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PowerPoint 2007 equivalents of older version commands (and Commando)

Problem

You know how to find a command or setting in earlier Powerpoint versions.

Now you need to locate the same option in PowerPoint 2007 but they've moved everything.

Use keyboard shortcuts

To start with, most if not all of the keyboard commands you know from earlier versions of PowerPoint will work in PowerPoint 2007. But to find where and what to click with the mouse, try this interactive tutorial from Microsoft

Microsoft has some search tools

Here you'll find a downloadable Excel template that translates PPT 2003 menu and toolbar commands to the new PPT 2007 ribbon

Or this page that includes a link to an online interactive tutorial

The Office Labs Search Commands add-in lets you search for commands by keyword (though it doesn't actually help you find the new location of old commands).

Commando2007 does the translation from within PowerPoint

Of course, it's a pain to have to bounce back and forth between PowerPoint and Excel or a web page. So we've just cobbled up a simple little add-in that gives you "command translations" from within PowerPoint.

To try it out:

To use it, click Commando2007 on the Tools menu (PowerPoint 2003 and previous). In PowerPoint 2007, use Add-ins | Menu Commands | Commando 2007.

When you click Commando2007, a dialog box appears.

Choose the PowerPoint 2003 menu or toolbar in the upper list box, then pick the command you want from the lower listbox. Commando2007 displays the current location of the command in 2007.

When you click Accumulate, Commando2007 clears the box where it displays results and begins to accumulate two lists of commands, one for each version of PowerPoint. Each time you choose a new command, Commando2007 updates the list and displays it in the text box. This way you can build up a set of instructions for both versions of PowerPoint at once. When you're done, click in the text box containing the results, press Ctrl+A to select them all, then Ctrl+C to copy them to the clipboard. From there you can paste them wherever you like.

You can leave the dialog box open while you work. Click the X in the upper right corner to shrink it out of the way.

While it's small, you can click Restore to bring it back to full size or Quit to dismiss the dialog box completely.

Customize the ribbon bar

If you'd like a more customizable approach to the Office 2007 ribbon, have a look at Patrick Schmid's RibbonCustomizer

UBit Menu adds another ribbon that mimics the older PowerPoint menu

Equivalents

You'll note that quite a few of the PPT 2007 commands below begin with OfficeButton.
This is the big round button at the upper left of your PowerPoint screen:

Operation PowerPoint 2003 Powerpoint 2007
Install or uninstall a PPA addin Tools, Add-Ins OfficeButton, PowerPoint Options, Add-Ins, Manage:PowerPoint Add-Ins, Go
Set macro security Tools, Macro, Security OfficeButton, PowerPoint Options, Trust Center, Trust Center Settings

2003 setting / 2007 approximate equivalent
Very High / Disable all macros without notification (?)
High / Disable all macros except digitally signed macros
Medium / Disable all macros with notification
Low / Enable all macros
Note that the rules are different for macros in trusted locations
VBA Editor Tools, Macro, Visual Basic Editor (or Alt+F11) OfficeButton, PowerPoint Options, Popular, put check next to "Show Developer tab in the ribbon"; you can then click the Developer tab and click Visual Basic. Alt+F11 also works, whether or not you've enabled the Developer tab.
Customize toolbars, menus, buttons Tools, Customize OfficeButton, PowerPoint Options, Customize (very limited)
But right-click the Quick-Access Toolbar (QAT) and choose "customize quick access toolbar" to get here more easily.
Change AutoCorrect settings Tools, AutoCorrect Options OfficeButton, PowerPoint Options, Proofing, AutoCorrect Options
PowerPoint version and build number Help, About Microsoft PowerPoint OfficeButton, PowerPoint Options, Resources, About
Diagnostics/Repair Help, Detect & Repair OfficeButton, PowerPoint Options, Resources, Diagnose
Check for updates Help, Check for Updates OfficeButton, PowerPoint Options, Resources, Check for Updates
Inserting slides Insert, Slides, From File Home tab, Slides group, click New Slide, Reuse Slides. In Reuse slides pane, click Open a PowerPoint file.
Constrain line/freeform drawing Hold down shift while drawing No apparent equivalent


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PowerPoint 2007 equivalents of older version commands (and Commando)
http://www.pptfaq.com/FAQ00845_PowerPoint_2007_equivalents_of_older_version_commands_-and_Commando-.htm
Last update 07 June, 2011
Created: