Task Panes

The Task Pane is a rectangular window that appears docked on the right side of your PowerPoint window.
It acts as an open menu allowing you to select from a range of commands and functions.
It displays a list of links and commands allowing you to perform different tasks depending on what you are doing at the time.
The task pane is designed to help you complete tasks quickly and will change automatically according to the task in hand.

Displaying the Task Pane

If the Task Pane is not displayed it can be displayed at any time by selecting (View > Task Pane).
If you want to close the task pane you can either select (View > Task Pane) again or click on the small black cross in the top right corner.
You can also use the shortcut key (Ctrl + F1) to toggle the display of the task pane.
Using the arrow in the top right corner allows you to quickly move between the different panes.

Getting Started

When you first open PowerPoint the Getting Started page will appear automatically in the task pane.

Connect to Microsoft Office Online -
Get the latest news about using PowerPoint -
Automatically update this list from the web -
More -
Search for -
Open - Lists the four presentations that you have most recently worked on. If the presentation you want to work on is listed, just click to open the presentation.
More -
Create a new presentation -

Help

Search for - Searches the Office Online website for any matching results.
Table of Contents - Displays the full table of contents for the PowerPoint Help file.
Connect to Microsoft Office Online -
Get the latest news about using PowerPoint -
Automatically update this list from the web -
More -
Assistance - Opens your browser and displays the Assistance page from the Office Online website.
Training - Opens your browser and displays the Training page from the Office Online website.
Communities - Opens your browser and displays the PowerPoint newsgroups from the Office Online website.
Downloads - Opens your browser and displays the Downloads page from the Office Online website.
What's New - Displays a list of features that are new to PowerPoint 2003.
Contact Us - Opens your browser and displays the Contact Us page from the Office Online website.
Accessibility Help - Displays the help file displaying the Accessibility features in Office Help page.
Online Content Settings - Displays the Service Options dialog box.

Clipboard

Paste All - Pastes each item from the clipboard into the current workbook from oldest to newest.
Clear All - Removes all items from the Office clipboard. You cannot undo this action.

Options drop-down
Show Office Clipboard Automatically - Displays the office clipboard task pane automatically when you copy more than one item.
Collect without showing Office Clipboard - Collects items on your clipboard without displaying the task pane.
Show Office Clipboard icon on Taskbar - Displays a small icon in the bottom right corner of your task bar.
Show status near Taskbar when Copying - Displays the status in the bottom right corner of the your task bar.

New Presentation

Blank presentation - Creates a blank presentation. This is the same as pressing the New button on the Standard toolbar.
From design template - Displays the "Slide Design" task pane allowing you to select a design template.
From AutoContent Wizard - Displays the AutoContent Wizard dialog box.
From existing presentation - Displays the New from Existing Presentation dialog box allowing you to browse to an existing presentation or template.
Photo album -
Search online for -
Templates on Office Online - Opens your browser and displays the PowerPoint Templates page from the Office Online website.
On my computer - Displays the New Presentation dialog box.
On my Web sites - Displays the New from Templates on my Web Sites dialog box allowing you to select the website you want to display.

Other Task Panes

These are all discussed in more detail in the relevant sections.
Clip Art -
Research -
Shared Workspace -
Document Update -
Slide Layout - Displays thumbnails of all possible slide layouts which can be inserted.
Slide Design - In PowerPoint 2002 this used to be the "Slide Design - Design Templates" task pane. Displays thumbnails of all the design templates currently available.
Slide Design - Color Schemes - Displays the various colour schemes based on the current slide design template.
Slide Design - Animation Schemes - Displays all of the animation effects for all the individual objects on the active slide.
Custom Animation - Allows you to set and preview the animation effects for each individual object on the active slide.
Slide Transition - Lets you define the slide transition for each slide.
Revisions Pane - Allows you to obtain a unified list of every comment and change suggested for the presentation and the ability to accept and reject them individually or all at once.