how to make chart in powerpoint presentation

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How to make charts and graphs in Microsoft PowerPoint?

Data visualization is one of the most critical factors affecting the proper relaying of information. This quality is especially true when you are preparing a visual PowerPoint presentation, where a picture, or in this case, a chart, can speak a thousand words.

If you are new to graphs and charts in PowerPoint, do not stress as this is a step-by-step and detailed guide on how and why to incorporate visual data representation into your next presentation. I also elaborate in detail about the most frequently used chart types, and what data they require, so you can choose the one that best describes your data.

Why use charts and graphs?

Data visualization is a vital part of data analyses and can help the speaker communicate trends and patterns in the data through images. Visualization serves a dual purpose in modern life.

Firstly, it allows a better understanding of the data. Compared to row upon row of numbers in an Excel spreadsheet, images make it much easier for the human brain to understand relationships and differences between data points and categories. Whether you are in the science, tech, finance, or marketing industries, you will need to visualize data at some stage.

Secondly, visualization allows you to communicate your findings in a summarized form. Although data experts may be able to understand and see patterns and trends without a graph or chart, most other people cannot, and will need some illustration of the data to understand your findings.

Data can be visualized in several ways; most notably, people use graphs, charts, and plots.

Before you can consider using a  chart in PowerPoint , you first need to ascertain which chart type is suited to your data, and will best summarize and display it.

It is, therefore, imperative that you have a basic understanding of the different types of charts and the types of data best suited to each. The section below covers the six most frequently used chart types, and will help you decide on the chart to use.

Frequently used charts in PowerPoint

PowerPoint adds to the luxury of data illustration by allowing you to copy your data directly from an Excel spreadsheet, thereby ensuring that the graphs and charts are always up to date. You can also alter, move, and edit headings and labels or color the charts to your heart’s desire. You can even choose to animate your displays to make the data yet more visually appealing.

PowerPoint offers a wide range of data representation in the form of more than ten types of charts, graphs, and plots to cater for most data types. Most of you probably know that certain types of data require specific types of charts or graphs, and choosing the correct display for your data is just as important as displaying it in the first place.

The following is a list of the six most used charts in PowerPoint and what types of data for which they are best. If you are unsure of which chart type to use, have a look at the list below and see which suits your data best.

Column chart

These are some of the simplest, yet most useful chart types you can find in PowerPoint. They are immensely valuable for displaying changes over time, mainly because our eyes are trained to recognize higher or taller bars as indicating more growth, or success, or money.

Data arranged in columns and rows in a spreadsheet can be illustrated using a column chart. Although they are most frequently used to display changes over time, they can demonstrate the relationship between any two data points.

You can diversify with PowerPoint’s column charts to include multiple levels and colors, to explain more complex data. To expand, you can consider a:

• Clustered Column: A clustered column chart compares values between categories and displays the values in vertical rectangles. Clustered column charts are practical when you have categories that represent a range of values, a scale arrangement, or names that are in no particular order. 

• Stacked Column: Stacked column charts illustrate the relationship of individual items to the whole, comparing the influence of each value to a total between categories. The results are displayed in stacked vertical columns. This chart is useful when your data has multiple data series, and you want to highlight the totals. One can also use a 100% stacked column, where the percentage that each value contributes to a total is compared between categories. 

• 3-D Column: 3-D column charts have three axes that you can modify—a horizontal axis, a vertical axis, and a depth axis). They are used to compare data points along the horizontal and the depth axes. This chart is valuable for comparing data across categories and data series. 

• Cylinder and Pyramid Column: These charts work in precisely the same way as the clustered, stacked, and 3-D column charts, but simply use cones or pyramids in the place of rectangles, to display the data.

A bar chart is simply a column chart with the columns on the vertical axis, extending horizontally. Bar charts are helpful when axis labels are very long, or when the data values relate to longer durations or larger volumes. In short, they illustrate the comparison between individual items.

For bar charts, the categories are typically arranged along the vertical axis, with the values arranged along the horizontal axis. 

Similar to column charts, bar charts can also be expanded and elaborated on to represent more complex data. These include the clustered bar chart, the stacked, and the 3-D bar chart. Images are not shown as these looks identical to those of the column charts, but with the columns running from the vertical axis.

Line charts are designed to display continuous data over time, thus illustrating data trends over equal intervals. The category data is spread evenly along the horizontal axis, and all value data is distributed evenly along the vertical axis. Line charts are suitable for data with text category labels that represent evenly spaced values such as hours, months, or years. Line charts come with some variations, and below are some of the types you can choose from:

• Line: These are best used to illustrate trends over time, especially where there are lots of data points in a specific order. Line charts can be displayed with or without markers. 

• Stacked Line: Stacked line charts show the cumulative contributions of each value over a set time interval. The lines do not overlap. They are instead used to indicate the trend of the contribution of each value over time or ordered categories. They can be shown with or without markers. 

Similar to column charts, a 100% stacked line chart simply displays the percentage contribution of each point, rather than actual values.

• 3-D line: 3-D line charts show data trends with the use of a ribbon rather than a line. A 3-D line chart has a horizontal, vertical, and depth axis that can be modified. 

Pie charts are used to illustrate the percentage contribution of each point to the whole. These are useful when you have data that has only one series, so it is arranged in either one row or one column. If you can see your data points making up pieces of a whole, a pie chart is the best choice for you.

Once again, you can elaborate a bit on the complexity of your pie chart with the following subtypes:

• Pie: This is your basic pie chart, where each slice represents a value in your series. You can opt to pull out specific slices of a pie chart to highlight it. 

• 3-D Pie: Here, the pie is displayed more as a cylinder, with slices colored or removed to highlight them.
• Pie of Pie Chart: Here, a typical pie chart is given, with one of the slices highlighted and illustrated as an additional but separate smaller pie chart. This chart is practical for the illustration of the sub-contribution of smaller slices in the pie, which may be challenging to see in the whole. 

• Exploded Pie: Exploded pie charts illustrate the contribution of each value to the total, while still highlighting the individual values. You can change the pie’s explosion setting for all slices and single slices, but you cannot move the individual slices of an exploded pie manually.
• Exploded Pie in 3-D: This is a combination of a 3-D pie, and an exploded pie, for more dramatic illustration. See the image above.

Area charts are great for displaying the magnitude of change over time. It does this by showing the sum of the plotted values as a colored area on the graph surface, thereby highlighting the relationship of the individual values to the whole.

As with all the other chart types, there are several subtypes of area charts.

• 2-D area:This is a well-known and simple area chart. It shows the change of data values, usually over time. 

• 3-D Area:This is similar to the 2-D area chart, but with an added axis—horizontal, vertical, and depth. This chart plots the change of data values with two different independent variables. 

• Stacked Area:These charts show the trend of the contributions of each data value over time or other independent category data. They can be illustrated in 3-D as well, where the chart does not have an additional third axis. 

• 100% Stacked Area:These charts show the trend of each data value with the independent variable but in the form of a percentage. 

XY Scatter plot chart

Scatter plots are popular in the fields of science and engineering where it combines the x-value and y-value of each point to display it as a single reading in irregular clusters. If you have a dataset that requires an adjustable horizontal axis, or where one axis is logarithmic, then a scatter plot is for you.

They are also great for displaying the similarities between large datasets, or for the illustration of grouped sets of values.

The types of scatter plots include:

• Scatter with Markers only:This chart compares pairs of values and does not reveal any information about the connectivity of the data points. Lines do not connect the points. 

• Scatter with Smooth Lines: This type of scatter plot shows the data points connected with a smooth line. This data can be displayed with or without markers, but where there are many data points, it is best to exclude the markers to make the chart easier to read. 

• Scatter with Straight Lines: This type of chart connects the data points with a straight line to illustrate a trend in the data. This data can be shown with or without markers, and as with the previous chart types, no markers are best when there are many data points. 

Less frequently used chart types in PowerPoint

PowerPoint and Excel offer an extended list of chart templates in their illustration arsenal. Although not all of these are used frequently, it may be valuable to know of the existence of these in case they are needed.

I will not go into detail about these, and you can find more information  here .

• Doughnut Charts are like to pie charts in that they show the relationship of the parts to the whole, but they cannot have more than one data series.
• Bubble Charts are similar to scatter charts, but they have an added third column that specifies the size of the bubbles.
• Stock Charts are mainly used to illustrate the fluctuation in stock prices. They can, however, also be used to show temperature and rainfall ranges.
• Surface Charts are used to find the best combinations between two sets of data. It has a similar appearance to a topographical map and can be drawn when both categories and data series are numeric values.
• Radar Charts are used to compare the aggregated values of several data series.

How to insert charts in PowerPoint?

Once you have chosen the type of graph that you need to illustrate your data, you can proceed to prepare your chart in PowerPoint. Although you have the option to create charts in Excel, and then copy and insert them into your presentation, you can also opt to create a chart from scratch in PowerPoint.

When datasets reach tens of columns with thousands of entries, it is best to create charts in Excel, and simply transfer the chart to your presentation. This transfer links the chart in Excel with your PowerPoint, and it will ensure your chart remains up to date if you make changes to the original data.

Creating a chart from scratch in PowerPoint is helpful for smaller and less complex datasets that require illustration. The following instructions will show you how to do this.

• Click  Insert >  Chart . 

2. Select the chart type and then double-click the chart you want. PowerPoint provides templates for more than ten kinds of charts, all of which you can see as choices with sub-categories here. If you need more information to determine the best chart type for you, peruse the previous section for frequently used chart types or visit the Microsoft office help page for all  available chart types . 

3. Once you have selected a chart type, a worksheet with rows and columns will appear. You can now insert your dataset by copying and pasting the data from Word or Excel. If the dataset is small, you can enter it manually. In the worksheet that appears, you can simply replace the placeholder data with your information.

4. Once you have recorded your data, you can close the worksheet and visualize your chart in PowerPoint. 

5. You can now proceed to edit the layout, colors, and labels using the  Chart Elements  Tab “+” that appears next to your chart in the top right corner. This tab will allow you to show, hide, and format the axis titles and the data labels.

6. The  Chart Styles  button can be used to edit the color and style of the charts to suit the color scheme of your presentation.

How to edit chart data in PowerPoint?

Once you have created your chart, you may find yourself needing to update or edit the data that you have entered to build the chart. An edit often happens when new information needs to be added to update the chart.

Editing can be completed with the help of the  Select Data Source  dialog box to change the data in your series or reorder them on your chart. Alternatively, you can use the  Chart Filters  button in the top right corner of your chart to display or hide data in your chart.

How to edit or reorganize a series?

• Right-click your chart, and then pick  Select Data . A dialogue box like the one below will appear.
• In the  Legend Entries (Series)  box, select the series you want to edit. Now click  Edit , and make the necessary changes. When you are done, click,  OK . Be aware that the changes you make here can sever the links to the original source data in Excel, so you will have to update the data in PowerPoint from now on manually. Alternatively, you can opt to insert a whole new chart each time the data changes, or just create the chart in Excel and copy and paste it in PowerPoint. Now, if you edit the data in Excel, the chart will automatically be updated in PowerPoint.
• If you would like to rearrange a series, you can select it and then click the  Move Up  or  Move Down    buttons to change the position of the series on the list. You can also add a data series or remove one or more of them in this dialog box by clicking the  Add  or  Remove  buttons. Please remember that removing a data series deletes it from the chart—so you cannot use the chart filters button to show it again.

How to filter data in your chart?

Chart filters are useful for highlighting specific trends in your data, or for hiding data that may not be relevant at the moment. You can do this through the use of the  Chart Filters  button.

• Start by clicking anywhere in your chart to select it.
• The  Chart Filters   button  will appear next to the chart in the top right-hand corner. Click it.
• A new dialogue box will appear, like the one shown below. Click on the  Values  tab, and select or unselect the series or categories you want to show or hide.
• Once you are done, click  Apply  for the changes to take effect.

I hope this piece has helped guide you through the process of selecting the best graph for your data and drawing up the graph in PowerPoint. The beauty of being able to do this in either PowerPoint or Excel, with a linked graph, is that you can edit and change the data and chart type to illustrate your focus point perfectly.

Charts in PowerPoint are entirely customizable to fit in with the rest of your slides perfectly and will improve your presentation by leaps and bounds.

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How to Create a Flowchart in PowerPoint (+ Free Templates)

PowerPoint flowcharts are a great way to simplify complex information and engage your audience. They visually capture ideas or processes, making them a powerful tool for your PowerPoint presentations!

In this post, I’ll provide a step-by-step guide to creating a flowchart in PowerPoint. We’ll explore your options, from creating one from scratch to using PowerPoint’s SmartArt tool.

For those who love visuals, I'll also include screenshots and gif examples along the way. And don't forget to download our awesome free templates at the end!

So, keep reading to learn how to create the perfect flowchart for your PowerPoint presentation!

Here are the topics we'll cover:

What is a Flowchart?

How to create a flowchart in powerpoint, how to edit a powerpoint flowchart, free powerpoint flowchart templates, make your presentations more impactful with 24slides.

A flowchart is a diagram that shows the passing from one step to the next. It enhances data visualization by helping to illustrate the structure of a process or concept. 

They are often used for complex tasks, especially in process and project management. However, flowcharts can be used for pretty much anything that requires following steps in chronological order.

Imagine you're planning how your team deals with the customer journey. A flowchart outlines each step, from receiving the order to delivering it. This ensures consistency and improves efficiency for everyone involved.

Here’s an example:

You can create informative and visually appealing professional flowcharts in PowerPoint. All you need to do is continue reading. After all, knowing how to use charts effectively can make all the difference.

To make a flowchart in PowerPoint, you have two main options: start from scratch with shapes and arrows or use the SmartArt tool.

Create a flowchart using the SmartArt tool

This is the easiest way to create a flowchart in PowerPoint. The SmartArt tool allows you to insert a pre-made flowchart into your slides and customize it.

• Step 1: Go to the Insert tab and select the SmartArt option. This will open the SmartArt Graphic pop-up window.

• Step 2: Go to the Process option to get flowchart options. Here, you’ll get options like Staggered Process, Gear, and Circular Bending Process. There are many options for you to choose from!

You can also check out the Cycle option for circular or repeating processes.

• Step 3: Select your flowchart. Once you click on any options, you’ll get a diagram preview on the right side of the window, plus a small description.

Go through all you need until you find one that fits your needs!

• Step 4: Once you have picked one, click on it to see the graph preview. Then, click OK to insert it into your slides.

• Step 5: Add your content. You can type it in by clicking on the tex t you want to replace or use the Text Pane option to write it in a bullet list format. It will immediately transfer your text into the flowchart!

• Step 6: Edit your SmartArt flowchart. You can use the anchor points to adjust the overall size of the flowchart or select specific shapes to edit individually.

Once you click on the chart, you'll see the SmartArt tab, where you'll find more options to edit your flowchart. For example, you can use the Change Colors option or the SmartArt Styles to add shadows and depth to the shapes.

Want to go further? Below, you'll find more options to edit and customize your PowerPoint flowchart!

Create a flowchart from scratch 

Earlier, I said using the SmartArt tool is the easiest way to create a flowchart. So why make one from scratch? That’s simple: Creating a flowchart from scratch allows you to design it just as you want.

This is the best option for those who need a custom or very specific flowchart design.

Pro tip: “Sketching simplifies the process if you make a flowchart from scratch. This can help better organize the content within the space.” Carmen Navarrete/ Expert Designer

For this example, we will create a classic flowchart of processes and decision-making.

• Step 1: Go to the Insert tab , click Shapes, and choose an oval from the Flowchart section. 

Keep in mind that each type of shape has a different meaning. Luckily, a short description will appear when you move the mouse over each option. In this case, we will use the following shapes:

An oval represents the beginning or end of a process.

A rectangle represents a process and is used for the main steps.

A diamond is used at decision points in the process.

• Step 2: Pick an oval and double-click it to insert it into your slide. Type in your content to add it automatically to the shape. 

If you want to resize the shape, hold Shift to maintain its proportions.

• Step 3: Keep adding all the necessary shapes and typing in the content. The best thing about creating a flowchart from scratch is that you can mix and match different shapes according to your needs.

• Step 4: Arrange the shapes correctly to create your flowchart. You can drag and drop any shape by clicking on it to select it and then moving it around.

You can also organize your shapes using the Align option. This will give you options like Distribute Horizontally or Distribute Vertically to ensure your shapes are equally spaced.

Click on one or more shapes, navigate to the Shape Format tab, and choose the Align option.

• Step 5: Add the connecting lines to your flowchart. Go to the Insert tab >Shapes and pick a line to start drawing.

Hover your mouse over any shape, and you’ll get anchor points from where to begin drawing your arrow. Drag it all the way to another shape, and you’ll get new anchor points to where your arrow will end.

Do this as many times as you need to create all the connections in your flowchart.

• Step 6: Edit your flowchart. You can change the colors of each shape, customize the lines around them, change the font, and even choose design styles for the arrows.

Make sure your presentation has a unified style and ensure brand consistency . This can make all the difference in making it look more polished and put together.

The possibilities are endless from here. Be creative and have fun!

In the next section, you’ll find more options for editing and customizing the design of your PowerPoint flowchart!

Once you’ve got the overall structure of your flowchart, it’s very easy to edit it. You can use PowerPoint tools to edit flowcharts made with SmartArt, created from scratch, or imported from other presentations.

  Here are the main options to customize your PowerPoint flowchart:

Selecting any shape will enable the “ Shape Format ” tab. This tab offers extra customization options to make your flowchart look exactly as you want.

• “Shape Fill” allows you to change the color and texture of the shape.
• “Shape Outline” lets you change the color, the style (sketched, dashed, dotted), and the width of the line.
• “Shape Effect” allows you to give depth and shadows to the shape.
• For arrows and lines, you have the same options described above in the Shape Outline option.

To make your presentation even better, follow these tips:

• A consistent design style and color theme will make your presentation look more professional and clean. You can find previously used colors in the color menu or use the Eyedropper tool to match your color scheme.
• Adding icons can make your PowerPoint flowchart easier to understand at first glance and more memorable for your audience.
• You can also add animations to your flowchart design to make it appear step by step or to make your slide more impactful. Just be careful not to go overboard with them!

This will definitely help you create the perfect flowchart for your PowerPoint presentation!

Maybe you don’t need to create a flowchart in PowerPoint from scratch. Hundreds of free templates are available that you can use and add to your presentations.

Once you find the perfect flowchart, adding it is simple! In the thumbnail section on the left side of the screen, right-click the flowchart slide and pick Copy .

Using a PowerPoint flowchart template is simple. In the thumbnail section on the left side of the screen, right-click on the flowchart slide you like and select Copy.

Then, go to your presentation’s thumbnail and right-click on it. Choose a Paste option: “Keep Source Formatting” keeps the original look, while “Use Destination Theme” blends it with your presentation’s style.

And you’re all done! You’ve now got a flowchart in your PowerPoint presentation.

The best part is you don't have to spend time looking. Check out our Templates by 24Slides platform for hundreds of free PowerPoint flowchart templates.  

In a few clicks, you will get a professional design. Have fun with them!

We’ve already reviewed how to create and customize a flowchart in PowerPoint. However, if all this seems like too much work, why don’t let professionals do it? 

With 10+ years of experience and more than 200 designers worldwide, we are the world’s largest presentation design company across the globe.

Let 24Slides take care of the visuals while you concentrate on creating awesome content!

Not only will you get a stunning presentation, but you'll also receive one that truly reflects and enhances your brand.

The best of all is that you can try us for just $1. That's right – we'll design a unique, editable one-slide presentation that reflects your brand for just a single dollar!

Want to enhance your PowerPoint skills? Explore this content!

• PowerPoint Charts, Graphs, & Tables Made Easy | Tips & Tricks
• Mastering the Art of Presenting Data in PowerPoint
• PowerPoint 101: The Ultimate Guide for Beginners
• Creating a Radial Chart in PowerPoint: A Step-by-Step Tutorial
• How to Make a Timeline in PowerPoint? Step by step

Create professional presentations online

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Transforming bar charts in PowerPoint: Steps to create stunning visual assets

november 20, 2023

by Corporate PowerPoint Girl

Creating a visually appealing PowerPoint presentation can be a daunting task, especially when it comes to bar charts. The default PowerPoint bar chart template can do the trick, but these transformative steps will elevate your chart into a powerful visual tool.

Streamline your canvas

Start by removing unnecessary elements, such as horizontal lines, vertical axis numbers, and chart titles. This seemingly simple step serves a crucial purpose. It creates a cleaner and more professional look for your chart, allowing your data to take center stage. With distractions eliminated, your audience can focus on the core information, enhancing the overall clarity and professionalism of your presentation.

Enhance data labels

Enhance the data labels for a visually appealing and user-friendly experience. Making figures more comprehensible, especially when dealing with large numbers in the millions, simplifies data interpretation. This not only adds visual appeal but also ensures that your audience can quickly grasp the scale of your figures, making your message more accessible and impactful.

Customize your design for branding

Customize the design by choosing fonts, colors, and styles that resonate with your presentation's identity . This step goes beyond aesthetics; it leaves a lasting impression on your audience. Your chart becomes an extension of your brand, enhancing its recognition and reinforcing the consistency and professionalism of your content.

Fine-tune data labels and add depth

Fine-tune data labels for clarity and visual impact. Adding colorful outlines to your bars creates depth and sophistication, making your chart visually engaging and memorable. The visual appeal not only captivates your audience but also reinforces the importance and significance of the data being presented.

Ensure consistency and readability

Maintain consistency across your chart for a polished look that ensures all data points receive equal attention. A consistent and polished appearance fosters clarity and ensures that your audience can navigate the chart with ease. This not only enhances the aesthetic appeal but also simplifies data interpretation, making your chart a more effective communication tool.

Style the axis and adjust bar width

Style the axis, increase font sizes, and adjust bar widths to achieve a more visually impactful chart. By ensuring that your axis and labels are bold and clear, your audience can quickly understand the context of the data. Wider bars enhance the visual representation of your data, making your message even more compelling.

Add dimension with compelling elements

Add dimension to your chart with tables and compelling elements like arrows and circles. These elements guide your audience's focus and enhance the significance of your data. Your chart becomes not just a set of data but a compelling visual narrative that captures your audience's attention and conveys complex information with precision.

Incorporating these steps results in a visually engaging and informative chart that captivates your audience. Your data is transformed into a compelling narrative within your presentation. PowerPoint's flexibility allows you to showcase your information with style, creating a memorable visual experience that keeps your audience engaged and informed. The next time you're working on a PowerPoint presentation, remember these steps to transform your bar charts into powerful visual assets that capture your audience's attention and make your message unforgettable.

Related topics

How to Insert an Excel Chart into PowerPoint (4 Easy Ways)

Below is a dataset containing a Company’s sales records for six employees from January to March. We are going to use this to plot a chart within Excel.

To create the chart,

• select the dataset (the range B5:E10 ) and go to the Insert tab on the ribbon. We can find a wide range of chart options from the Charts group.

• Select the one you prefer. We have selected a 2-D Column from the Column Chart drop-down and so we have the following chart to work with here.

Method 1: Using Keyboard Shortcuts to Paste a Chart from the Clipboard

• Go to the Excel spreadsheet and select the chart by clicking on it.
• Copy the chart using Ctrl+C .

• Go to the PowerPoint slide where you want to paste the chart and press Ctrl+V .

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

Method 2: Insert a Chart from Clipboard Through PowerPoint’s Paste Option

• Copy the chart from the Excel spreadsheet by pressing Ctrl+C.

Note: As we are using ribbon commands here, we can also do this by the Copy option available in the Clipboard group of the Excel ribbon.

• Select Paste, available in the Clipboard group of the Home tab in Microsoft PowerPoint to insert it into the selected slide.

• Select the downward-facing arrow below Paste to find more options and select the one you find appropriate.

Note: The latter provides more control, consistency, and accessibility over the pasted content, not just for charts but for everything to paste from a clipboard.

Method 3: Link Dynamic Charts Using the Insert Command

This method doesn’t require any copying like the other methods.

• Go to the Insert tab on the Powerpoint ribbon and select Object from the Text.

• A new box will pop up named Insert Object .
• Select the Create from File option, Browse the Excel file that contains the chart, and check the Link.

As we can see from the image above, this also imports the dataset along with the chart. This method imports the whole sheet from Excel and the slide will contain everything it has.

Note: This method only imports charts, datasets, and objects from the first spreadsheet. If the chart you are concerned about is in any other sheet, put it in the first one, or this will not work.

Method 4: Link an Excel Chart Using the Paste Special Option of PowerPoint

One advantage of the previous method is that it didn’t require the Excel file to open. However, it isn’t an issue for most of the users in most of the cases.

• Copy the chart first from the Excel spreadsheet using the keyboard shortcut (Ctrl+C) or the Copy command in the ribbon.

• Go to the slide in the PowerPoint and select the Paste Special option from the drop-down menu that appears once you click on the downward-facing arrow below the Paste .

• Select Paste Link on the left side of the Paste Special box that popped up and click OK .

• This will insert the Excel chart into the PowerPoint file.

This method inserts the chart and connects them through a link. So once the Excel data or chart is updated, the chart in PowerPoint also updates.

Read More: How to Copy Table from Excel to Powerpoint with Formatting

How to Refresh Linked Excel Charts

One of the disadvantages involved in copying and pasting methods (1 & 2) is that it doesn’t update automatically every time data changes in the Excel worksheet. However, you can refresh the charts manually to counteract this problem.

Suppose, we change the data in cell E6 of our dataset.

However, the chart in PowerPoint didn’t update automatically.

In these cases, an option called Refresh Data can help us update the chart after editing the Excel file.

You can find the option in the Data group of the Chart Design tab from the PowerPoint ribbon.

Note: The Chart Design and Format tabs appear on the ribbon only after you click on the chart.

How to Troubleshoot Linked Charts in Excel

It is not uncommon to encounter issues such as updates with linked charts. If you are facing these issues or just want to maintain them in your PowerPoint presentation, here are some troubleshooting steps.

• Ensure the Excel file is in the same folder as when it was linked.
• Check if the Excel file name has been changed. For the link to work, the file name should remain unchanged.
• Be sure to save the workbook before linking.
• Sometimes, you may have to update links manually. Right-click on the chart on PowerPoint and select Update Link to update the Excel file link. This is helpful if the file path or name is changed.
• Check for missing data in Excel.
• Check for compatibility issues and updates for both Excel and PowerPoint.
• Recreate the chart.

Things to Remember

• Make sure you have selected the chart before copying it.
• Use Paste for a static chart copied from Excel; use Paste Special to enable the link option.
• The Chart Design and Format tabs will only appear if you have selected the chart.

Download the Practice Files

You can download the workbook and the PowerPoint file used for the demonstration from the link below.

Related Articles

• How to Perform Excel to PowerPoint Automation
• Automatically Create PowerPoint Slides from Excel
• How to Insert an Excel File into PowerPoint as an Icon

<< Go Back to Excel to PowerPoint | Export Data from Excel | Learn Excel

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Yousuf Khan has been working with the ExcelDemy project for over one year. He has written 47+ articles for the ExcelDemy site. He also solved a lot of user problems with ExcelDemy Forum. He has interests in Excel & VBA, Desktop and mobile applications, and projects & templates. He completed his graduation and post-graduation in Information Technology from Jahangirnagar University. Currently, he works as a VBA & Excel Content Developer in ExcelDemy projects, writing unique and informative content... Read Full Bio

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How to create an organizational chart in powerpoint.

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Whether for business or a family tree, it's easy to create an organizational chart using SmartArt in Microsoft PowerPoint. Let's get started.

Head to the "Insert" tab and then click "SmartArt." In the Choose a SmartArt Graphic window that opens choose the "Hierarchy" category on the left. On the right, click an organization chart layout, such as "Organization Chart." When you're done, click "OK."

Click a box in the SmartArt graphic, and then type your text.

Type the text you want to replace the placeholder text. Click on each additional text box in the SmartArt graphic and then type your text in those, as well.

Here's an example of what your organizational chart might look like so far:

As an alternative, you can also type text in a text pane instead of directly in the boxes. If the "Type Your Text Here" pane is not visible, click the control on the edge of the SmartArt graphic.

To insert a new box, click the existing box that is located closest to where you want to add the new box. On the Design tab, click "Add Shape." Type your new text directly into the new box or via the text pane.

And that's all there is to creating an organizational chart in Microsoft PowerPoint.

Related: How to Build a PowerPoint Organizational Chart With Excel Data

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How to create PowerPoint Chart Templates

• April 28, 2023
• Last updated: February 23, 2024

PowerPoint, with its array of features and tools, has become the go-to platform for creating visually appealing and engaging presentations. One of its powerful features is the ability to create and save chart templates, saving you time and effort when designing future presentations. This blog post provides a step by step guide for how to create and save PowerPoint chart templates.

What is a PointPoint Chart Template?

A PowerPoint Chart Template is a file that contains predefined settings for creating a chart in PowerPoint. Chart Templates can save you time and effort when you need to present data in a visual way. For example, you can use a Chart Template to apply a consistent style, layout, and color scheme to your PowerPoint Charts. You can also use a Chart Template to store custom data labels, axis options, and other chart elements that you want to reuse.

Why create Chart Templates for PowerPoint?

If you generate a Chart without using a template, PowerPoint doesn't always select and apply the colors from your presentation's theme in the way you would expect to keep your charts consistent with your branding. PowerPoint Chart Templates are a great way to save time and create consistent and professional, on-brand charts for your presentations. This article is a step by step guide showing you how to create, use and share PowerPoint Chart Templates in a few simple steps.

How do I create a PowerPoint Chart Template?

Step 1: Create a chart in PowerPoint by inserting one of PowerPoint's built in Charts from the Insert Tab >Charts or from the slide's content placeholder by clicking the Chart icon.

Customize the chart as required, such as changing the colors, fonts, labels, etc. Pay attention to font selection, color scheme, axis labels, titles, data series formatting, gridlines, and legends. Note that if you have PPT Productivity add-in for PowerPoint, you can use the PPT Productivity Color Toolbar to quickly update the colors of elements on your chart.

Step 2: Save the chart as a template . Once you have completed your customizations, right-click on your chart and select Save as Template .

You will be prompted to choose a name for the Chart type. Note that by default PowerPoint saves your Chart template location as C:\Users\YOUR_COMPUTER_NAME \AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\ Templates\Charts\... When you are saving the template, the chart file should be a .crtx file type.

Step 3: How to use the template when creating a new chart . When you want to create a new PowerPoint chart using your template, navigate to the Insert Tab and select Chart, or click the Chart icon in the slide's content placeholder. In the Insert Chart dialog box, click on Templates, then browse to and select your Template file.

Click OK and your new chart will be inserted into your slide using your Chart Template formatting. You can now customize the chart and update your data points.

Step 4: Modify the template if needed . To make changes to your PowerPoint Chart Template, simply insert the Template to your slide, make the required changes then select 'save as a Template'. You can either save the Template with the same name as the previous version (to overwrite the previous version), or give it a new name if you want to keep both templates.

If you have inserted a chart based on your Chart Template but want to change the Chart Style, right mouse click on the chart and select Change Chart Type, then choose your preferred Chart Type. The Chart Type will update, but your template formatting will remain (your preferred colors and fonts will be applied to the new chart type).

How do I set Chart Styles as my default?

You can set a PowerPoint Chart Style as your default from the Chart Templates folder. To set a Chart Style as the Default, right click on the Chart in the Template folder and select 'Set as Default Chart' .

Once you have set your Default Chart Style, each time you insert a chart from PowerPoint's Insert Tab or the slide's content placeholder, your Default Chart Style will be automatically inserted.

Can I share My PowerPoint Chart Templates?

You can keep your PowerPoint chart styles consistent throughout your team by sharing your Chart Template files.

To share Chart Templates, navigate to where the Templates are saved - generally C:\Users\YOUR COMPUTER NAME\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates\Charts\...

Copy the content in this folder that you want to share, i.e. the Template (.crtx) files. You can either send the files via email, or save them to a share drive location that your colleagues have access to. They will then need to copy and save them to the same Template Folder location - generally C:\Users\THEIR COMPUTER NAME\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates\Charts\...

Now, they will be about access the same Chart Templates in via the Insert Chart Dialogue box.

Note for PPT Productivity Power Tools users, your PT Productivity Slide Library also enables you to save Charts that can be reused in your Presentations and across your whole organization by means of the Team Slide Library .

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How to make PowerPoint charts look professional (and not like PowerPoint)

Data can be really persuasive in landing your message and guiding decisions. But it’s also easy for charts to just look like an afterthought. Here are ten quick ways of tweaking the default PowerPoint charts to make your document look high quality. And a bonus tip: how to save those changes as a template for easy re-use.

Tip 1: Don’t paste charts in

If you write documents in PowerPoint that include charts, I’m assuming that you are wrangling the data in Excel. But if you want to show that data as a chart in a PowerPoint document, you have a few choices. Here’s what I recommend that you don’t do, and then the method that I use.

Don’t paste a picture of the chart. It won’t look right. It will probably be pixelated unless you paste as SVG - and even then the text layout can go wonky. But it definitely won’t match the text style and size of the rest of the slides. And unless you’ve copied the theme in, it won’t have the right colours.

Don’t paste and embed the spreadsheet. very dangerous, because it embeds the entire spreadsheet - people can do a quick edit data to see every tab. do not be that person who circulates a deck with a chart of average salaries, only to accidentally embed everyone’s individual pay grade. or the person that adds 10mb to the size of the deck because one simple summary chart is hiding hundreds of thousands of rows of source data., don’t paste and link . this sounds so tempting: charts that automatically update when you update the source spreadsheet. but the wheels soon come off when you email the deck out and not everyone has access to the spreadsheet. or people aren’t online to refresh it. and if you want to point to a different version of the spreadsheet it becomes very painful to maintain. only do this if you are going to be the only person working on the deck and the spreadsheet, and you plan to circulate it as a pdf..

So, what do you do? You split the process into two separate parts. Excel does the data, PowerPoint does the charting:

• Manipulate your data in Excel, and create a table with the final calculated data that you want to plot. I like to create a separate tab for this.
• Insert a new chart in PowerPoint. When the datasheet pops up, copy the calculated data from Excel into the data window. If necessary, use Select Data to point the chart at the right data cells.
• Format your chart to fit with the rest of the content on your slide, and your template’s overall colour and font themes.
• When the data changes, just copy and paste it from the Excel into the chart again (Right-click > Edit Data )

If you aren’t quite sure what type of chart to use, then do your prototyping in Excel. It uses the same charting engine and will be quicker to create and tweak the charts.

Tip 2: Tone down the colours

When someone looks at a chart with lots of different colours, you make it harder for people to decode the information. See if you can manage with a monochrome chart instead.

PowerPoint makes this really easy for you. On the Ribbon go to Chart Design > Change Colors . You'll see a set of monochromatic options in your theme colours, both decreasing and increasing brightness.

If you have so many different data series that there isn’t enough colour difference between them, then you might be showing too much data. Think about grouping data items together, especially smaller numbers.

Tip 3: Forget about the chart border

No one needs a box around the chart to know that they are looking at a chart. And we could do without the extra visual information to process; it’s just clutter. So select the edge of the chart and set the outline colour to No Outline.

If you are working on a fairly complex document, it’s likely that the charts will just be one item on a slide - you’ll probably have some commentary about the chart, or perhaps a table or data. Or even more charts. But if there is no border, what do you use to align the chart with those other items? 

You use the Plot Area : this is the box inside the chart that contains the chart itself. The useful thing about the Plot Area is that it will snap to other objects and to Smart Guides.

Imagine you are placing a chart above a text box (which will contain some background and a conclusion). 

• Make the chart itself a bit wider than the text box. 
• Select the Plot Area - click on the background inside the chart, rather than near the edges.
• Use the handles to resize so that they align the Plot Area with the text box (or whatever else you are using.

Tip 4: Lose the axes and gridlines and use data labels instead

Will people looking at your chart want to know the exact value or the data points? If they probably will, then remember it’s frustrating to estimate the size of a bar or the height of a line by reading across to an axis. This is where data labels come in.

And if you have data labels, then you can dispense with the gridlines, and probably the axis itself.

You add data labels in three ways:

Chart Design > Add Chart Element > Data Labels

Select the chart > click the + by the top right corner > data labels, right-click the data series > add data labels.

Try different positions, and consider reducing the font size; the default size is often too large. Deleting gridlines and the axis is very easy: select it and press the Delete key.

This is my default way of presenting most simple charts, but there are some exceptions:

If there are a lot of data points, the data labels will be hard to fit in and even harder to read. Use an axis.

If you are using a stacked bar chart, the total value is often important. while you can go to the effort of creating a fake transparent series and data labels, the quickest way is to keep the gridlines and axis., tip 5: move the axis.

We are all used to the horizontal axis at the bottom and the vertical axis at the left. But these are just defaults, and it is often useful to have them elsewhere. Here are two examples.

Example 1: You are showing values changing over a period of time, and the current values that they have ended up on are the most interesting. If you put the vertical axis on the right, then the line ends by the axis - making it easier to see where they are now.

Example 2 : You are showing various items compared on a scale, such as a percentage. Putting the horizontal axis at the top reminds people of the scale as they begin to parse the chart.

Moving the axis is simple, if rather counter-intuitive:

• Double click the other axis - the one you don’t want to move
• In the Format Pane, set the Horizontal (or vertical) axis crosses to Maximum axis value

If you have already deleted that other axis (good for you) then just add it back in first, then delete it again afterwards.

Tip 6: Create your own slide title

Probably the simplest of these tips. Chart titles are the teenagers of charts: hard to move around, won’t line up with anything else, painfully fiddly to format and insist on using their own font colour which isn’t on the palette.

Don’t bother with them. Delete that awkward chart title and add your own text box, which will probably helpfully already be in your default font and size and colour. And is easy to format and to align with everything else.

One nuance to be aware of: if you have the chart selected when you insert the text box, it will become part of the chart. So if you move or copy the chart, it will come along with it. There are pros and cons to that, but be aware that if you are trying to move a text box and you can’t move it outside the chart, it’s because you added it to the chart instead of the slide.

Tip 7: Make your title helpful

The chart title has two important jobs to help readers make sense of what they are looking at:

Job 1 : state the conclusion that the chart supports. Don’t just say ‘Sales data Q1 2022’. Tell the reader what information they can get from the chart, for example: ‘Sales fell drastically in Q1, with the exception of Hats and Gloves’

Job 2: state the measures . what are the numbers people are looking at, and what are the units for example: ‘weekly total sales, 000’s’. or ‘monthly revenue, €m’.

I like to make sure that it is clear that there are two pieces of information, so my default approach is to put the conclusion in bold and the measures in normal text (or a light version of the font). I will usually also put the measure on a new line, so the example above might look like this:

If you are keeping them on the same line, try using a pipe character to separate them. A pipe is a vertical line, usually above the \ character on a keyboard. So a shorter version of the example above might be:

Sales fell drastically in Q1 | Weekly sales, 000’s

And place your title where it will be read first, so for western readers put it top left. You want readers to see the title before they read the chart so that they have the conclusion in mind and they know what the data is before they decode the chart.

Tip 8: Build your own legend

PowerPoint chart legends are not great. The colour swatches are tiny. So I tend to delete the default legend and build my own one. It only takes a couple of minutes using a simple table. The advantage of doing this is that it gives you full control over the size and placement of your legend, as well as helping it to not look like a PowerPoint chart.

• Create a table with one row, and two columns for each metric.
• Fill the first cell with the data colour, and use the second cell for the label. Repeat for each series. If you’ve chosen an automatic monochrome colour scheme as suggested above, then use the Eyedropper to match the legend colours.
• Use the Layout tab to set the width of the colour cells to something suitably small. Tip press Tab, Tab, CTRL+Y to quickly hop between each coloured cell and repeat the width setting.
• Adjust the label cell width appropriately - make sure there is enough of a gap on the right before the next colour key
• Consider changing the top and bottom cell borders to zero.

Then your legend will look something like this:

If you are using a line graph, then instead of filling the colour:

• Split the colour key cell into 2 rows, 1 column
• Reduce the font size in both new cells so that they aren’t making the table too high (I usually just type 1 in the font box)
• Set the table border between the two small cells to be the same colour and thickness as the line in question. You can also set dashes as well if you are using them.

Your legend will look something like this:

Creating your own line legend doesn't look all that different from the inbuilt one, but it's easier to align.

Or to really make it look like it isn’t a PowerPoint graph, use a circular symbol:

• In the colour key cell Insert > Symbol. Set font to Segoe UI Symbol and enter character code E21A . Click Insert.
• Set the font colour to match the chart.

Other symbols are available, and you can increase and decrease the font size to your taste. But stick to Segoe UI Symbol as the font, because it is a Microsoft Cloud Font, so is very compatible across Windows, MacOS, iOS and Android.

Important : whatever you use for your legend, always place it above the chart. As with the chart title, you want your readers to be aware of the tools they have to decode the chart before they start trying to work out what to conclude. If you are short on space and the layout of your chart allows, you can place the legend on top of the Plot Area. We've done that in the example above.

Tip 9: Use horizontal bar charts more

If you are creating a bar chart and the horizontal axis is not time, then you should probably be using a horizontal bar chart, not a vertical one. There are a number of very good reasons for this.

The best reason is the axis labels: you won’t need vertical text, so it is immediately easier to read. If you have long labels, you have the inevitable choice of small text, diagonal text or vertical text – all of which are hard to read. 

Also, given the landscape nature of slides, you are likely to have a chart that is wider than it is tall. Horizontal bars are therefore longer, making relative differences in size clearer.

Better still, you can dispense with the axis instead, and add labels to the bars:

• Select the data series and add data labels.
• They will show the value as default, which is not what we want. Double click the labels to show the Format Pane. Under Label Options , check the Category box and uncheck the Value box. 
• Delete the vertical axis.
• For long bars add them Inside Base and for short ones Outside End. You may need to change the font colour for sufficient contrast, depending on the colour of your bars.
• Long labels will probably wrap over more than one line. If you don’t need this, select the labels, then in the Format Pane select the Size & Properties icon at the top, then uncheck Wrap text in shape . If you do want them wrapped then use CTRL+L to left align them if necessary.

Important: in most cases, you should also rank your data from largest to smallest (or perhaps smallest to largest). You do this by sorting the data in the datasheet. But Excel will plot the top of the datasheet at the bottom of the chart, so you’ll get the opposite order on the chart. To fix this, either sort the data the wrong way in the datasheet, or in PowerPoint select the vertical axis and in the Format Pane check the Categories in reverse order box. This will also move the axis to the top, which as we’ve discussed can be helpful.

In the example above, the actual data labels are not important. However, if you want to add them, you can keep the Value box checked in step 2. Rather than the default comma, try a new Line. Or type a space then a | then a space in the box like this:

Having the numbers at the end of the bars is more complicated and would require creating a second fake data series and making it transparent and completely overlapped. We won't go through the method here, but if you are experienced you should be able to work it out, so it looks something like this:

Tip 10: Highlight important data points

You should be using a chart to help land a message. If it’s complicated, you may need to draw attention to particular data points in your chart. There are a few ways you can do that.

For data bars, you can use a contrasting colour for a series or a single data point. This works even better if you have de-highlighted all other data by making it grey.

The same works in pie or doughnut charts:

For a line chart, add a marker, or make the marker bolder. You can also add a data label to specific points. To isolate one data point, click the line to select the whole series, then click the specific data point in question, then format.

And for any type of chart, consider adding labels to introduce narrative right onto the chart, These one-cell tables work particularly well.

Bonus tip: chart templates

All this might seem like a lot of clicking. It is. But it’s worth it – until you’ve got a deck with lots of charts. Don’t panic, there is a feature that will save you time: the chart template. 

Once you’ve got a chart looking how you want it:

• Right-click on the chart and choose Save as Template.
• Give it a suitable name.
• Create a new chart. In the list, the second option is Templates . Select that and you’ll see the chart template you just created. Note that they are previewed with sample data so won’t look quite like your charts did.

You can also use this to Change Chart Type . 

Be warned: not every aspect of every tweak you did will be included, but it could still save you a lot of time.

Looking for more ideas?

We can help with complex documentation – with or without charts – or train your team to create higher-quality slides and charts. Contact us to find out more.

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How to Make a Chart in PowerPoint? (With Examples)

Creating visual presentations that captivate audiences can seem daunting. Charts allow you to present complex data clearly and concisely. This guide will teach you how to make a chart in PowerPoint to elevate your next presentation. You'll get to choose from various built-in chart types, insert and format charts seamlessly, and customize designs to highlight key insights. Follow along to become a PowerPoint chart pro!

Part 1: Chart Types in PowerPoint

PowerPoint offers a variety of built-in chart types so you can effectively visualize your data. Choosing the right chart type is important for accurately representing your data and communicating your message.

Img: https://www.empowersuite.com/en/blog/list-powerpoint-charts

Here are the most commonly used chart types in PowerPoint:

The key is choosing the right chart type that matches your data structure and presents your findings most intuitively. Experiment with different visualizations before finalizing the right chart type.

Steps to Make a Chart in PowerPoint

Follow these simple step-by-step instructions to create a chart from scratch in PowerPoint.

Example 1: Column Chart

Step 1: Click Insert > Chart.

Step 2: Click the Column type, double-click the chart you want, or click OK to insert it.

Step 3: This will insert a blank column chart with sample data. Replace it with your own data in the Excel worksheet that opens up.

Step 4: Customize the chart title, axis titles, legend, and data labels from the 'Chart Elements' pane. The final column chart will look like this:

Example 2: Pie Chart

Let's create a pie chart to depict the market share for different smartphone brands.

Step 2: Double-click the chart you want or click OK after selecting Pie chart type.

Step 3: Replace the default data with the market share percentages in the Excel sheet.

Step 4: Format the chart title, legend placement, data labels, and colors.

These examples should guide you in initiating chart creation in PowerPoint! Experiment with various chart types – line charts, bar charts, scatter plots, and more – using the same straightforward insert and formatting process.

Change the Chart Type

Remember to choose the right chart for your data. While a column and a pie chart excel in comparing values, they may not be the best for showing trends or relationships. If needed, easily switch to a more fitting chart type. To change the chart type, follow these steps:

Step 1: Click on the chart.

Step 2: To change the chart type, navigate to the Chart Design tab and select the Change Chart Type button.

Step 3: Repeat the same as Step 2 in the above part.

How to Customize a Chart in PowerPoint

To elevate the visual appeal of your chart, whether you're looking to incorporate a more refined border, fine-tune the font for a polished aesthetic, or precisely adjust its position and size to achieve optimal presentation, you can effortlessly initiate these changes.

Method 1: Use the Chart Design Option

PowerPoint provides various built-in chart layouts and color schemes you can choose from. Click on the desired chart and navigate to the “Chart Design” tab visibly presented. Leverage the tools available in the ribbon to tailor the chart to your specifications.

Add Chart Element: Integrate or adjust components like axis titles, data labels, and a legend.

Quick Layout: choose an alternative style or layout that complements the chart.

Change Colors : Opt for a fresh color scheme to enhance the visual appeal of the chart.

Chart Styles: select a specific design that aligns with your preferences for the chart.

Method 2: Format a Chart

Begin by right-clicking on the chart and selecting the Format Chart Area option. Alternatively, you can achieve the same effect by selecting the chart and navigating to the dedicated Format tab.

Employ the suite of tools at your disposal to seamlessly implement your desired changes.

Method 3: Add and Remove Chart Elements

To further refine clarity and impact, engage with the Chart Elements button. You can add or remove elements such as titles, labels, and the legend here. The available options vary based on the specific chart type you've incorporated.

Initiate the process by selecting the entire chart or a specific element. Next, access the Chart Styles button to unveil a curated selection of styles and color options.

Chart Elements button:

Chart styles button:

Chart Filters button:

To elevate your charts quickly and easily, leverage the Chart Tools shortcuts. These shortcuts are accessible at your fingertips and streamline the process of chart customization, making it a breeze, especially for beginners.

Best Alternative to PowerPoint – WPS Presentation

Discover the budget-friendly choice for Microsoft Office by exploring WPS Presentation. This complimentary office suite is tailor-made for multi-platform, providing a seamless and cost-effective alternative with full compatibility with PowerPoint.

Here's a quick introduction to its key features:

Provides well-designed templates for modern presentations.

Very lightweight app compared to bulky PowerPoint.

Supports exporting files to PDF, video, and other formats.

Offers easy content collaboration for teamwork.

Secure cloud storage and support for online editing.

WPS Office Presentation is a great alternative to older MS Office versions. It's compatible with low-configuration computers and it's cost-free with updates included, making it a cost-effective solution for your office needs.

Steps to Download WPS Presentation

Downloading WPS Presentation is quick and simple:

Step 1: Go to the official WPS Office website .

Step 2 : Select your operating system and click the Free Download button.

Step 3: The installer file will download automatically. Double-click to launch.

Step 4: Click Install Now and follow the setup prompts to install the WPS Presentation on your computer.

That's it! The installation process is fast and easy. Within minutes you'll have a powerful yet lightweight alternative to PowerPoint.

How to Make a Chart in WPS Presentation

Making charts in WPS Presentation works very similar to PowerPoint:

Step 1: On the Insert tab, click the Chart icon and select a chart type.

Step 2 : Within the pop-up dialogue, we can select many different types of charts.

Step 3: Click Select Data or Edit Data, and WPS Office will automatically open WPS Sheets.

Step 4: Replace sample data with your own in the WPS Sheets worksheet..

Step 5: Customize design, layout, elements, and formatting.

You'll find the chart creation process in WPS Presentation to be smooth and intuitive. It provides all the essential chart types and customization options you need to visualize your data effectively.

Use Word, Excel, and PPT for FREE, No Ads.

Edit PDF files with the powerful PDF toolkit.

Microsoft-like interface. Easy to learn. 100% Compatibility.

Boost your productivity with WPS's abundant free Word, Excel, PPT, and CV templates.

Are there any limitations to the types of charts I can create in PowerPoint?

PowerPoint supports most standard 2D chart types, including column, bar, line, pie, scatter, area, radar, bubble, etc. Specific advanced charts may not be available.

Can I import data into PowerPoint from other sources to create charts?

PowerPoint allows you to import data from Excel, CSV files, SQL databases, and other external sources. You can copy-paste data or set up dynamic linking.

In this guide, we have covered the primary types of charts and their uses, as well as the steps for inserting and formatting charts in PowerPoint. We have also provided customization tips and walked through examples of creating column and pie charts from the beginning.

Additionally, we have introduced WPS Presentation as a free alternative to PowerPoint that supports powerful chart creation. With these abilities, you can create professional and visually appealing charts, making your presentations more engaging and impactful. Remember, the key is selecting the appropriate chart type.

• 1. How to Create an Org Chart in PowerPoint - A Comprehensive Guide
• 2. How to Make Pie Chart in Excel [Complete Guide]
• 3. How To Make Resume Summary Examples For Career Change
• 4. How to Make A Pie Chart in PowerPoint [A Complete Guide]
• 5. How to Make A Beautiful Slideshow in PowerPoint-- Make Your Presentations Better
• 6. 5 Best Visually Appealing Gantt Chart Templates for PowerPoint

15 years of office industry experience, tech lover and copywriter. Follow me for product reviews, comparisons, and recommendations for new apps and software.

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Use charts and graphs in your presentation

You can make a chart in PowerPoint or Excel. If you have lots of data to chart, create your chart in Excel , and then copy it into your presentation . This is also the best way if your data changes regularly and you want your chart to always reflect the latest numbers. In that case, when you copy and paste the chart, keep it linked to the original Excel file .

To create a simple chart from scratch in PowerPoint, click Insert > Chart and pick the chart you want.

Click Insert > Chart .

Click the chart type and then double-click the chart you want.

Tip:  For help deciding which chart is best for your data, see Available chart types .

In the worksheet that appears, replace the placeholder data with your own information.

When you’ve finished, close the worksheet.

Create an org chart in PowerPoint

Create charts in Excel

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How to Create a Flowchart in PowerPoint (Templates & Examples)

Praburam Srinivasan

Growth Marketing Manager

September 6, 2024

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You lead the marketing team at a digital agency, and you’ve just rolled out a new onboarding process for eCommerce clients. It’s detailed and involves multiple steps, from initial contact to final approval, with key decision points along the way. 

Instead of overwhelming your team with a long explanation or a bullet-point list, you decide to illustrate the process with a flowchart in PowerPoint. 

Your process flow diagram is immaculate. The entire process is clearly laid out in neatly labeled steps, and your team members find it simple and easy to understand and implement.

This is the true power of PowerPoint—going beyond slides to create visuals that communicate complex ideas simply.  

Did you know that 37.15% of people use PowerPoint for work or personal projects ? Its versatility makes it the ideal tool for creating engaging visuals like flowcharts.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to create effective flowcharts in PowerPoint, helping you turn a complex process into a clear, easy-to-follow diagram.

Let’s start making better flowcharts.

Method 1: The quick and easy way with a SmartArt Flowchart

Method 2: the flexible way with the powerpoint shape library, expert tips for crafting the perfect powerpoint flowchart, limitations of making a flowchart in powerpoint, clickup whiteboards: a superior flowchart solution, clickup mind maps: rapid flowchart creation, quickly create flowcharts with clickup templates, when to use powerpoint vs. clickup for flowcharts, your flowchart journey starts with clickup, 1. what is the best flowchart for powerpoint, 2. is there a flowchart template in powerpoint, 3. does powerpoint have workflow templates, 4. does microsoft have workflow templates, 5. is it easier to create a flowchart in word, excel, or powerpoint.

How to Make a Flowchart in PowerPoint

PowerPoint offers you two main ways to create flowcharts: using a SmartArt Flowchart or working with the PowerPoint Shape Library.

We’ll walk you through both methods so you can choose the one that works best for you.

SmartArt flowchart is a pre-made collection of shapes that serve as basic, fixed diagram templates. It’s ideal for creating a quick and simple diagram but may not be suitable for more complex flowchart options.

Step 1: Open PowerPoint and navigate to the slide where you want to add your diagram

Step 2: Click the Insert tab in the top menu

Step 3: Click SmartArt from the options

Step 4: Hover over Process in the dropdown list to see various flowchart options

Step 5: Click your preferred PowerPoint flowchart template style to insert it into your slide

How to add text and shapes to your flowchart

• To add text to the existing shape in your SmartArt graphic, simply click the center of each shape outline and start typing
• To add new shapes, select the entire SmartArt graphic and click Add Shape in the toolbar’s upper left corner
• To rearrange all the necessary shapes, click and drag them. The connecting arrows will automatically adjust

How to customize your flowchart

• With your SmartArt graphic selected, two new tabs will appear in the toolbar: SmartArt Design and Format (or the Shape Format tab)
• The SmartArt Design tab allows you to change the diagram type, choose from preset color schemes, and add shapes
• The Format tab offers more specific customizations, including individual shape outlines, text color, shape color, text boxes, and font options

Pros and cons of using SmartArt Flowchart

• Quick and easy to use
• Automatically adjusts layout and connections
• Comes with pre-designed styles
• Limited customization options
• Can be restrictive for complex flowcharts
• May not suit all types of flowcharts

While this method requires more manual work, it offers greater flexibility and lets you create standard flowcharts with process and decision boxes. 

Here’s how it works:

Step 1: Go to the Insert tab and click Shapes

Step 2: Scroll down to the Flowchart section in the dropdown menu

Step 3: Select the shape you need (e.g., process box, decision diamond, oval shape)

Step 4: Click and drag on your slide to draw the shape

Step 5: Repeat this process to add all the necessary shapes to your flowchart

💡 Pro Tip: To save time when creating flowcharts in PowerPoint, add a shape that you’ll use multiple times, then copy-paste it as needed. 

How to add connecting lines

Before you can complete your flowchart, you’ll need to connect the shapes to show the flow of steps or decisions.

Step 1: Return to the Insert tab and click on Shapes

Step 2: In the Lines section, choose the line type you prefer

Step 3: Click and drag from one shape to another to draw a connecting line

Step 4:   Repeat this process to connect all your shapes in the proper sequence

How to label your shapes and lines

• To add text to a shape, select it and start typing
• To label connecting lines, you’ll need to use text boxes. Go to Insert > Text Box
• To draw a text box near the line you want to label, click and drag, then type your text
• Double-click any shape or line to open the format shape pane
• Edit visual elements such as colors, line weight, opacity, etc. here
• Experiment with different styles to create a cohesive and visually appealing flowchart

Pros and cons of using the Shape Library

• Greater flexibility and control over design
• Ability to create complex diagrams and customized flowcharts
• Capability to produce any type of flowchart
• More time-consuming than SmartArt
• Requires manual adjustment of connections
• May be overwhelming for beginners

Now that you know how to create a flowchart in PowerPoint, here are  some expert tips for you to design effective flowcharts:

• Keep it simple : Aim for 7–10 blocks in a single flowchart
• Go with the flow : Stick to a consistent direction, usually top-to-bottom or left-to-right. It’s how most people naturally read
• Use color wisely : A pop of color can highlight important steps but stay moderate. Stick to 3–4 complementary colors for a clean, professional look
• Connect the dots : Use elbow connectors instead of straight lines when connecting blocks across different levels. It’ll keep things easy to follow in the process
• Line it up : Use PowerPoint’s alignment and distribution tools to keep everything tidy. A well-organized PowerPoint flowchart is easier to understand and more aesthetically pleasing
• Be consistent with symbols : Use the same shapes for actions or decisions throughout your flowchart. It’ll help your audience follow along more quickly
• Keep text short and sweet : Stick to short keywords or phrases in your flowchart blocks. If you need more detail, consider adding notes or a separate document
• Use white space effectively : Leave some breathing room between elements to make it easier to read

While PowerPoint is a versatile tool for creating flowcharts, it does have some limitations:

• Limited connectivity options: PowerPoint’s connectors can be hard to use. Sometimes they don’t attach correctly to other shapes or need manual adjustments when shapes are moved
• Lack of advanced flowchart shapes: While PowerPoint offers basic diagram shapes, it lacks some of the more specialized symbols found in dedicated flowchart software
• Limited collaboration features: Real-time collaboration on PowerPoint flowcharts can be challenging, especially when compared to cloud-based alternatives
• Version control issues: Keeping track of different versions of a flow chart can be problematic, particularly in team environments where multiple people may make changes
• Export limitations: Exporting flowcharts from PowerPoint to other formats or platforms may result in loss of formatting or interactivity

Alternative to PowerPoint for Creating Flowcharts

While PowerPoint remains popular for designing flowcharts, modern workplace productivity tools offer more robust and flexible solutions. These tools are part of a broader trend toward visual project management , which can significantly enhance team collaboration and project clarity.

ClickUp , an all-in-one productivity and project management tool, has some incredibly effective flowchart tools, starting with ClickUp Whiteboards .

ClickUp’s Whiteboards provide a dynamic, collaborative space for creating flowcharts and other visual diagrams. It bridges the gap between ideation and execution by offering a space for teams to visualize concepts and turn them into coordinated actions within the ClickUp platform. Here’s how:

• Intuitive: Add shapes, connect them, and move things around easily
• Real-time collaboration: Work on your flowchart with your team, no matter where they are
• Infinite canvas: Avoid cramming everything onto one PowerPoint slide
• Integration with tasks: Link your flowchart directly to your project tasks
• Version history: Track changes easily and revert if needed
• Free templates: Start with a pre-made diagram and customize these free templates to your needs. Check out this data flow diagram template by ClickUp for a quick start
• Easy sharing: Share your flow chart with a simple link
• Workflow automation: Automate the workflow to simplify your processes

Here are some top features of this tool:

• Drag-and-drop interface: Easily create flowcharts by dragging and dropping shapes and connectors onto a zoomable canvas, allowing for intuitive design and arrangement of flowchart elements
• Customizable elements: You can customize shapes, colors, and text within the flowchart. This flexibility allows you to create visually appealing and informative diagrams that suit your specific needs
• Collaboration tools: Have multiple team members work on the same whiteboard simultaneously, making it easy to brainstorm and refine flowchart ideas in real time 
• Integration with tasks: Link the flowchart elements to tasks and convert ideas and steps directly into actionable tasks. This integration helps streamline project management by connecting visual planning with task execution

Also Read: 10 Free Data Flow Diagram Templates

Here’s how to use ClickUp Whiteboards to create superlative flowcharts:

How to add a whiteboard

Step 1: Click the + View button at the top of your desired location in ClickUp

Step 2: Select Whiteboards from the options

Step 3: Choose the pre-designed Flow Chart Template or Start from Scratch

Step 4: And there you have it, your whiteboard is ready!

How to navigate the whiteboard

• Use the hand tool (press the M key) to move around the canvas without selecting objects
• Press the V key to switch back to the cursor for adding and manipulating objects
• Zoom in and out using pinch gestures on a trackpad or the plus and minus icons

How to create flowchart elements

• Use the shape tool in the left toolbar to add various diagram shapes
• Click the connector tool to draw lines between shapes, creating the flow of your diagram
• Add sticky notes for additional information or annotations
• Click any shape or connector to access the object menu for customization options
• Change colors, styles, and sizes to create a visually appealing and clear flowchart

Check out the handy tutorial below for all you need to know about ClickUp Whiteboards.

For quicker, more informal diagram creation, ClickUp Mind Maps offers an intuitive solution. It allows you to visually represent tasks and concepts, making it easier to brainstorm (alone or with a team) and manage and organize information. 

Its key functionalities include:

• Visual representation: Illustrate complex projects simply through mind maps
• Editing capabilities: Edit, delete, or reorganize ideas as needed
• Cascading views: Connect related ideas and tasks efficiently in a simplified manner
• Advanced sorting options: Sort ideas and tasks based on various criteria
• Custom colors: Personalize mind maps with colors for better visual distinction
• Collaboration: Share mind maps with team members for easy collaboration

Overall, ClickUp’s Mind Maps enhance productivity by making project management more intuitive and visually engaging.

How to create mind maps

Step 1: Select any space, folder, or a list of tasks you want to visualize

Step 2: Click Add View and select Mind Maps

Step 3: Your work is instantly mapped into a beautiful mind map that you can expand, collapse, or build upon

This feature allows you to transform existing task structures into visual flowcharts with minimal effort, saving time and ensuring consistency across your project documentation.

If you’re new to mind mapping or want to explore different mind mapping software options, ClickUp is a great place to start. Check out these mind map examples for various use cases. And watch the video below to see ClickUp’s Mind Maps in action.

If you don’t want to start from scratch, try out process map templates . They’re a great starting point that you can customize to fit your specific needs.

ClickUp’s Process Flow Chart Template is an excellent option here.

Here are this template’s key features:

• Custom Statuses: Create tasks with Custom Statuses (e.g., Open, Complete), which helps track the progress of each step in the flowchart
• Custom Fields: Categorize tasks and add attributes to manage them efficiently, aiding in the visualization of each step
• Multiple views: Tailor the flowchart to specific processes by using different views, such as the Hiring Flowchart and Getting Started Guide
• Project management features: Track and manage tasks with tagging, nested subtasks, multiple assignees, and priority labels

You can also try ClickUp’s Data Flow Diagram Template to simplify the creation of flowcharts.

You can create tasks with Custom Statuses like Open and Complete to track the progress of each step in the data flow process, making it easier to visualize where each element stands.

The template supports multiple views, including List, Gantt, Workload, and Calendar, enabling you to visualize your data flow in a way that best suits your needs

Using this template, you can simplify the creation of a flowchart by:

• Assessing the project scope and identifying necessary data points
• Drawing the diagram with symbols and arrows to represent entities and data flow visually
• Labeling and organizing the diagram for better readability
• Validating the diagram for accuracy by checking for inconsistencies

Deciding between PowerPoint and ClickUp for flowcharts depends on your specific needs and the features each tool offers. Here’s a quick guide on when to use each:

Use PowerPoint when:

• You need to create a simple flowchart quickly
• Your flowchart is part of a larger PowerPoint presentation
• You’re working in an environment where everyone uses Microsoft Office
• You don’t need real-time collaboration features

Use ClickUp when:

• You’re creating complex, detailed flowcharts
• You need to collaborate with a team in real time
• You want to integrate your flow chart with project management tools
• You need advanced features like version history and smart drawing
• You’re working on a large-scale project with multiple interconnected processes

Feel free to experiment with both to see what works best for you and your team.

The steps and tips in this guide will help you create an effective PowerPoint flowchart that breaks down complex processes, enhances communication, and streamlines decision-making. However, for those seeking more robust, collaborative, and customizable solutions, ClickUp’s Whiteboards and Mind Maps, along with its other advanced features, can enhance your flowchart creation experience.

Remember, the key to a successful flowchart lies not just in the tool you use but also in your ability to distill complex information into clear, visually appealing diagrams.

Whether you choose Microsoft PowerPoint or a more specialized platform, focus on clarity, consistency, and user-friendliness to create flowcharts that do justice to your ideas and processes.

Sign up for ClickUp today!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The best flowchart for PowerPoint depends on your specific needs. However, we recommend using SmartArt for flowcharts due to its ease of use and variety of styles.

Yes, PowerPoint offers built-in flowchart templates. You can find them under the SmartArt graphics in the Process category. You might want to explore other options for a wider variety of customizable flowchart templates.

Yes, PowerPoint includes workflow templates. You can find various workflow templates in the SmartArt graphics and download additional templates from online resources.

Yes, Microsoft offers workflow templates across various products. In addition to PowerPoint’s options, you can find workflow templates in Microsoft Visio, which is specifically designed for creating diagrams and flowcharts. However, if you’re looking for more modern and versatile workflow templates, you might want to explore options beyond Microsoft’s offerings.

Most users find that creating a flowchart is generally easier in PowerPoint due to its intuitive interface and the availability of SmartArt graphics specifically designed for flowcharts. Word and Excel also support flowchart creation but may require more manual adjustments.

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How to Make Charts in Google Slides: Stepwise Instructions

Crafting a compelling presentation goes beyond just throwing words on slides. Charts offer a powerful way to showcase data, making your information clear, concise, and visually engaging. But how do you create effective charts in Google Slides? This guide will walk you through the process step-by-step, from choosing the right chart type to customizing it for maximum impact.

Why Charts in Presentations?

Charts are powerful tools for visualizing data in presentations. They help convey information clearly and effectively, making your message more impactful. They translate complex data into easily digestible visuals, boosting audience engagement and comprehension. They can turn numbers into a compelling story, lending credibility to your message.

Choosing the Right Chart Type

Remember to choose the most suitable chart type for your data, keep it clear, and use color effectively to avoid overwhelming your viewers. Here’s a quick breakdown of common chart options available in Google Slides:

• Bar Chart: A bar chart is ideal for comparing different categories. It uses horizontal bars to represent data values.
• Column Chart: Similar to bar charts, column charts use vertical bars to display data. They are great for showing changes over time.
• Line Chart: Line charts are perfect for illustrating trends over a period. They connect data points with lines, making it easy to track progress.
• Pie Chart: Pie charts show the proportions of a whole. Each slice illustrates a category’s contribution to the total.
• Area Chart: An area chart is similar to a line chart but with the area below the line filled in. It’s useful for showing cumulative data.
• Scatter Chart: Scatter charts display individual data points and are helpful for identifying correlations between variables.
• Radial Chart: Radial charts, also known as radar charts, display multi-dimensional data in a circular format. To learn more about creating radial charts, check out our guide on how to make a radial chart in Google Slides .

Step-by-Step Guide to Making Charts in Google Slides

Step 1: open google slides and create a new presentation.

To start, open Google Slides and create a new presentation. You can do this by navigating to Google Slides (https://www.google.com/slides) and clicking on the “+” button to create a new blank presentation.

Step 2: Insert a Chart

Once your presentation is open, follow these steps to insert a chart:

• Click on the “Insert” menu at the top of the screen.
• From the dropdown menu, select “Chart.”
• Choose the type of chart you want to insert. 

Step 3: Edit the Chart Data

After inserting the chart, you’ll need to edit the data to reflect your information. Here’s how:

• Click on the chart you’ve inserted. A small arrow will appear at the top right corner of the chart.
• Click the arrow and select “Open source.”
• This action will open a linked Google Sheets document where you can input your data.
• Enter your data in the appropriate cells in Google Sheets. As you update the data, the chart in Google Slides will automatically update to reflect these changes.

Step 4: Customize Your Chart

Customizing your chart can make it more visually appealing and tailored to your needs. You can:

• Change Chart Type: If you want to switch to a different chart type, click on the chart and select “Chart type” from the dropdown menu.
• Adjust Colors: Customize the colors of your chart elements by clicking on the chart, selecting the “Customize” tab, and adjusting the color settings.
• Modify Labels: Edit the chart’s labels by clicking on the data points or axes and typing in your new labels.
• Add a Legend: Enhance your chart by adding or modifying the legend. Click on the chart, go to the “Customize” tab, and adjust the legend settings.

Step 5: Integrate Advanced Features

To make your presentation even more engaging, explore advanced features in Google Slides:

• Animations: Add animations to your charts to emphasize key points. Click on the chart, go to “Insert,” then “Animation,” and choose your preferred animation style.
• Transitions: Use slide transitions to create a smooth flow between your slides. Click on the “Slide” menu, select “Change transition,” and pick a transition effect.

Pro Tip: Use Premade Chart Presentation Templates (Optional)

Who says creating a visually appealing presentation has to be time-consuming? By offering pre-designed charts, editable layouts, and a variety of professional styles, ready-made, editable chart presentation templates save you time and effort, enhance communication through visual clarity, and give your presentations a polished look, all at a cost-effective price.

By following these steps and exploring customization options, you can create informative and visually engaging charts that will take your Google Slides presentations to the next level. Go forth and chart your way to presentation success! If you’re familiar with Microsoft PowerPoint, you might be interested in learning how to create charts on that platform as well. Check out our informative guide on “ How to Make a Chart in PowerPoint ” for a seamless transition. Happy presenting!

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Arockia Mary Amutha

Arockia Mary Amutha is a seasoned senior content writer at SlideEgg, bringing over four years of dedicated experience to the field. Her expertise in presentation tools like PowerPoint, Google Slides, and Canva shines through in her clear, concise, and professional writing style. With a passion for crafting engaging and insightful content, she specializes in creating detailed how-to guides, tutorials, and tips on presentation design that resonate with and empower readers.

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How to create a Powerpoint Presentation

Powerpoint presentations are a great way to share information with a team, but making them is a skillset in its own right. We've got guides on general Powerpoint use , but if you're keen to just get started making a slideshow right now, this is the way.

How to create a Powerpoint presentation

How to build your first slide, how to add more slides to a powerpoint presentation, how to make an awesome slideshow presentation.

Here's how to make a Powerpoint presentation.

What You Need

Powerpoint or Microsoft 365 subscription

The first step in building your fancy slideshow is to create the presentation itself. Here's how to do it.

Step 1: Download and install Powerpoint (as part of Microsoft 365 ) if you haven't already, then open the app up.

Step 2: The home screen will give you a range of options for selecting templates and premade presentations to give you a great starting-off point. Select one of them if they're applicable. For even more options, select the New tab from the left-hand menu.

Alternatively, if you want to start from a blank canvas, select Blank presentation.

Step 3: From there, it's a good idea to name and save the presentation so you can come back to it later. Select File > Save or* Save As*, then name the file on the right, choose a location for it, and select Save .

Step 1: Your first slide will automatically have text fields for a title and subtitle. If you want to have that on your first slide, select them, then type in what you want them to read. You can also click and drag them around, or resize them using your mouse.

Hover your mouse over the white circles, then click and drag them to resize the box. Alternatively, select the rotational arrows near the corners of the box, to rotate it.

If you don't want those text fields, select their boundary individually and press the Delete key to remove them.

Step 2: If you want to add more text to this slide (or any others in the future), select the Insert tab, then select Text box. Click on the slide where you want the box to appear, then use your mouse to drag the box to the desired shape.

Then click the box and type in what you want that text box to say. The contextual home menu will automatically adjust to give you quick access to font choices and other text style options.

You can access more detailed text formatting options by selecting the Format tab. There you'll find options for changing text coloring, its outline, and any text effects you want to use.

Step 3: To add pictures to your slideshow, select the Insert tab, then select Pictures in the top-left. You'll then have the option to insert an image from your local PC, a selection of stock images, or a range of online images.

You can also change the background of your PowerPoint slides .

Step 4: You can also freehand draw or annotate your slides, using the Draw tab, or alter the entire theme of the slideshow by selecting Design.

Step 1: To add a new slide to your presentation, select the Insert tab at the top of the screen, then select New slide on the left. Then choose the type of slide you want. You can have a blank slide to do it all yourself, or you can get a headstart on its design by copying a previous slide, using the same theme as another part of your presentation, or having a predefined layout.

Step 2: Think you've gone too far with the slides? If you decide to revise your presentation, perhaps remove a graph or truncate some text, you can easily delete a page from your PowerPoint .

Step 3: When your presentation is complete, you're ready to share it with an audience. Before you do, remember to add some notes to your PowerPoint slides . These are for your eyes only, and will help you to keep the presentation on topic and avoid forgetting your lines.

Want even more tips on making a great slideshow? We've got you covered. Check out our guide on how to use Microsoft Powerpoint , for all the most important tips.

We've also got a guide for more tips and tricks for making engaging and attractive slides .

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While PowerPoint is widely used to develop presentations, using Google Slides has become a popular alternative. Part of what makes it so popular is that it's free to use, as is other Google software such as Google Docs and Google Sheets – which is a stark contrast to the premium price you'll pay for Microsoft Office and PowerPoint.

Even if you know how to use Microsoft PowerPoint, you might want to jump ship to Slides, and Google makes it easy to do so. In fact, it takes little more than a few clicks to convert a PowerPoint to Google Slides. Whether you need to change the format for a coworker or want to permanently switch to the free platform, here's a look at how to convert your PowerPoint into a Google Slides presentation.

We all know that Microsoft’s PowerPoint software has been a presentations staple for a few decades now. And whether you only used it in school once or twice, or you use it for work on a daily basis, there’s always something new to learn about the classic Microsoft platform.

Even if you know how to use PowerPoint, did you know that you can embed videos in your presentations?

Creating a successful slideshow is no small task. So, if you’re new to Microsoft PowerPoint, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with the features and tools you need to build a presentation.

We’ll guide you through the process of creating a PowerPoint slideshow by adding slides and elements as well as how to present the show when you finish. These basics are just what you need as a beginner and should get you off to a terrific start with PowerPoint.