Custom Animation


	Custom Animation

Last Updated: November 16, 2003

For most uses, what is referred to in Power Point as custom animation should be called "progressive disclosure" (page 164 in the text). In bullet point slides, this technique is used to reveal one point at a time. This technique is very helpful to focus attention when you plan to talk about each point on a slide individually. When all the points are on a slide the audience will be reading points 2, 3 & 4 when you real goal is to focus their attention on point 1! Whether to use it or not depends on how you will use a slide, if you are just briefly mentioning each point then having them present on the screen together is the best course. If, however, you will discuss each point separately, then use the custom animation.

When using this technique be sure that you are bring in a point just as you start to discuss it. It is important that the verbal match the visual.

Although this technique can be applied to any object on a Power Point slide such as a graphic, the directions will be given here for bulleted text. Variations in use of this feature allow you to make objects appear and disappear. As you become more comfortable you will want to experiment with many of the options. Take the time to investigate the many choices available.

Power Point 97 and 2000
Power Point XP (2002)

Power Point 97 and 2000

Right click anywhere in the bulleted text box
Select Custom Animation
Drop down the box under Entry Animation and Sound
Click on the technique you wish to use (It is recommended that one use these judiciously, what is "cute" to the designer, may detracts from the overall presentation. Appear or dissolve are the least intrusive.)
If you have more than one level of bullets, after selecting the technique, under grouped by, select the appropriate level.
Click on Preview to see how the objects will appear.

Power Point XP (2002)

Be sure that nothing is selected and right click anywhere in the bulleted text box
Select Custom Animation which produces a column on the right side of the screen.
Click on Add Effect
Click on Entrance.
Select the effect you wish. (It is recommended that one use these judiciously, what is "cute" to the designer, may detract from the overall presentation. Appear or dissolve are the least intrusive.)
Numbers will appear along the left side of the text box indicating the order in which each point will appear.
Note the other choices, e.g. under "Start" you can select if the next object should appear when you click, or automatically.
To remove an effect, click on the number on the slide and in the right column click on Remove.
There are times when you wish that sub points under a bullet point come in individually. The default is for the subpoint to appear with the main point. This can be changed. To do this:
1. On the right side bar click on the gray line under the point to which you wish to have subpoints appear individually. It has two carets (^) pointing upwards.
2. Click on the point you wish to appear separately to select it.
3. In the start box click "on click."
4. Repeat steps b to d for any points you wish to affect.

HINT: Sometimes when you use custom animation in a presentation you may not remember if a point is the last one on your slide. I always add a small circle in the lower right corner of the slide that appears automatically with the last point. Thus a glance at the slide tells me "This is all there is." To add this, I wait until the presentation is in a final format (Or as final as I am going to do now - one changes things even at the last minute.), then create it on the first slide and add the custom animation to appear with the last point. Then I copy it to every slide. This assures that the placement is the same on all slides and that it appears with the last point.

The XP (2002) version added many new features to custom animation including the ability to move an object across the screen in a path that you design, and the ability to make items disappear. Used creatively these can produce many interesting effects.

WARNING: Be careful in applying these features - it is possible for the slide to upstage you and prevent the audience from hearing your message. When you use them be sure that they add understanding to the message, not glitz.

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