Computer Basics
Windows
Word
Excel

Web
PowerPoint
Access

# or Symbol

A

Action

PowerPoint 2010, 2013, 2016: An additional action that you can take on an object. Formerly called Smart Tag.

align objects

To line up objects like placeholders, text boxes, shapes, images, tables, and charts with respect to each other - left edges, right edges, centered over each other, top edges, bottom edges, centered horizontally.

animation

An effect applied to part of a slide controlling the entrance, emphasis, exit, or motion path of that part.

aspect ratio

The ratio of the width to the height of a shape or object. Usually expressed as two numbers separated by a colon, like 4:3 or 16:9.

AutoCorrect dialog

Dialog which allows you to control what kinds of corrections Microsoft Office programs will make automatically, such as inserting the copyright symbol when you type (c) or substituting the company's full name when you type its initials.

 

The AutoFormat As You Type tab controls a number of formatting changes that Microsoft Office programs make, such as changing "straight quotes" to "smart quotes" and changing 1/2 to ½. It also includes AutoFit for title and body text placeholders and automatic formatting for bullet lists.  

AutoCorrect Options

When Microsoft Office programs make an automatic correction, the AutoCorrect Options button allows you to keep or discard the correction. It first appears as a small rectangle under the correction. It does not appear until the mouse pointer is near the corrected text. Hovering over the rectangle makes the full button appear.

Clicking the down arrow opens a list of your options, which varies depending on what the change was.
 

AutoFit Options

The AutoFit Options button appears when PowerPoint changes the size of your text to make all the text fit into the placeholder. Clicking the button opens a list of options.  

AutoPreview

Allows the Slide Pane to play an effect as soon as you select it.

axis

The X-axis is the horizontal base line for a chart. The Y-axis is the vertical base line for a chart.

B

bitmap image

An image which defines the color of each pixel in the image.

build

To build a slide is to reveal its parts in stages.

C

cell

The intersection of a row and a column in a table.

chart

A picture of data showing how values compare to each other (commonly with a Column chart) or how they compare to the whole (Pie chart).

clip art

Images which have been made available for people to insert into documents. These were originally drawings but now photos are included in most such collections.

collate

When printing several copies of a document, collating the pages makes the printer print all of the pages in order before starting on the next copy. Not collating will print all copies of page 1 before starting on page 2.

color theme

A set of colors for Office documents.

column

Table: a vertical set of cells
Chart: a single data item in the shape of a vertical rectangle or 3-D column

column label

Cell at the top of a data table that identifies what that column is, like Date or Location or Cost.

Compatibility Mode

Opens older Office files in a newer version of an Office program and disables newer features that the older versions cannot handle. This enables you to work on older files in newer versions of Office programs but still allow older versions to view and edit the files.

content template

A design template for a presentation that includes sample slides with suggestions for what information to include. Only when used to create a new presentation will the sample slides appear.

Convert

Changes the embedded object to a different type. Normally used to convert a non-Office file type to the matching Office file type, like changing a word processing document into Word format.

copyright

The legal ownership with the right to control how a document or image is used.

Custom animation

Animation that you have chosen and modified for selected slide parts.

custom template

A presentation template that you created yourself or have modified and saved as a .potx file.

D

data range

The set of cells used for a chart

datasheet

The table of data values used to create a chart.

Decrease List Level

Used in outlines and bullet text to change the outline level of a paragraph. Normally this also changes the bullet symbol and formatting. This is the same as promoting the paragraph since #1 is the highest list level for outlines.

default

What happens unless you have changed the setting or make a specific choice.

demote

To change the outline level of text in an outline hierarchy to a lower level number, like changing a paragraph with outline level 3 to outline level 2. This actually makes the paragraph more important in the outline.

design template

A set of Masters that control the placeholders, background, and text formatting of the slides. A Slide Master can also contain transitions and animations. The Notes Master and Handouts Master control print-outs.

E

effect

A transition for a slide or an animation for part of a slide.

embed

fonts: To include the fonts used in a package of files to transport a presentation to a different computer.

objects:  To insert an object onto a slide, like a chart or spreadsheet, from another program without linking the object to the original. Changes to the original will not show on the slide. Changes to the object on the slide will not show in the original.

Emphasis

A change in a slide part that draws attention to it after it is revealed. Examples: change of color, change of size, blinking, spinning

Entrance

How a slide part is revealed

Exit

How a slide part leaves the screen

F

file extension

The part of a file's name that follows the dot, like mypresentation.pptx or myimage.gif.

file format

See file type.

file name

The full name you see in an Explorer window for the file, such as worldtraveloffer.pptx. To see the extension the Computer/Explorer/File Explorer window must be set to show the file extensions in the Folder Options or View ribbon tab.

file type

A file or document always has a file type, which tells how the information is stored in the file. A program can only work with certain file types. The file extension (the letters after the dot in the file name) are specific for a file type. The extension for PowerPoint presentations is pptx for 2007, 2010, and 2013. (Your computer may not be set to display the extensions.)

Fluent User Interface

The ribbon interface for recent versions of Microsoft Office.

footer

An area at the bottom of a slide or printed page, above the margin, that will be repeated on each slide or page. You often find the page or slide number, the creation date, and copyright info in a footer.

 

format

To set a characteristic of the appearance of text or an object, such as its font, its size, or its background.

G

H

handle

A small circle or square at the corner or center of an object's edge that, when dragged, changes something about the object. The most common handles are for resizing and rotating. Some AutoShapes have one or more handles that affect the proportions of part of the shape.

handout

A handout is any paper that you give to your audience. PowerPoint has several layout options for such handouts.

header

An area at the top of a slide or printed page, below the margin, that is repeated on each slide or printed page. You might see the company name, logo, address, or decorative art in the header.

heading

A paragraph style in a word processing document which includes an outline level.

I

import data

To bring into a document data that already exists in another document.

import filter

The software that interprets data from a different program so that it can be imported.

Increase List Level

Used in outlines and bullet text to change the outline level of a paragraph. Normally this also changes the bullet symbol and formatting. This is the same as demoting the paragraph since #1 is the highest list level for outlines.

ink jet printer

A printer that uses cartridges that spray ink onto the paper.

laser printer

A printer that uses a laser and a toner cartridge to print characters or images onto paper.

J

K

keyword

A word or phrase that is attached to an image. The image will be listed in the results of a search that includes the keyword.

L

linked file

A file which is included in another file in a way that allows changes to the original to be displayed in the new file.

Lock aspect ratio

Keeps the object's proportions the same while changing only its overall size. If a dialog has a check box for this, when you change either the length or the width, the other dimension is changed to match the original proportions.

M

merge cells

To combine two or more cells into a single cell

Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack

An add-on for older Office programs that allows them to open files in the new file formats.

Microsoft PowerPoint Viewer

Software that allows a computer without PowerPoint to show a PowerPoint slide show. The most recent version is 2010. [April 2014] Will not install on Windows 8, 8.1, or 10.

Motion path

The path that an animated object takes on the slide. PowerPoint includes a number of pre-designed paths like Circle, Teardrop, Bounce Right. You can also create a custom path.

N

Navigation pane

At the left of the Normal view in PowerPoint.
PowerPoint 2007, 2010: Navigation Pane has two tabs: Slides and Outline. You can do some of your editing tasks directly in the Outline or with the Slides thumbnails.  
PowerPoint 2013, 2016: No tabs but the Outline View appears in the same place, but wider. Outline View opens with the Outline View button on the View ribbon tab.

network printer

A printer that is connected directly to a network instead of being connected to a computer.

Notes page

A view which shows a slide and its notes on a single page for printing.  

 

Notes Pane

A small pane at the bottom of the Normal view in which you can write notes to yourself or to be printed on handouts.

O

Open (an object)

Command used to change to Edit Mode for an embedded or linked object.

Options dialog

A dialog which contains settings that control how PowerPoint behaves.  

orientation

The paper we normally print on is rectangular, so you have the choice of printing in Landscape (horizontal) orientation or in Portrait (vertical) orientation.

outline

An outline arranges the thoughts in your document in a hierarchy order where the most important points are at the same outline level and the supporting points are at a lower level. In a PowerPoint presentation, the slide titles are at the highest level in the outline. The bullet points fall in levels below, based on their indentions.  

outline levels

The hierarchy levels in an outline.

P

Package for CD

To combine files and fonts with one or more presentations for burning onto a CD or saving to a removable drive for transport to a different computer.

page layout

The arrangement on a paper page for printing. PowerPoint offers layouts with 1 to 9 slides on a page for handouts, a note page layout, and the default layout of each slide taking up a whole sheet of paper.

Page Setup dialog

The PowerPoint Page Setup dialog offers fewer choices than in many other programs. You can choose the orientation of slides and print-outs but not the page margins. The Slides sized for: box has several choices, which affect the proportions of your slides.  

 

pane

A section of the program window. PowerPoint in Normal view has 3 panes: Navigation which shows either the outline or thumbnails of the slides, Slide, and Notes. Other panes are available at times, like the Office Clipboard, Selection, and Animation.  

paragraph styles

Assigns formatting characteristics to a paragraph and may assign an outline level.

Paste Options

The Paste Options button appears just after you paste, near where you pasted. It is easy to overlook! Clicking the down arrow opens a list of options.  

pixilated

An image which was resized and now shows splotches and jagged edges where each pixel was enlarged

placeholder

A placeholder is a text box whose text will appear in the Outline. You cannot create a placeholder or change an ordinary text box into a placeholder. You must use the placeholders from a PowerPoint slide layout. You can move or resize a placeholder. The illustration at the right shows a bullet list placeholder.  

Play button

A button which causes the Slide Pane to run the animations and transitions of the displayed slide

.ppt

File extension for PowerPoint presentations, versions 2003 and earlier.

.pptx

File extension for PowerPoint presentations, versions 2007, 2010, and 2013.

presentation

A set of slides for use on-screen or in printed handouts, primarily to accompany a speaker.

presentation graphics

Another term for presentation software.

Print dialog

A dialog for controlling how your presentation prints.  

Printer Properties dialog

Varies with the brand and model of your printer. Controls the printer's hardware choices - print quality, color, media.  

Print Preview

View of a presentation that shows what will print.

Print Preview toolbar

In PowerPoint 2007, a toolbar appears at the top of the window with buttons and other controls about printing.

print quality

Usually you can choose from at least Draft, Normal, and Best. Better quality means smoother lines and smoother transitions in gradient backgrounds.

For some printers you can choose the dots per inch (dpi). The more dots, the higher quality the printing.

Print what: box

A control where you can choose how you want the presentation printed - slides or handout or notes or outline. If you want to print the slides, you can choose how many to put on a page.

promote

To raise a paragraph to a higher outline level

Protected View

Allows you to view  in a safe way a file that was downloaded from the Internet or that appears to be risky in some way. You cannot edit or print while in Protected View. A gold warning bar appears below the ribbon when such a file opens. The bar includes a button, Enable Editing, which turns off the protection.

Q

Quick Access Toolbar

A toolbar at the top left of the window which holds command buttons for easy access.

R

recolor

To change the colors in a clip art image

Rehearse timings

To step through a slide show and record the number of seconds between changes.

Ribbon

The area under the Title bar that holds ribbon tabs, which hold buttons and other controls.

Rich Text Format

A text format that includes basic formatting, like font, font size, bold, and italics.

row

A horizontal set of cells in a table.

row label

A cell at the left end of a row in a table that contains text that tells what that data is, like a product name or a location or the item sold.

S

shared printer

A printer that can accept print jobs from computers besides the one to which it is connected.

slide

in computing: one of a set of images to be shown on a monitor or projected onto a screen. Part of a presentation.

in photography: a 35 mm transparency for projecting onto a screen using a slide projector.

slide layout

The arrangement of placeholders on the slide

slide show

Displays the slides on the monitor as they will be shown on a screen

Smart Tag

A feature of Microsoft Office programs that produces buttons with context-sensitive menus directly over the document being edited. Different Office programs use different Smart Tags/Actions in addition to some other 'smart' buttons. PowerPoint 2007, 2010, and 2013 have Paste Options, AutoCorrect Options, and AutoFit Options.

Status Bar

A bar at the bottom of the window which has areas that tell you of the current status of the program.

T

tab

A portion of the Ribbon which has a set of related controls and commands. The illustration shows the Home tab for PowerPoint 2010.

tab group

A section of a ribbon tab that holds related controls and commands. The illustration below shows the Presentation Views and Master Views tab groups on the View ribbon tab.

table

A set of rows and columns

Task Pane

Appears at the right  or left of the window and offers choices for doing a task, such as creating a new document or inserting clipart.  

template

A file that already has a set of formatting choices and slide layouts, along with temporary text that guides you in what to say (at least a little bit).

text document

A document with plain text, virtually no formatting.

text table

Creating the effect of a table by lining up text using tabs and spaces.

theme

A collections of design choices for background, fonts, effects, and slide masters.

thumbnail

A small image of a larger image or document

timings

The set of time intervals between changes in a presentation.

toggle

To alternate between two settings, such as On/Off or Active/Inactive, usually by clicking the same button or command in a menu again.

transition

An effect that controls how the next slide comes into view.

transparency

in presentations: a transparent plastic sheet used with an overhead projector to display on a screen the text or images on the transparency

in photography: a 35 mm transparency for projecting onto a screen using a slide projector

U

update

To make a linked document match the current state of the original.

V

vector image

An image that is made of calculated parts. Resizing a vector image does not lose any of its quality.

view

A combination of window parts that work well together for a task

View: Masters

The Masters views show the masters for slides in a presentation or handouts or notes pages. You set the default placeholders and formatting for a presentation on the masters.

View: Normal

The Normal view includes the Slide pane, Navigation pane, and Notes pane.

View: Notes

The Notes View shows the slides, one per page, with their notes below.

View: Print Preview

The Print Preview view shows how the slides will print. There are several layouts to choose from.

View: Reading

The Reading view runs the slide show inside the PowerPoint window instead of full screen.

View: Slide Show

The Slide Show opens the presentation full screen so you can see how your audience will see the slides.

View: Slide Sorter

In Slide Sorter view you see rows of thumbnails of all the slides. You can drag the slides to new locations or delete them.

Views Bar

A bar at the bottom of the Navigation Pane. The buttons switch you to a different view. The Views Bar buttons vary depending on your version of PowerPoint.

 

virtual printer

Not an actual physical device. Examples include fax software, which sends a fax instead of printing, and PDF software, which creates a file in PDF format. A virtual printer might send data from a document directly to another program, like OneNote.

W

X

Y

Z