4.3 Charts, Tables, Transitions & Animations

PowerPoint provides tools for presenting numerical and structured information using tables and charts. Transitions and animations can also be used to control how slides and objects appear during a presentation.

What You Will Learn

• Create and format tables in PowerPoint.
• Insert charts into slides.
• Understand different chart types.
• Format charts for presentation use.
• Apply slide transitions.
• Use object animations.
• Control animation order and timing.
• Use visual effects appropriately.

Using Tables

Tables are useful when information needs to be displayed in rows and columns. They can be used to compare products, show schedules, display prices, present project information, or organize other structured data.

Creating Tables

A table can be inserted into a slide by selecting the required number of rows and columns. Information can then be entered into individual cells.

Formatting Tables

Tables can be formatted by changing cell appearance, borders, alignment, font formatting, and other available table design options. Important information can be emphasized using appropriate formatting.

Using Charts

Charts provide a visual way to present numerical information. PowerPoint supports different chart types, including column, bar, line, pie, and other chart formats depending on the version and available features.

Choosing a Chart Type

• Column or Bar Chart: Useful for comparing categories.
• Line Chart: Useful for showing changes over time.
• Pie Chart: Useful for showing parts of a meaningful whole.
• Other Chart Types: Can be selected when they communicate the particular dataset more effectively.

Formatting Charts

Chart titles, labels, legends, axes, and other elements can be adjusted to make the chart easier to understand. A chart should contain enough information to explain the data without becoming unnecessarily complicated.

Slide Transitions

A transition controls how one slide changes to the next during a slide show. PowerPoint provides different transition effects and options for controlling their duration and timing.

Object Animations

Animations control how individual objects such as text, images, shapes, and charts appear or move on a slide.

Common animation categories include entrance, emphasis, exit, and motion effects.

Animation Order

When multiple objects are animated, their order can be controlled so that information appears in a planned sequence. This can help the presenter reveal information step by step.

Using Animations Professionally

Animations should support the presentation rather than distract from the content. Too many effects or unnecessarily complex animations can make a presentation difficult to follow.

Practical Activity

Create a presentation titled Monthly Sales Report.

1. Create a title slide.
2. Create a slide containing a sales table.
3. Enter sales information for at least six months.
4. Create a column chart based on the sales data.
5. Add an appropriate chart title.
6. Create a second chart showing the sales trend.
7. Apply a simple transition between slides.
8. Add an entrance animation to selected text or visual elements.
9. Adjust the animation order.
10. Run the slide show and review the timing and effects.

Learning Outcome

After completing this section, learners will be able to create tables and charts, format visual data, apply slide transitions, use object animations, and control presentation effects appropriately.