Accessible PowerPoint (implementation guide)

2.3. Table of contents

More extensive presentations have a table of contents at the start date.

What does that mean?

For more extensive presentations, a table of contents should be created to provide an overview of the sections of the presentation. In general, a presentation is considered extensive if it has several slides and the content is complex.

A table of contents is a list of the chapters or sections of a presentation. It gives the reader an overview of the content and structure of the presentation and makes it easier to find specific topics or sections. The table of contents is usually located at the start of a presentation and indicates the page number on which the respective section begins.

Why is it important?

A table of contents proves to be extremely valuable for recipients who need a clear structure to find their way around an extensive presentation. It is an indispensable tool for orientation and navigation within the presentation and can save readers the time-consuming search for relevant information.

How can I implement/check it?

There are various ways to create a table of contents in PowerPoint. Two options for PowerPoint 2003 and 2007 are shown in the following history:

1. Create all the slides first and only start creating the table of contents at the end.
2. With PowerPoint 2003, you can open the "Slide sorting" function via "View" in the ribbon.
3. You can create a directory using the "Overview slide" or "Contents slide" functions that open.

From version 2007 onwards, you will have to carry out the individual steps yourself:

1. Switch to the "View" ribbon and open the "Outline view".
2. If you only want to include the headings in your table of contents, right-click in the outline and select "Reduce outline" > "Reduce all levels".
3. Then select and copy ([Ctrl] + [C]) the outline on the left-hand side and right-click to create a "New slide".
4. Now insert the outline here using the key combination [Ctrl] + [V]. Optionally, you can also write the slide number at the end of the line.
5. The last step is to select a heading and move the slide to the correct position.

The table of contents is now displayed on the slide. You can move or resize it, just like any other object in PowerPoint.