Working with Animation Events in PowerPoint 2010
Using the PowerPoint animation feature is what adds the movement to the individual objects on the slide. These objects can be text boxes, graphic objects such as a PowerPoint chart, a music selection or a photograph, to name a few examples. The idea of using an animation is to bring the audience's focus to the point you are trying to make.
Note - If you are new to PowerPoint you will first need to learn How to Add Animations to PowerPoint 2010 Slides.
What Are Animation Events?
Animations can be set up to play in three different manners -- called animation events. These are:
- On Click - This is the default setting for an animation. The event will only happen if the presenter clicks the mouse during the slide show. Alternatively, he may choose to press the spacebar or the right arrow key on the keyboard. If it happens that the presenter is using a remote control to advance slides/animations, there would be a specific button on that device to do this.
- With Previous - This setting is used when the presenter wants the animation to happen at the same time as the previous animation. For example: Perhaps he wants music to play at the same time as a certain picture appears on screen. If no other animations have been applied to this slide, then the event will occur as soon as the slide transition is complete.
- After Previous - Once the previous animation is played, immediately, the next animation begins. If this slide contains no previous animations then this animation will play immediately following the slide transition.
Note - The default setting is On Click if you make no changes.
Change How an Animation Event Occurs on a Slide
- Step 1 - Open the Animation Pane
- Click on the object to which an animation has been applied. This could be a sound icon, a picture or a text box.
- Click on the Animations tab of the ribbon if it is not already selected.
- Click on the Animation Pane button, (towards the right side of the ribbon). This will open the Animation Pane task pane on the right side of the slide.
- In the example image above, note that there are two items listed in the Animation Pane. This indicates that animations have been applied to these objects, (in this case to the title text box and to the picture on the slide). However, the specific animations will occur On Click, which is the default setting. This may not be your choice and so, this setting can be changed. The steps are shown on the next page.