Lab 2E: Using Transitions and Soundtracks

In this project, you set up each slide to automatically advance after 15 seconds, and you specify a transition effect. You also add a MIDI-based soundtrack to the presentation that will loop continuously as long as the presentation is playing.

Level of difficulty: Easy

Time to complete: 5 to 10 minutes

1. Open the presentation file if it is not already open, and save it as  MyLab2E.pptx.

   Start in your completed file from the previous project (MyLab2D.pptx), or open  Lab2E.pptx from the Labs folder if you did not do the previous lab.

2. Set all slides to the Fade Smoothly transition automatically after 15 seconds.

   1. On the Animations tab, in the Transition to This Slide group, click Fade Smoothly.

   2. Open the Transition Speed drop-down list and choose Slow.

   3. Mark the Automatically After check box and enter 00:15 for it.

   4. Click Apply to All.

   

3. Locate a MIDI, WMA, or MP3 music clip.

   There are many sources of free music on the Internet. Use whatever music you think would be appropriate for this presentation. If possible, try to find something without lyrics so that a speaker will be audible while the presentation is showing in the background.

   If you do not want to take the time to find one for this lab, search your computer for sound files (Start Search). Sample sounds may be available in the My Music folder, depending on the Windows version.

4. Insert the music clip on slide #1, and set it up to play automatically when the slide appears and to continue playing until the presentation is over (or until the clip ends).

   1. Display slide #1.

   2. On the Insert tab, choose Sound Sound from File.

      

   3. In the Insert Sound dialog box, navigate to and select the sound clip.

   4. Click OK.

      

   5. In the dialog box that appears, click Automatically.

      A speaker icon appears on the slide.

      

   6. On the Animations tab, click Custom Animation to display the Custom Animation task pane if it is not already visible.

   7. In the Custom Animation task pane, open the object's menu and choose Timing.

      

   8. Click the Effect tab.

   9. In the Stop Playing section, click the After button, and then enter 999 in its text box. This makes it play continuously, looping back through if needed.

   10. Click OK.

   11. Drag the sound icon off the edge of the slide so that it doesn't show in the presentation.

   

5. Watch the entire presentation in Slide Show view, without clicking, to check the transitions, animation, and music. Then adjust any transition timings that might seem awkward to you.

6. Save your work.