PPT!

Tips for making a creative and professional presentation using Excel

Level up your presentation by setting a background picture in your Excel sheets!

In order to do this, go to the Page Layout and click on Background.

You can choose any of your saved pictures or choose from almost infinite options by searching one.

After you choose your picture, click on insert and your background picture is ready!

Last step is to remove the gridlines for a clean presentation.

You can also remove Headings and Formula Bar by unchecking them from the View tab.

It is quite a task to locate and understand data when everything is of the same color.

In other words, when you have a single color, say white, the audience would be busy tallying the data from right to left and not be able to concentrate on your presentation.

To resolve this issue, make your tables with two color tones.

You can choose them from Themes in Page Layout.

Here is the final result:

This table would take less time to locate the data in one row, as the color makes the task easy!

I bet you took some time to read this, especially if you are looking from a laptop or PC.

Did you feel any difference?

Your eyes were strained as you tried to read what was written.

Hence, make sure to have a decently larger font for making your information visible to everyone as not everyone sees your presentation from the same proximity as you.

If you don’t want a background picture, you can go for an image.

For adding an image, go to Insert and click on Illustrations.

You can add pictures, shapes, icons, 3D models and many more.

Remember to uncheck the Gridlines and Headings, before adding the images.

Cells in a spreadsheet can be used in creative ways.

Apart from entering data and doing calculations in a breeze, they can be turned into text boxes!

So make use of them as far as you can.

You can add in the main heading in the first sheet along with a background picture.

You can also use cells for short descriptions or notes below the tables or data for better comprehension for the viewers.

This is very important for all types of presentations and not just for Excel.

The main reason to categorize is to avoid “data dump”.

This happens when you put in too much information in one chart or sheet.

You might get confused or zoned out while presenting, and it is overwhelming from an audience’s perspective as well.

So, divide your data into various sheets and name them, ensuring they are in right order.

Doing so will also give your presentation a better clarity.

Sample Excel presentation

Suppose you are from the Sales department and are asked to give a presentation to the senior executives about the current vaccination drive status and future prospects.

Considering the period to be Jan-June 2021, here is a possible sample of how you can go about giving your presentation using Excel:

Here you can talk about your views on how the organization should carry forward the vaccination drive, and give suggestions on how to do it more efficiently.

What are some good Excel presentation topics?

Excel is a good medium to present product sales. The sample presentation above is a type of product sales.

It gives the organization a clear idea of the direction of the sales of a product and planning further marketing strategy.

If you have just begun your journey as an entrepreneur or are in the sales and marketing field, here is a useful article for you to enhance your skills of giving a business pitch to your clients! Pitch Perfectly: Crucial Public Speaking Tips for Startup Founders

Some topic ideas for product sales can be:

• Annual product review in XYZ branch
• Sales review of XYZ product
• Review of top-selling products in XYZ zone
• Sales promotion review 2020-21

Comparative analysis can be presented using Excel most effectively.

You can show data in simple charts and graphs, and compare the metrics using parameters such as time( weekly, monthly, annually) or regionally( within a company or branch, across branches, or internationally).

Some topics you can consider:

• Comparative analysis of student population taking XYZ stream/course
• Analyzing weekly donations to XYZ foundation
• Regional analysis of reported crimes in XYZ state
• Health and hygiene: A correlational study

Excel is a go-to application when it comes to finances.

With its easy tools and graphics, you can present budget proposals and financial resolutions with utmost ease.

You can consider these topics:

• FDIs for the year 2018-22
• Shares review 2020-21
• Annual review: Financial department
• Funds report: XYZ branch 2020-21

Although Excel is a great tool, it is not suitable for every type of presentations and professions.

It is an excellent medium for those engaging in quantitative data such as:

• researchers
• sales and marketing
• data analysts
• corporate executives
• logisticians, etc.

You can present your data in full-screen mode or presentation mode in Excel!

To do this, go to the View tab and select Full-screen mode, or press CTRL+ SHIFT+F1.

To go back to normal mode, right-click and choose the close full-screen option, or click on the three vertical dots on the top of the screen.

To export your Excel presentation, follow these steps!

STEP 1: Go to Files tab and select Export option.

STEP 2: In Export, click on create PDF/XPS document and name your file.

STEP 3: Click on Publish. Done!

Although we went through the steps of making an Excel presentation, do not leave the other aspect out!

Your body language and delivery style also matters!

If you are confused on what approach to take regarding body language while giving a speech, follow this article! To walk or stand still: How should you present when on stage?

For preparing your voice, follow along How to prepare your voice for a speech: Step-by-step guide .

We took a look into the steps for creating a creative and effective Excel presentation in just 4 steps!

Hope that the steps and tips would make your next Excel presentation a success and completely reinvent the way Excel is seen!

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Excel Visualization: A Guide to Clear Data Presentation for Beginners

I once struggled with dull data tables.

Numbers clustered in rows and columns become a blur. But with Excel visualization , you can empower your audience to make informed decisions based on the data presented. Excel charts and graphs replace chaos, revealing patterns and trends.

Convey ideas efficiently with the right visual. It’s not just about creating a chart; it’s about making data understandable and engaging.

In this article, I’ll guide you step-by-step on transforming your Excel data into insightful visuals.

Let’s get started!

Table of Contents

Understanding the Basics of Excel Visualization

Excel provides various visualization options, whether 2D or 3D versions, standard, stacked, or 100% stacked options. It’s all about finding the right fit that best represents your data and message.

The Excel Charting Interface

Let’s start with creating a chart in Excel.

When you click on the Insert tab in Excel, you’ll see various chart types that you can use to visualize your data.

The Excel charting interface provides a wide range of options, from line and area charts to bar and column charts. When you click on a chart, the ‘ Chart Tools ’ contextual tab provides additional features for customizing your charts.

Types of Data for Visualization

Excel visualization data can be broadly categorized into numerical, categorical, and time-series data.

• Numerical data includes values that can be measured, such as sales figures or temperature readings.
• Categorical data includes information such as names, labels, or groups.
• Time-series data involves values measured over time, such as stock prices or website traffic.

Excel offers different chart types depending on your data type.

Selecting the Right Chart Type

Selecting the right chart type is half the battle for effective data visualization in Excel.

Pie charts are best for part-to-whole comparisons. Use line charts for time series or trends. Bar or column charts are the most suitable for categorical comparisons.

However, consider more advanced chart types for more complex data sets.

Scatter plots are excellent for correlation analysis , while histograms and box plots are ideal for distribution analysis of quantitative data.

It’s all about understanding your data and determining the best way to display it.

Steps for Visualizing Data in Excel – Creating Basic Charts

Creating basic charts in Excel is a fundamental skill for anyone looking to present data in a visual format.

Excel offers a variety of chart types, each with unique properties and use cases. The key to successful chart creation in Excel is understanding these different chart types and knowing how to present your data most effectively with them.

Organizing Your Data

Before you dive into creating Excel charts, it is crucial to organize your data correctly . 

Well-organized data will make the charting process easier and the resulting charts more meaningful. Ensure your data is clean, error-free, and arranged clearly and logically.

This will make it easier to select the data for your charts and create visuals that effectively communicate your data analysis results.

Pie and Donut Chart

Pie charts are popular for showing the proportion of different categories within a whole. While visually appealing, they are often misused and can lead to misleading interpretations.

Generally, they are most effective when comparing a few categories representing parts of a whole.

On the other hand, donut charts are a variation of pie charts with a hole in the middle (as the name implies!). Like pie charts, they can display multiple data series, but they should be used sparingly.

To create a pie chart in Excel:

• Select the data you want to visualize
• From the “ Insert ” tab, choose “ Pie ” from the chart options.
• You can customize your chart by changing the colors, adding labels, and adjusting other settings in the “ Format Chart Area ” pane.

Here’s a video guide on how to create a donut chart:

Line and Area Chart

Line and area charts are handy when dealing with time-series data . These charts plot data points on a graph and connect them with a line, allowing you to see trends over time. 

Check out this video for a step-by-step guide on how to create a line chart:

One of the business essentials when working with line and area charts is customizing the axis and gridlines. This can help make your chart more readable and meaningful .

The “ Format Axis ” pane allows you to customize the axis labels, adjust the scale, and add gridlines.

Column and Bar Graph

Bar and column charts are Excel’s most commonly used chart types. They are excellent for comparing different categories of data.

While bar charts and column charts are often used interchangeably, there is a difference: A bar chart presents data horizontally , while a column chart presents data vertically . This distinction can influence how easily your audience interprets the chart.

You can also choose between a stacked or clustered bar and column chart layout.

In a stacked chart , data series are stacked on each other, while in a clustered chart , they are placed side by side.

To create a bar or column chart:

• Select the data
• Then choose either “Bar” or “Column” from the chart options in the “ Insert ” tab
• Remember to format the chart and the axis labels to make the chart easier to understand

Advanced Charting Techniques

In this section, I’ll describe how to present complex data in a visually appealing and easily understandable format. Since each dataset is unique, treat these charts as ideas for meaningfully presenting your data.

Combination Charts

This type of chart combines the features of line and column charts, allowing you to present mixed data more comprehensively.

For example, when you have a target and actual data for comparison , a combination chart can be the perfect tool for visualization.

Clicking the Chart Design tab on the ribbon allows you to change the chart type and create a customized combination chart.

This allows you to have your target values in columns and the actual values marked along the line, which provides a clearer visualization of your data.

Trendlines and Data Analysis

Another essential feature of Excel charts is the ability to add trendlines. These can be linear, polynomial, or moving average trendlines.

A trendline graphically displays trends in your data , and you can extend it beyond the actual data to predict future values.

Along with trendlines, interpreting R-squared values is also crucial in data analysis. This will help you understand the relationship between your dependent and independent variables, thus enhancing your analysis results.

Check out our detailed how-to post on adding trendlines to Excel charts .

Conditional Formatting in Charts

Conditional formatting is another advanced charting technique in Excel that can enhance your data visualization. You can also add data bars, color scales, and icon sets.

These features allow you to customize your charts based on certain conditions, making it easier for your audience to understand your data. Applying these formatting options enables you to create more engaging and visually appealing charts for your data presentation.

Creating a Tornado Chart in Excel

Tornado charts are particularly effective when comparing and contrasting different variables . A well-crafted tornado chart can help you visualize how changes in several factors can impact a specific outcome – for example, the impact of inflation on NPV and IRR results.

Here’s a video showing you how to create a tornado chart:

Designing a Funnel Chart in Excel

Funnel Charts in Excel are highly effective tools for monitoring sales processes or any other process that narrows down over time.

Here are two quick methods for designing funnel charts in Excel:

Building a Waffle Chart in Excel

Waffle charts, also known as square pie or waffle bar charts, are a great way to visualize individual data points compared to the whole data set. They are a fun and engaging way to present percentages or proportions.

Here is a simple method for creating waffle charts:

Data Visualization Tips – Enhancing Chart Aesthetics

The aesthetics of your Excel chart play a significant role in how effectively your data is communicated.

A visually appealing chart is easier to understand and engages your audience. Enhancing chart aesthetics involves working with various chart elements and features, such as colors, styles, and data labels.

Adding data labels, for instance, provides additional information on your chart, making it easier to interpret.

Besides, you can customize the chart’s colors and styles to match your presentation theme or company branding.

Check out this post for more information on good dashboard design principles .

Working with Chart Elements

Working with chart elements can significantly improve the readability and effectiveness of your data visualization.

Some key chart elements you can manipulate include titles, legends, and data labels.

• Data labels provide additional context to your data and can be customized to suit your chart
• Modify axis labels and gridlines to adjust their appearance and improve readability. Check out this video on how to add gridlines to your Excel charts:

These chart elements can enhance your aesthetic appeal and make your data easier to interpret.

Customizing Chart Colors and Styles

Spicing up your Excel charts is easier than you think.

The ‘ Chart Design ‘ tab in the Excel ribbon allows you to alter your charts’ aesthetics significantly.

Navigate to the ‘ Chart Styles ‘ section, and you’ll see various styles for your chart. 

Looking for a bit more customization? No problem! Simply click the ‘ Change Colors ‘ dropdown and choose a color scheme.

You can use Excel’s preset color schemes or create a custom color palette for brand consistency. Minor visual changes can significantly affect your chart’s overall look and feel.

3D Charts and Effects

Adding a third dimension to your charts can make them pop . But be careful.

While 3D effects can add a specific wow factor, they can also lead to misinterpretations of your data if they are not used properly.

To add 3D effects to your charts, click the ‘ Chart Styles ‘ and choose a style with 3D effects. 

Remember, though, that 3D effects should be used sparingly and only when they can enhance the understanding of the data. Overuse of these effects can lead to cluttered, confusing charts. When it comes to 3D effects, less is often more .

Advanced Excel Graphics

Beyond the basic charts, Excel offers advanced graphics capabilities to take your data presentation to the next level.

This includes using Sparklines, shapes, and icons, among other features.

Sparklines are mini-charts within individual cells, each representing a row of data. They give a quick snapshot of trends, helping you understand your data at a glance.

Excel offers line, column, and win/loss types of Sparklines that you can add with the Quick Analysis tool.

Using Shapes and Icons

Remember to appropriately format these shapes and icons to convey the right message and not distract from the data.

Portraying a Story Through Data

Excel visualization is not just about creating charts or diagrams; it’s about telling a story with your data. This is where the concept of data storytelling comes in.

It’s about using visualization tools to highlight key points and trends in your data, making it easier for your audience to understand and absorb.

It’s not unlike creating a plot in a novel where rows and columns of data are the characters, and the chart is the narrative arc. Every element should convey your story effectively and compellingly, from simple bar charts to intricate trend analysis.

Exporting and Sharing Your Visualizations

Once you’ve created your data visualization in Excel, it’s important to know how to share it! This involves exporting the visual representation of data in a format that others can easily access.

Whether you’re sharing a simple bar graph or a complex infographic, the export method will depend on the intended use of the chart/graphic.

This process can be as simple as saving your chart as an image or embedding Excel visuals in PowerPoint presentations and documents.

Saving Charts as Images

One of the simplest ways to share visualizations is by saving them as images .

To do this, right-click the chart and select ‘Save as Picture.’ Several image formats are available, each with its uses.

For instance, JPEG is great for photographic images, while PNG is ideal for images with transparent backgrounds. However, it’s important to consider the resolution of your image. High resolution is crucial for clear, crisp images, especially if they’re intended for print.

Embedding Excel Visuals in Presentations and Documents

Embedding them in presentations and documents is another way to share your Excel visualizations.

This can be done in two ways: linking and embedding .

• Linking refers to connecting the original Excel file and the document where it’s inserted. Any changes made to the original file will automatically update in the document (assuming the link isn’t broken ).
• Embedding involves inserting a copy of the chart into the document. While this won’t update automatically, it ensures that the chart will always be available, regardless of the status of the original file.

Both methods have advantages and should be chosen based on your specific needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some common mistakes for beginners to avoid in data visualization with excel.

Common mistakes include overcrowding the chart with too much data, using inappropriate chart types, neglecting to label axes or data points clearly, and choosing colors or styles that reduce readability.

What are the best practices for presenting Excel data visually to a non-technical audience?

Focus on simplicity and clarity .

Use straightforward chart types, avoid technical jargon, and highlight key takeaways. Ensure your charts are well-labeled, and use annotations or callouts to draw attention to important data points.

What are some resources to learn more about Excel visualization? 

For more tips and tricks, visit my YouTube channel . Alternatively, look at Chandoo’s training, where I learned many excellent dashboard design ideas.

Can Excel visualization help in career development?

Absolutely! Proficiency in Excel visualization is a valuable skill in many industries.

It’s especially relevant in fields like data science, finance, marketing, and others involving large amounts of data. Effectively communicating data through graphical representation can give you a significant advantage in your professional journey.

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Excel Tutorial: How To Present An Excel Spreadsheet

Introduction.

Presenting data effectively in Excel is crucial for making your information easily understandable and visually appealing. Whether you are creating a spreadsheet for a presentation, report, or simply to share with colleagues, knowing how to format and present your data in Excel is a valuable skill. In this blog post, we will provide a tutorial on how to present an excel spreadsheet in a professional and organized manner, ensuring that your data is easy to interpret and visually impactful.

Key Takeaways

• Presenting data effectively in Excel is crucial for making information easily understandable and visually appealing.
• Basic formatting tips include using cell formatting, adding borders and shading, and adjusting column width and row height for clarity.
• Creating charts and graphs, using conditional formatting, data validation, and pivot tables are all important skills for presenting data in Excel.
• Practicing and exploring more advanced Excel features is important for mastering the art of data presentation.
• Clear and effective data presentation in Excel is essential for ensuring that data is easy to interpret and visually impactful.

Basic formatting tips

When presenting an excel spreadsheet, it’s important to ensure that the data is easy to read and understand. Basic formatting can go a long way in improving the overall appearance and readability of your spreadsheet. Here are some essential tips for formatting your excel sheet:

A. Using cell formatting to highlight important data

Cell formatting allows you to emphasize important data in your spreadsheet. You can use bold, italics, underline, or font color to make specific data stand out. This can help draw attention to key figures or make certain information more noticeable.

B. Adding borders and shading to improve readability

Adding borders and shading to your cells can help to distinguish different sections of your spreadsheet and make it easier to read. You can use borders to outline specific data, and shading to highlight important sections or make headers and footers stand out.

C. Adjusting column width and row height for clarity

Ensuring that the column width and row height are appropriate can greatly improve the clarity of your spreadsheet. Adjusting the width of columns allows you to display more content without truncating the text, while adjusting the height of rows can prevent text from being cut off or overlapping.

Creating charts and graphs

When presenting an excel spreadsheet, it is important to include visual representations of the data to make it easier for the audience to understand. This can be achieved by creating charts and graphs that effectively illustrate the data in a clear and concise manner.

Selecting the right type of chart for the data

• Bar charts: Ideal for comparing values across different categories.
• Line charts: Used to show trends over a period of time.
• Pie charts: Suitable for displaying proportions and percentages.
• Scatter plots: Helpful in showing relationships between two variables.

Customizing colors and labels for visual appeal

• Color scheme: Choose a color palette that is visually pleasing and enhances the readability of the chart.
• Axis labels: Clearly label the axes and provide a title that succinctly describes the chart.
• Legend: If the chart includes multiple data series, include a legend to distinguish between them.

Adding trendlines or data labels for more insights

• Trendlines: Use trendlines to visualize the general direction of the data and identify any patterns or trends.
• Data labels: Add data labels to the chart to display specific values and make it easier for the audience to interpret the data.

Conditional formatting

Conditional formatting is a powerful feature in Excel that allows you to automatically highlight specific data based on set rules, as well as identify trends using color scales or icon sets. Additionally, you can apply conditional formatting to entire rows or columns, making it easier to spot patterns and outliers in your data.

Setting up rules to automatically highlight specific data

• Click on the cells you want to apply conditional formatting to.
• Navigate to the "Home" tab and click on the "Conditional Formatting" dropdown menu.
• Select "New Rule" to create a custom rule based on your data.
• Choose the formatting style and criteria for your rule, and then click "OK" to apply it.

Using color scales or icon sets to quickly identify trends

• Select the data range you want to apply color scales or icon sets to.
• Go to the "Conditional Formatting" dropdown menu and choose either "Color Scales" or "Icon Sets."
• Choose the style that best represents your data trends, and then click "OK" to apply it.

Applying conditional formatting to entire rows or columns

• Select the entire row or column you want to apply conditional formatting to.
• Click on the "Conditional Formatting" dropdown menu and choose the desired formatting option.
• Adjust the rules and styles as needed, and then click "OK" to apply it to the selected range.

Data Validation

When presenting an excel spreadsheet, ensuring the accuracy of the data is crucial. Utilizing data validation features can help maintain the integrity of the information.

Ensuring data accuracy by setting validation rules

• Step 1: Select the cells where you want to apply data validation.
• Step 2: Go to the Data tab, click on Data Validation, and choose the criteria for the validation rule.
• Step 3: Set the input message to provide instructions for entering the data.

Creating dropdown lists for controlled input

• Step 1: Select the cells where you want to create the dropdown list.
• Step 2: Navigate to the Data tab, click on Data Validation, and select List as the validation criteria.
• Step 3: Enter the items for the dropdown list in the Source box.

Displaying error alerts for incorrect data entries

• Step 1: Choose the cells to which you want to apply the error alert.
• Step 2: Access the Data tab, click on Data Validation, and set the conditions for the error alert.
• Step 3: Customize the error message to provide guidance on the correct data input.

Using pivot tables

Pivot tables are a powerful feature in Excel that allows you to summarize and analyze large datasets, create interactive reports with pivot table filters, and add calculated fields for deeper analysis.

Create a pivot table:

Add fields:, add filters:, use slicers:, create calculated fields:, customize the calculations:.

In conclusion, presenting an Excel spreadsheet effectively is essential for clear communication and decision-making. We've covered key points such as formatting, using charts, and adding comments. Remember to practice and explore more advanced features to further enhance your Excel skills. Clear and effective data presentation in Excel is crucial in any professional setting, so keep honing your skills to become a proficient Excel user.

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How to Convert Excel to PowerPoint

Last Updated: June 9, 2023

This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff . Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. This article has been viewed 232,929 times. Learn more...

If you want to take data from an Excel spreadsheet and put it into a PowerPoint presentation, you can do so with built-in controls available in both programs. This wikiHow shows you how to put Excel data into PowerPoint slides using these features.

Copying and Pasting Excel Data into PowerPoint

Inserting an Excel Object into PowerPoint

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Create PowerPoint Slides from Excel Data

Oct 5, 2019 | Articles

Undoubtedly Microsoft Excel is amongst the best tools for increased productivity in our workplace today. Microsoft Excel helps workers perform their assigned tasks easily. The use of Microsoft Excel has greatly improved productivity in organizations. It offers a quicker way to complete your task effortlessly. Many organizations now sort after Men and Women with good skill in Microsoft Excel.

PowerPoint is another outstanding program that enhances business excellence. PowerPoint offers a clear understanding and interpretation of data. It has a unique display setting that makes the audience appreciate the program, but it is static.

Some persons believe PowerPoint to be superior to Excel and vice versa. But recently, people create PowerPoint from Excel data. Excel is used for computations because it has a lot of data needed for the report. PowerPoint will help enhance the appearance of these reports. So, simply present your result in PowerPoint after all calculations from your Excel.

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Automatically Create PowerPoint Slides from Excel (3 Easy Ways)

Microsoft Excel is indeed an extremely effective software. We may perform countless operations on a given dataset using Excel’s tools and features. We frequently need to make PowerPoint slides from Excel files. When we have to do it repeatedly, copying information from Excel and making PowerPoint slides is very time-consuming. This article will discuss three unique and easy ways to create PowerPoint slides from Excel files automatically. Therefore, you should go through these 3 easy ways to Automatically Create PowerPoint Slides from Excel.

How to Automatically Create PowerPoint Slides from Excel: 3 Easy Ways

As an illustration, we will explore a sample dataset. The following dataset, for example, has sales representative Names and Areas. We are going to show the Excel data in PowerPoint slides using all 3 of the approaches. Moreover, I will go through the benefits and drawbacks of using these strategies. In addition, I have yet to mention that I have been using the Microsoft Excel 365 version for this article; You are free to choose any other edition that you find most convenient.

1. Automatically Create Slides Using Insert Command in PowerPoint

The Insert command is the simplest method. Using this Insert Command, slides are kept up to date immediately after any modifications are made to the Excel file. The issue is that we need to utilize the insert command for each slide. We will insert the Excel object using PowerPoint’s Insert command to automate the procedure. To complete the work, please follow the instructions below.

• First, launch PowerPoint.
• Then, select the Insert  tab.
• Next, click Text , and later on the Object  option.

• As a result, a new dialog box will pop up at this time, and you must click on Create from file .
• After that, click on Browse to find the Excel document you want to add to your slides.

• Consequently, the Insert Object dialog box pops up again, allowing you to check the Link box and click OK .
• Hence, as demonstrated below, it will yield the desired output in MS PowerPoint.

Read More: How to Insert an Excel File into PowerPoint as an Icon

2. Apply Paste Special Feature to Generate Slides from Excel

Another interesting way is to use the Paste Special feature. We can make slides in PowerPoint with the specified and selected data from Excel through the paste feature. Here, as the data in the Excel file is updated, the PowerPoint slide is also updated. To do the procedure, follow these instructions.

• First, open Excel’s saved worksheet to insert data.

• Secondly, move the mouse over the portion of the data you wish to link to PowerPoint. Then click on Copy .
• Now, open PowerPoint and click on the slide where you wish to connect the Excel data. Later on, click Paste and Paste Special  feature.

• And a new dialog box appears. Choose the Paste link After that, click As Microsoft Excel Worksheet Object and hit OK .

• As a result, it will return the required output in the PowerPoint slides, as shown below.

Read More: How to Copy Chart from Excel to PowerPoint Without Link

3. Create PowerPoint Slides from Excel Through VBA

There is a unique way of creating PowerPoint Slides automatically using Excel VBA. The only difference between previous methods is that slides are not updated as we change the Excel file. To use the Excel VBA Code, we must add the Microsoft PowerPoint 16.0 Object Library. However, since we are using this approach, we don’t need to create a VBA code for each presentation. Through modification of the code, we can generate dozens of slides.

• First of all, select the active sheet of the workbook to begin.

• Secondly, navigate to Developer and then Visual Basic .
• Later on, select Insert and now click on Module .

• Next, put the following code into the Module box. Remember to change the cell’s range.

• Finally, click the Run button or press F5 .
• So, this is where the output will go.

To overcome the error, follow these:

Step 1 : Hover over Tools => You will see the References option => Click on References .

As a result, the References – VBAProject window will open.

Step 2 : Check Microsoft PowerPoint 16.0 Object Library => You will see the OK button in the top right corner => Hit OK to resolve the error.

Download Practice Workbook

You can get a free copy of the example workbook that was used during the discussion which was just below here.

You can automatically create PowerPoint slides from Excel from this point forward by using the procedures that we just discussed. Keep using them, and let us know if you come up with any other strategies to get the work done or if you have any new ideas. Remember to post questions, comments, or recommendations in the section below.

Related Articles

• How to Perform Excel to PowerPoint Automation
• How to Link Excel Sheets to PowerPoint
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• How to Link Excel Data to PowerPoint Chart
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• [Fixed!] Problems with Embedded Excel Files in PowerPoint
• [Solved] Embedded Excel in PowerPoint Not Showing All Data
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• How to Insert Excel Chart into PowerPoint
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Tags: Excel to PowerPoint

Lutfor Rahman Shimanto, BSc, Information Technology, Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh, has worked with the ExcelDemy project for over a year. He has written 50+ articles and provided solutions of 100+ comments for ExcelDemy. Currently, he works as an Excel & VBA Developer and provides support and solutions in the ExcelDemy Forum. He has solved 100+ ExcelDemy Forum problems. His work and learning interests are in developing various Excel & VBA and Desktop applications. Outside of work, he enjoys Chess... Read Full Bio

Hi and thanks for your post data;

When I use your VBA code I got this error:”user defined type not defined” How can I fix it?

Best Regards

Thanks for reaching out and posting your comment. You are right about the raised error. If you do not add the Microsoft PowerPoint 16.0 Object Library , you must see the User-Defined Type not defined error.

To solve the issue, follow these: Step 1 : Hover over Tools => You will see the References option.

Step 2 : Click on References => In the References – VBAProject window, check Microsoft PowerPoint 16.0 Object Library , and you will see the OK button in the top right corner.

Step 3 : After clicking OK , you will be able to run the code like the following GIF .

Hopefully, the solution will help you overcome your situation. Good luck.

Regards Lutfor Rahman Shimanto

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Tips for turning your Excel data into PowerPoint charts

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As a presenter, you probably use charts (also called graphs) in your presentations. Charts  display data in a visual format that audiences can easily grasp – if you design the chart and slide clearly and crisply.

A crisp chart has nothing to do with your toaster’s setting. Instead, it’s a chart that shows only the data necessary to make the desired point clear – no less, no more. Too much data (sometimes called “data dump”) will overwhelm your audience, blunting your message.

Limit the Data

Instead of creating a chart from data in an entire Excel spreadsheet, first edit your spreadsheet. One way to do this is to copy and paste data onto a separate Excel workbook tab. Then look at what you can eliminate. When you have only the data you need, you’re ready to create the chart in PowerPoint.

Tip: If your data just has to be huge, see if you can divide the data into two sets. For example, you could cover two related sets in one table and two other related sets in another. These two tables, or sets of data, would end up being two easily digestible slides, instead of one overloaded slide.

Creating the chart

There are several ways to generate a chart in PowerPoint from Excel data, but here we’ll talk about one way. Let’s assume that you’ve already edited an Excel spreadsheet so that it contains only the data that will support your message.  

Here are the basic steps to create the chart in PowerPoint from a data set:

2. The Insert Chart dialog opens. Choose the type of chart you want. For this example, I’ll choose the default 2D column chart. Click OK .

Note: Some types of charts are appropriate for specific types of data; your chart type should match your data. For example, if you have one row of data showing percentages that make up a whole, a pie chart would work better than a column chart.

4. Go back to the temporary spreadsheet, click in cell A1, and paste.

5. If your data is smaller than the dummy data, you’ll need to drag the lower right corner of the blue border inward; in the figure, a red arrow points to this corner.

6. Go back to your PowerPoint slide to see the chart

Formatting charts for clarity

You’re not finished yet! PowerPoint’s default charts are overly busy and are rarely formatted in a way that’s easy to understand. Also, PowerPoint has many useful features that you can take advantage of to help you communicate your points clearly. 

I can give you some best practices for clear charts, but in the end, you have to decide what is best for your message, your data, and your audience. Here are some ideas that should help you get the results you want.

Use 2D charts

3D charts are notoriously hard to understand. Which is the true value, the front or the back of the column? People aren’t sure. The “walls” and “floor” of the chart make it seem overly complex. Finally, the 3D perspective makes quickly judging values harder. Just switching to a 2D chart instantly makes the chart look easier to understand. 

Luckily, PowerPoint 2007 and 2010 default to the 2D style, but PowerPoint 2003 had a 3D default and many charts out there still use that style. To change to a 2D chart, select the chart. On the Chart Tools Design tab, choose Change Chart Type.

Consider changing the chart type

As I mentioned, you should choose your chart type based on your data and the point you are trying to make. Column charts are the most common, but that may be because they are the default. When you’re trying to show trends, a line chart can make the point clearer. 

Many people don’t like line charts because the lines are too thin to show up clearly, but you can easily make them thicker. First, try one of the chart styles from the Style gallery; the options near the bottom use thicker lines.   

If the lines still aren’t thick enough for your taste, follow these steps to make them as thick as you want:

2. Click the Chart Tools Format tab.

3. In the Shape Styles group, click the Shape Outline button, then choose Weight, More Lines to open the Format Data Series dialog box with the Line Style category active.

4. In the Width text box, type a larger width or use the Up arrow to increase the width.

5. With the dialog box still open, select each remaining line, click the Line Style category, and choose a new width. You can even vary the widths to emphasize one data series over others.

Widen the bars

If you choose a column or bar chart type, widening the bars can make the chart clearer. The steps to widen the bars are not intuitive, so many people miss them. Here they are:

1. Right-click any column or bar and choose Format Data Series. The Format Data Series dialog box opens. ( Tip: Drag the dialog box off the chart, so you can see the result as you do the next step.)

2. With the Series Options category selected, drag the Gap Width slider to the left, toward the No Gap label. All of the columns or bars widen.

3. Click Close to close the dialog box.  

Remove the gridlines and use data labels if necessary

The purpose of gridlines is to help your audience figure out the exact value of the data points. Is that sales number $3.5 million or $3.4 million? But when you display a presentation on a screen, your audience can’t easily follow the gridlines. Moreover, the gridlines are a distraction from the chart itself.

In some situations, you need to convey exact numbers. In others, an approximation is fine because no one cares. So you should base your choice of whether to use gridlines on both the goal of your presentation and your audience’s needs.

One way to get rid of the gridlines and still provide exact data is to use data labels. In fact, data labels will show your audience the numbers much more clearly. The only trick is to make sure that you don’t have too many numbers on the screen.  

Here you see the evolution of a chart from grid lines to data labels. Follow these steps:

1. Click the grid lines, but not the top or bottom ones (because you’ll select the plot area instead of the grid lines).

2. Press the Delete key on your keyboard to delete the grid lines.

3. With the chart selected, click the Chart Tools Layout tab, choose Data Labels, and then Outside End.

4. If the data labels are too long and overlap, try a bar chart. On the Chart Tools Design tab, click Change Chart Type, choose one of the bar charts, and click OK.  

What other options are useful?

PowerPoint has so many options for formatting charts, so I’ll just make a few comments.

Tick marks are small lines along the axes and they are usually unnecessary. They aren’t very noticeable, but getting rid of them will make your chart look cleaner. The red arrows in the figure point to the tick marks. Here’s how to remove them: 

2. Right-click the axis and choose Format Axis.

3. In the Format Axis dialog box’s Axis Options category, from the Major Tick Mark Type drop-down list, choose None.

4. Select the next axis and repeat the previous step.

5. When you’re done, click Close.

Some charts have a chart title , but in most cases, I recommend using the slide’s title instead. To delete an existing chart title, just select it and press the Delete key.

Sometimes the legend is in the way of expanding the chart itself. You can select it and drag it to a better location. Then, to expand the rest of the chart, click the Plot Area (try clicking inside the main area of the chart) and drag its handles outward.

1. Click an axis to select it. The easiest way to make sure you select the axis is to click its labels. 

3. In the Format Axis dialog box’s Axis Options category, from the Display Units drop-down list, choose the units you want. In the example, you would choose millions.

4. If you want to show the display units, check the Show Display Units Label on Chart checkbox.

5. If you want to show decimal values on the Y axis, click the Number category in the dialog box. From the Category list on the right, choose one of the options, such as Number, to set the decimal places and other number formatting.

6. Click Close to close the dialog box.

Calling out important points

No matter how simple you make your chart, it can seem overwhelming to your audience. You are familiar with the data, but the people watching aren’t. Also, you may need to point to specific sections of the chart as you discuss them. Walking up to the screen and pointing is usually awkward and ineffective, so you can use shapes and animation instead.

An arrow and a circle are two ways to point out sections of a chart, as you see here. I usually make them bright red, so that they stand out from the rest of the chart.   

Here are the steps to insert a circle or arrow:

1. Make sure the chart is not selected. Then go to the Home tab and choose the arrow or circle from the Drawing group.

2. Click and drag to place the shape.

3. Format the circle so that it has no fill. To do so, select it, click the Format tab, click Shape Fill, and choose No Fill. To make it red, click Shape Outline and choose the red color swatch.

4. To format the arrow with a red fill, click the Format tab, click Shape Fill, and choose the red color swatch.

You may not want the audience to see the arrow or circle until you get to a specific part of your discussion, so you can add animation to make them appear when you click.  

 To add animation to the arrow in PowerPoint 2010, follow these steps:

1. Select the arrow.

2. Click the Animations tab.

3. Click Add Animation and choose Wipe from the Entrance section. (You can choose another entrance animation, but Wipe looks good with arrows.) If you don’t see the Wipe animation, choose More Entrance Effects from the bottom of the list to find it.

4. Click Effect Options and choose a direction. For a left-facing arrow, choose from Right. For a down-facing arrow, choose from Top. 

To add animation to the circle in PowerPoint 2010, follow the same steps, except that I recommend the Wheel animation. Then choose 1 Spoke from the Effect Options list. This animation looks like you’re encircling the area within the circle.

Do a clarity test

When your chart is done, ask a friend or colleague to look at it. Ask what the chart means. If you get a correct answer, you’ve succeeded! 

–Ellen Finkelstein 

Ellen Finkelstein trains presenters to present more clearly and powerfully. For free tips and a free report, “From Death by PowerPoint to Life by PowerPoint,” go to www.ellenfinkelstein.com .

How-To Geek

6 ways to create more interactive powerpoint presentations.

Engage your audience with cool, actionable features.

Quick Links

• Add a QR code
• Embed Microsoft Forms (Education or Business Only)
• Embed a Live Web Page
• Add Links and Menus
• Add Clickable Images to Give More Info
• Add a Countdown Timer

We've all been to a presentation where the speaker bores you to death with a mundane PowerPoint presentation. Actually, the speaker could have kept you much more engaged by adding some interactive features to their slideshow. Let's look into some of these options.

1. Add a QR code

Adding a QR code can be particularly useful if you want to direct your audience to an online form, website, or video.

Some websites have in-built ways to create a QR code. For example, on Microsoft Forms , when you click "Collect Responses," you'll see the QR code option via the icon highlighted in the screenshot below. You can either right-click the QR code to copy and paste it into your presentation, or click "Download" to add it to your device gallery to insert the QR code as a picture.

In fact, you can easily add a QR code to take your viewer to any website. On Microsoft Edge, right-click anywhere on a web page where there isn't already a link, and left-click "Create QR Code For This Page."

You can also create QR codes in other browsers, such as Chrome.

You can then copy or download the QR code to use wherever you like in your presentation.

2. Embed Microsoft Forms (Education or Business Only)

If you plan to send your PPT presentation to others—for example, if you're a trainer sending step-by-step instruction presentation, a teacher sending an independent learning task to your students, or a campaigner for your local councilor sending a persuasive PPT to constituents—you might want to embed a quiz, questionnaire, pole, or feedback survey in your presentation.

In PowerPoint, open the "Insert" tab on the ribbon, and in the Forms group, click "Forms". If you cannot see this option, you can add new buttons to the ribbon .

As at April 2024, this feature is only available for those using their work or school account. We're using a Microsoft 365 Personal account in the screenshot below, which is why the Forms icon is grayed out.

Then, a sidebar will appear on the right-hand side of your screen, where you can either choose a form you have already created or opt to craft a new form.

Now, you can share your PPT presentation with others , who can click the fields and submit their responses when they view the presentation.

3. Embed a Live Web Page

You could always screenshot a web page and paste that into your PPT, but that's not a very interactive addition to your presentation. Instead, you can embed a live web page into your PPT so that people with access to your presentation can interact actively with its contents.

To do this, we will need to add an add-in to our PPT account .

Add-ins are not always reliable or secure. Before installing an add-in to your Microsoft account, check that the author is a reputable company, and type the add-in's name into a search engine to read reviews and other users' experiences.

To embed a web page, add the Web Viewer add-in ( this is an add-in created by Microsoft ).

Go to the relevant slide and open the Web Viewer add-in. Then, copy and paste the secure URL into the field box, and remove https:// from the start of the address. In our example, we will add a selector wheel to our slide. Click "Preview" to see a sample of the web page's appearance in your presentation.

This is how ours will look.

When you or someone with access to your presentation views the slideshow, this web page will be live and interactive.

4. Add Links and Menus

As well as moving from one slide to the next through a keyboard action or mouse click, you can create links within your presentation to direct the audience to specific locations.

To create a link, right-click the outline of the clickable object, and click "Link."

In the Insert Hyperlink dialog box, click "Place In This Document," choose the landing destination, and click "OK."

What's more, to make it clear that an object is clickable, you can use action buttons. Open the "Insert" tab on the ribbon, click "Shape," and then choose an appropriate action button. Usefully, PPT will automatically prompt you to add a link to these shapes.

You might also want a menu that displays on every slide. Once you have created the menu, add the links using the method outlined above. Then, select all the items, press Ctrl+C (copy), and then use Ctrl+V to paste them in your other slides.

5. Add Clickable Images to Give More Info

Through PowerPoint's animations, you can give your viewer the power to choose what they see and when they see it. This works nicely whether you're planning to send your presentation to others to run through independently or whether you're presenting in front of a group and want your audience to decide which action they want to take.

Start by creating the objects that will be clickable (trigger) and the items that will appear (pop-up).

Then, select all the pop-ups together. When you click "Animations" on the ribbon and choose an appropriate animation for the effect you want to achieve, this will be applied to all objects you have selected.

The next step is to rename the triggers in your presentation. To do this, open the "Home" tab, and in the Editing group, click "Select", and then "Selection Pane."

With the Selection Pane open, select each trigger on your slide individually, and rename them in the Selection Pane, so that they can be easily linked to in the next step.

Finally, go back to the first pop-up. Open the "Animations" tab, and in the Advanced Animation group, click the "Trigger" drop-down arrow. Then, you can set the item to appear when a trigger is clicked in your presentation.

If you want your item to disappear when the trigger is clicked again, select the pop-up, click "Add Animation" in the Advanced Animation group, choose an Exit animation, and follow the same step to link that animation to the trigger button.

6. Add a Countdown Timer

A great way to get your audience to engage with your PPT presentation is to keep them on edge by adding a countdown timer. Whether you're leading a presentation and want to let your audience stop to discuss a topic, or running an online quiz with time-limit questions, having a countdown timer means your audience will keep their eye on your slide throughout.

To do this, you need to animate text boxes or shapes containing your countdown numbers. Choose and format a shape and type the highest number that your countdown clock will need. In our case, we're creating a 10-second timer.

Now, with your shape selected, open the "Animations" tab on the ribbon and click the animation drop-down arrow. Then, in the Exit menu, click "Disappear."

Open the Animation Pane, and click the drop-down arrow next to the animation you've just added. From there, choose "Timing."

Make sure "On Click" is selected in the Start menu, and change the Delay option to "1 second," before clicking "OK."

Then, with this shape still selected, press Ctrl+C (copy), and then Ctrl+V (paste). In the second box, type 9 . With the Animation Pane still open and this second shape selected, click the drop-down arrow and choose "Timing" again. Change the Start option to "After Previous," and make sure the Delay option is 1 second. Then, click "OK."

We can now use this second shape as our template, as when we copy and paste it again, the animations will also duplicate. With this second shape selected, press Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V, type 8 into the box, and continue to do the same until you get to 0 .

Next, remove the animations from the "0" box, as you don't want this to disappear. To do this, click the shape, and in the Animation Pane drop-down, click "Remove."

You now need to layer them in order. Right-click the box containing number 1, and click "Bring To Front." You will now see that box on the top. Do the same with the other numbers in ascending order.

Finally, you need to align the objects together. Click anywhere on your slide and press Ctrl+A. Then, in the Home tab on the ribbon, click "Arrange." First click "Align Center," and then bring the menu up again, so that you can click "Align Middle."

Press Ctrl+A again to select your timer, and you can then move your timer or copy and paste it elsewhere.

Press F5 to see the presentation in action, and when you get to the slide containing the timer, click anywhere on the slide to see your countdown timer in action!

Now that your PPT presentation is more interactive, make sure you've avoided these eight common presentational mistakes before you present your slides.

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How to Make a “Good” Presentation “Great”

• Guy Kawasaki

Remember: Less is more.

A strong presentation is so much more than information pasted onto a series of slides with fancy backgrounds. Whether you’re pitching an idea, reporting market research, or sharing something else, a great presentation can give you a competitive advantage, and be a powerful tool when aiming to persuade, educate, or inspire others. Here are some unique elements that make a presentation stand out.

• Fonts: Sans Serif fonts such as Helvetica or Arial are preferred for their clean lines, which make them easy to digest at various sizes and distances. Limit the number of font styles to two: one for headings and another for body text, to avoid visual confusion or distractions.
• Colors: Colors can evoke emotions and highlight critical points, but their overuse can lead to a cluttered and confusing presentation. A limited palette of two to three main colors, complemented by a simple background, can help you draw attention to key elements without overwhelming the audience.
• Pictures: Pictures can communicate complex ideas quickly and memorably but choosing the right images is key. Images or pictures should be big (perhaps 20-25% of the page), bold, and have a clear purpose that complements the slide’s text.
• Layout: Don’t overcrowd your slides with too much information. When in doubt, adhere to the principle of simplicity, and aim for a clean and uncluttered layout with plenty of white space around text and images. Think phrases and bullets, not sentences.

As an intern or early career professional, chances are that you’ll be tasked with making or giving a presentation in the near future. Whether you’re pitching an idea, reporting market research, or sharing something else, a great presentation can give you a competitive advantage, and be a powerful tool when aiming to persuade, educate, or inspire others.

• Guy Kawasaki is the chief evangelist at Canva and was the former chief evangelist at Apple. Guy is the author of 16 books including Think Remarkable : 9 Paths to Transform Your Life and Make a Difference.

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Insert a Table in PowerPoint from Excel? [Step-by-Step!]

By: Author Shrot Katewa

One of the conveniences that PowerPoint presentations provide is the ability to insert tables and make them dynamic in nature from any source, particularly Excel. This allows presenters to continue in the flow of their presentations without having to shuffle through multiple open windows.

To insert a table in PowerPoint from Excel, first, select and copy the table in Excel using the “Ctrl+C” shortcut. Then, open the specific slide in your presentation to paste the table. Use the shortcut “Ctrl+V” to paste the table in PowerPoint.

Does this seem too simple to imagine, doesn’t it? And, it is quite simple! However, to give you a few more options for inserting tables from Excel to PowerPoint, I have listed some methods below. Let’s get started.

1. Adding a Table from Excel to PowerPoint

The “Insert Table” feature in Microsoft PowerPoint allows you to only add new tables to your slide. However, you can add an existing table from a different source like Microsoft Excel also using the methods mentioned below.

To add a table from Excel to PowerPoint, you need to use the “Copy” and “Paste” features.

1.1 Method 1 – Using Copy and Paste (Unlinked)

Using the simple “Paste” feature in Microsoft PowerPoint, you can quickly add an Excel table to your slide without any hyperlinks. To do so, follow these steps.

Step-1: Click on the “Copy” option

The first step is to open the Microsoft Excel worksheet from where you want to copy the table. Then select the preferred columns and rows to highlight them. “Right Click” on it and click on the “Copy” option. Alternatively, you can press the “Ctrl+C” keys on your keyboard.

Step-2: Click on the “Paste” option

The next step is to “Right Click” on the PowerPoint slide where you want to add the table. In the right-click menu, click on your preferred option under “ Paste Options ” . You can alternatively press the “Ctrl+V” keys on your keyboard to paste the Excel table to your slide.

1.2 Method 2 – Using Paste Special

In Microsoft PowerPoint, the “ Paste Special ” dialog box offers options to paste the copied table in different special formats. To paste the Excel table with a hyperlink, follow these steps.

Step-1: Click on the “Paste Special” option

In the “Paste” group of the “Home” tab, click on the down arrow under the “Paste” icon that looks like a clipboard. Then click on the “Paste Special” option from the dropdown menu to launch a dialog.

Step-2: Click on the “Microsoft Excel Worksheet Object” option

In the “ Paste Special ” dialog box, click on the “Paste” option from the left column. Then in the box in the middle of the dialog box, click on the “Microsoft Excel Worksheet Object” option.

Step-3: Click on the “OK” button Now all you have to do is click on the “OK” button at the bottom of the “Paste Special” dialog box to paste the Excel table in your PowerPoint slide (shown above).

1.3 Method 3 – Using the Insert Object Option (Entire Excel Sheet)

Microsoft PowerPoint also allows you to paste the entire Excel sheet into your presentation slide. For this, you have to use the “ Insert ” tab. Follow the 4 steps below:

Step-1: Click on the “Insert” tab

In the menu ribbon located at the top of the screen, click on the “Insert” tab. Under the “Insert” tab, click on the “Object” option which is the last icon in the “Text” group.

Step-2: Click on the “Create File” option

In the left column of the “Insert Object” dialog box, click on the “Create from file” option. Now you can select an Excel sheet to add to the slide.

Step-3: Click on the “Browse” button

Click on the “Browse” button in the “Insert Object” dialog box to launch the “Browse” window. Select the Excel file and click on the “Open” button at the bottom of the “Browse” window (shown above).

Step-4: Click on the “Link” option

In the “Insert Object” dialog box, click on the “Link” option to hyperlink the Excel table. Click on the “OK” button at the bottom of the dialog box to finish the process.

2. How to Copy Tables from Excel to PowerPoint with Formatting?

When you copy a table from Excel, you can paste it into Microsoft PowerPoint in multiple different formats. For easy editing access, you can use the “Keep Source Formatting” feature.

You can also paste the table as a picture to avoid any accidental edits to the table.

2.1 Method 1 – Using Keep Source Formatting Option

To paste the Excel table as an editable object, you can use the “Keep Source Formatting” option. All you have to do is “Right Click” on the slide and select the “Keep Source Formatting” option under “Paste Options” in the right-click menu. The table in PowerPoint will retain the formatting from Excel.

2.2 Method 2 – Paste as an Image

You can paste the Excel table as an image if you do not want any edits to the table. To paste as an image, “Right Click” on the slide and click on the “Picture” option under “Paste Options” in the right-click menu.

3. How to Insert an Excel File into PowerPoint as an Icon?

Instead of pasting a table, you can add an Excel icon in Microsoft PowerPoint. Clicking on the icon during the presentation will lead you to the Excel worksheet. To insert an Excel file as an icon, follow these steps.

Step-1: Copy Table from Excel

Step-2: Click on the “Paste Special” option

In the “ Clipboard ” group of the “Home” tab, click on the down arrow under the “Paste” icon. Then click on the “Paste Special” option from the dropdown menu to launch a dialog.

Step-3: Click on the “Microsoft Excel Worksheet Object” option

Now just click on the “Microsoft Excel Worksheet Object” option in the “Paste Special” dialog box,

Step-4: Click on “Display as icon” The next step is to click on the “Display as icon” option in the right column of the “Paste Special” dialog box. A checkmark will appear beside the option. Now click on the “OK” button at the bottom to insert the Excel file as an icon (shown above).

4. How to Link Existing PowerPoint Table to Excel for Dynamic Data Updates?

In Microsoft PowerPoint 2019 and later versions, you cannot link an Excel worksheet to an existing PowerPoint table. However, any hyperlinked table from Excel in PowerPoint is automatically set for dynamic data updates.

To enable this feature, follow these steps.

In the “Home” menu, click on the down arrow under the “Paste” icon. Then select the “Paste Special” option from the dropdown menu.

Step-3: Click on “Paste Link”

In the left column of the dialog box, click on the “Paste link” option. This will link the table to its Excel source. You can edit the table in either PowerPoint or Excel and find the changes in both files.

Now click on the “Microsoft Excel Worksheet Object” option from the box in the middle of the “Paste Special” dialog box. Then click on the “OK” button to insert the table (as shown above).

5. How to Unlink Table in PowerPoint from Excel?

In PowerPoint, you can remove the hyperlink added to an Excel table. However, you must remove hyperlinks from all objects in the presentation at once. Follow the 2 quick steps.

Step-1: Click on the “File” tab

Click on the “File” tab in the menu ribbon located at the top of the screen. In the left sidebar of the “File” menu, click on the “Info” option.

Step-2: Click on “Edit Links to Files”

Now scroll all the way down to the bottom of the “Info” screen. At the right column, click on the “Edit Links to Files” option to remove all the hyperlinks.

6. How to Embed Excel in PowerPoint?

To embed an Excel sheet into a PowerPoint slide, follow these steps.

Step-1: Click on the “Object” option

In the menu ribbon located at the top of the screen, click on the “Insert” tab. Then click on the “Object” icon from the “Text” group.

Step-2: Click on “Microsoft Excel Worksheet”

In the “Insert Object” dialog, click on the “Create New” option from the left column. Then select the “Microsoft Excel Worksheet” option from the “Object Type” list. Finally, click on the “OK” button to embed the Excel sheet.

7. How to Insert a Scrollable Table from Excel in PowerPoint?

In Microsoft PowerPoint, all the embedded Excel tables are scrollable. To insert a scrollable table from Excel into your PowerPoint presentation, follow the steps discussed in Section 6. However, to make the table scrollable for your viewers, you will need to access the “Developer” tool.

Here’s a link to a Microsoft Support group addressing what you need to do in order to make your table scrollable. Make sure you check that out.

View, manage, and install add-ins for Excel, PowerPoint, and Word

When you enable an add-in, it adds custom commands and new features to Microsoft 365 programs that help increase your productivity. Because add-ins can be used by attackers to do harm to your computer, you can use add-in security settings to help protect yourself.

Note:  This article only applies to Microsoft 365 applications running on Windows.

View installed add-ins

You can directly install add-ins from this page or select  More Add-ins  to explore.

In the Office Add-ins dialog, select  My Add-ins  tab.

Select an add-in you want to view the details for and right-click to select  Add-in details  option.

Click a heading below for more information .  

Add-in categories explained

Active Application Add-ins      Add-ins registered and currently running on your Microsoft 365 program.

Inactive Application Add-ins      These are present on your computer but not currently loaded. For example, XML schemas are active when the document that refers to them is open. Another example is the COM add-in: if a COM add-in is selected, the add-in is active. If the check box is cleared, the add-in is inactive.

Document Related Add-ins      Template files referred to by open documents.

Disabled Application Add-ins     These add-ins are automatically disabled because they are causing Microsoft 365 programs to crash.

Add-in      The title of the add-in.

Publisher      The software developer or organization responsible for creating the add-in.

Compatibility      Look here for any compatibility issues.

Location      This file path indicates where the add-in is installed on your computer.

Description This text explains the add-in function.

Note:  Microsoft Outlook has one add-in option in the Trust Center: Apply macro security settings to installed add-ins . InfoPath has no security settings for add-ins.

Permanently disable or remove an add-in

To disable or remove an add-in follow these steps:

Select  File > Get Add-ins . Alternatively, you can select  Home > Add-ins .

In the Office Add-ins dialog, select  My Add-ins  tab.

Select an add-in you want to remove and right click to select  Remove  option.

View or change add-in settings

You can see and change add-in settings in the Trust Center, descriptions of which are in the following section. Add-in security settings may have been determined by your organization so not all options may be available to change.

Select  File  >  Get Add-ins .

Select  More Add-ins > Manage My Add-ins.

Select  Trust Center  >  Trust Center Settings  >  Add-ins.

Check or uncheck the boxes you want.

Add-in settings explained

Require Application Add-ins to be signed by Trusted Publisher      Check this box to have the Trust Center check that the add-in uses a publisher's trusted signature. If the publisher's signature hasn’t been trusted, the Microsoft 365 program doesn’t load the add-in, and the Trust Bar displays a notification that the add-in has been disabled.

Disable notification for unsigned add-ins (code will remain disabled)      When you check the Require Application Extensions to be signed by Trusted Publisher box, this option is no longer grayed out. Add-ins signed by a trusted publisher are enabled, but unsigned add-ins are disabled.

Disable all Application Add-ins (may impair functionality)      Check this box if you don't trust any add-ins. All add-ins are disabled without any notification, and the other add-in boxes are grayed out.

Note:  This setting takes effect after you exit and restart your Microsoft 365 program.

While working with add-ins, you may need to learn more about digital signatures and certificates , which authenticate an add-in, and trusted publishers , the software developers who often create add-ins.

Manage and install add-ins

Use the following instruction to manage and install add-ins.

To install a new add-in:

You can directly install popular add-ins on the page or go to More Add-ins  to explore. 

Select the add-in and select  Add . Or browse by selecting  Store  tab in the Office add-in dialog to find other add-ins to install and select Add for that add-in.

To manage your add-ins:

Select  File > Get Add-ins and from the bottom, select More Add-ins.  Or select  Home  >  Add-ins > More add-ins.

In the Office dialog, select My Add-ins tab. If you are not able to see your add-ins, select  Refresh to reload your add-ins.

Select  Manage My Add-in  to manage and select  Upload to browse and add an add-in from your device.

How to cancel a purchased add-in

If you've subscribed to an add-in through the Microsoft 365 Store that you don't want to continue, you can cancel that subscription.

Open the Microsoft 365 application and go to the Home  tab of the ribbon.

Select  Add-ins  and then select  More Add-ins > My Add-ins tab   to view your existing add-ins.

Select the app you want to cancel and select  Manage My Add-ins .

Under the Payment and Billing section choose Cancel Subscription .

Select  OK and then Continue .

Once that's complete you should see a message that says "You have cancelled your app subscription" in the comments field of your apps list.

Why is my add-in crashing?

Some add-ins might not be compatible with your organization's IT department policies. If that is the case with add-ins recently installed on your Microsoft 365 program, Data Execution Prevention (DEP) will disable the add-in and the program might crash.

Learn more about DEP

Get a Microsoft 365 Add-in for Outlook

Get a Microsoft 365 Add-in for Project

Taking linked notes

If you're looking for Help on linking notes in OneNote to a Word or PowerPoint document, see Take linked notes .

Excel Windows Add-ins

If you're looking for Help on specific Excel Add-ins, such as Solver or Inquire, see Help for Excel for Windows add-ins .

If you're looking for additional help with Excel add-ins using the COM Add-ins dialog box, see Add or remove add-ins in Excel .

Get a Microsoft 365 Add-in for Excel

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