Display the timeline
To display the timeline for an effect on a Microsoft® Office PowerPoint® slide:
- In the Custom Animation task pane (Slide Show menu, Custom Animation command), in the effects list, display the drop-down menu for any effect.
- Click Show Advanced Timeline.
Set a time delay for an effect
Before setting a time delay, select a Start setting for the effect. (To make effects overlap, set them all to start With Previous, or all together, first.)
In the Timing options dialog box
- In the Custom Animation task pane, in the effects list, display the drop-down menu for the effect you're adding the delay to.
- Click Timing.
- In the options dialog box, set an amount of delay in the Delay box.
To set the delay for multiple effects Select the effects in the effects list, display the drop-down menu for any selected effect, then do steps 2 and 3.
In the timeline
- In the Custom Animation task pane, in the effects list, display the drop-down menu for any effect.
- Click Show Advanced Timeline.
- Pointing to the duration box for the effect you want to delay, either:
- Drag the whole duration
To delay the start but leave the duration's length and speed as they are, point to the middle of the duration box and drag the double-headed arrow pointer
to the right.
- Or: Drag the start
To shorten the effect (make it faster) as well as delay its start, point to the start of the duration box and drag the double-arrow pointer
to the right.
Adjust speed for an effect
There are several ways to do this, starting in the Custom Animation task pane.
- Select the effect in the effects list and make a choice from the Speed box above the list.
- Select the effect, display the options dialog box by clicking Timing on the effect's menu, make a choice in the Speed box.
- With the timeline displayed, point to the start or end of a duration box and drag the double-arrow pointer
, shortening or lengthening the duration to your liking. The resulting speed is reflected in the Speed box above the list.
Other timing options
Find these in the Timing
options dialog box:
Repeat Make an effect repeat a number of times, until the next mouse click, or until the end of the slide. If you type in a number not in the list, press ENTER to make it stick.
Triggers/Rewind These features support interactivity. Interactive effects are generally meant for self-running presentations in which you want to involve the person watching. Typically, your animation would require a person to click ("trigger") it in order to see something demonstrated or get more information. (For example, "Click this plant to reveal its name.") Rewind makes the effect start over so it's ready for the next user.
For instructions and some examples of how to use triggers, see Use triggers to create an interactive slide show in PowerPoint.
Zoom the timeline
See more granular increments of time on the scroll bar:
- Use the Zoom In command on the Seconds menu. Repeat clicks to get the scrollbar view to what you want.
See less granular increments:
- Use Zoom Out. Repeat clicks to go out as far as you want.
See parts of the timeline that aren't showing
- Click an effect in the effects list to see duration boxes for all related effects.
- Drag an edge of the task pane to widen it for a better view of the timeline.
-
Drag the scroll box at the bottom of the task pane to see durations that are later and out of view.
- Before clicking Play to watch a preview, scroll to the place
in the effects list that has the durations you want to see in the preview.
Animation performance
3D graphics card for best performance Animation performance is better if your computer has a video card with Microsoft Direct3D® (called a "3D graphics card" by some vendors). Direct 3D is a component of Microsoft DirectX®, which is a set of advanced multimedia system services built into the Microsoft Windows® operating system. Many video card manufacturers take advantage of this technology; check with the documentation you received with your computer to find out if Direct 3D is supported.
