A digital presentation is a way of presenting information clearly and effectively to an audience using a computer.
Digital presentations help in communicating ideas, opinions, and information in an attractive and easy-to-understand manner.
A presentation can contain different types of elements such as text, lists, tables, graphics, sound, video, and animations.
Presentations are widely used in business organizations, education, training programs, seminars, and meetings.

Characteristics of a Good Quality Presentation

Limited Text on Slides: Each slide should contain about 5–8 lines only. Too much text makes the slide crowded and difficult to read.
Appropriate Font Size: Use a font size of 32 points or more so that the audience can easily read the content, even from a distance.
Correct Grammar and Language: Ensure that the presentation is free from grammar and spelling mistakes to communicate information accurately.
Limited Use of Graphics: Do not add more than two images, drawings, tables, or charts on a slide, as too many graphics may confuse the audience.
Proper Use of Colours: Use light backgrounds with dark-coloured text, maintain good contrast, and use different colours only to highlight important points.
Controlled Use of Animations and Videos: Include only one animation or video per slide to avoid distraction and overlapping sounds.
Focus on the Target Audience: Organize the content in a logical sequence and design the presentation according to the needs and interests of the audience so that the main objective is achieved.

Create a Presentation

Libre Office Impress

LibreOffice Impress is a presentation software included in the LibreOffice suite developed by The Document Foundation.
LibreOffice Impress is free, open-source, and widely used for creating professional presentations.
It allows users to create presentations using text, graphics, multimedia, and animations.
Presentations created in Impress can be opened in other presentation software such as Microsoft PowerPoint.

Getting Started with LibreOffice Impress

In Windows, LibreOffice Impress can be started by:
- Double-clicking the Impress shortcut on the desktop.
- Clicking the Start/Windows button and selecting LibreOffice → LibreOffice Impress.
In Ubuntu Linux, LibreOffice Impress can be opened by:
- Clicking the Impress icon from the Application Launcher.
- Using Show Applications, searching for “Impress”, and selecting LibreOffice Impress from the search results.

After launching the software, the Impress application window opens, displaying its various components and tools.

Parts of LibreOffice Impress Window

Title Bar

The Title Bar is located at the top of the Impress window.
It displays the presentation file name along with its .odp extension

Menu Bar

The Menu Bar contains all commands required to create, edit, and manage presentations.
Commands are organized into different menus for easy access.

Important Menus in Impress

File Menu
- Used for file-related operations such as creating, opening, saving, and closing presentations.
Edit Menu
- Used for editing tasks such as Cut, Copy, Paste, and other modification commands.
View Menu
- Used to change the appearance of the workspace.
- Provides options for different views, zooming, and toolbars.
Insert Menu
- Used to insert objects such as tables, shapes, text boxes, charts, images, and other elements into a presentation.
Format Menu
- Contains options for formatting text and other presentation objects.
Slide Menu
- Used to insert, duplicate, rename, or delete slides.
Slide Show Menu
- Used to run and control the presentation during a slide show.
Tools Menu
- Provides utilities such as spelling check and other tools for managing presentations.
Window Menu
- Used to switch between or view multiple open presentations.
Help Menu
- Provides help and guidance on using LibreOffice Impress features.

Various Toolbars and Components of LibreOffice Impress

LibreOffice Impress provides various toolbars and panes to make creating and managing presentations easier.

Standard Toolbar

Contains icons for commonly used commands from the menu bar.
Provides quick access to operations such as New, Open, Save, Cut, Copy, Paste, Undo, and Redo.

Slide Pane

Displays slides in a small thumbnail view for easy navigation.
Clicking a slide in the pane opens it in the workspace for editing.
Helps users quickly move between slides.

Workspace

The main working area of Impress.
Used to create slides, enter text, insert images, and add other objects.

Slides Pane

Located on the left side of the window.
Shows all presentation slides in thumbnail form.

Tasks Pane

Located on the right side of the window.
Provides tools for designing and formatting presentations.

Master Pages

Used to define the overall design and style of slides.
Changes made to a master page can apply to multiple slides.
Impress provides several built-in master page templates.

Layouts

Provides different slide layouts for arranging content.
Users can choose, modify, and save layouts for future use.

Table Design

Offers predefined table styles.
Table appearance can be customized according to requirements.

Custom Animation

Used to add, modify, or remove animation effects from text and objects.
Makes presentations more attractive and interactive.

Slide Transition

Controls how one slide changes to the next during a slideshow.
Allows setting transition effects, speed, sound, and automatic slide changes.

Drawing Toolbar

Provides tools for creating shapes, diagrams, and artistic drawings.
Helps make presentations more visually appealing.

Insertion Point

The blinking cursor that indicates where text will appear when typed.

Status Bar

Located at the bottom of the Impress window.
Displays information such as the current slide, cursor position, and zoom level.

Zoom Control

Used to zoom in or zoom out of a slide.
Helps users view slides more comfortably while editing.

Closing LibreOffice Impress

LibreOffice Impress can be closed using any of the following methods:
- Click the Close (×) button on the title bar.
- Select File → Exit from the menu bar.
- Press Alt + F4 on the keyboard.
- Press Ctrl + Q to quit the application.

Creating a Presentation Using a Template

A template is a pre-designed presentation layout that helps create professional-looking presentations quickly.

To create a new presentation, select File → New, click the New icon, or press Ctrl + N.
After creating a new presentation, the Select a Template window appears.
After selecting a template, a new presentation opens with the chosen design and formatting.

Selecting a Slide Layout

A slide layout determines how content such as titles, text, images, and other objects are arranged on a slide.
Slide layouts can be selected from the Layouts section in the Properties window (Sidebar).
A slide layout can also be selected using: Slide → Slide Layout → Required Layout
To change the layout of an existing slide:
- Select the slide from the Slides Pane.
- The slide appears in the Workspace.
- Choose the desired layout from the Layouts section in the Sidebar.

Adding Text to a Slide

Text can be added to a slide using a text frame (placeholder).
Click inside the area marked “Click to add text” and start typing.

Saving a Presentation

Saving a presentation protects your work from being lost and allows it to be used later.
To save a presentation:
- Select File → Save OR Press Ctrl + S OR Click the Save button on the Standard Toolbar
- When saving a presentation for the first time, the Save dialog box appears.
- In the Save dialog box:
  - Select the location (folder or drive) where the file will be stored.
  - Enter a suitable file name for the presentation.
  - Click Save.

Saving a Presentation in a Different Format

To save in a different format:
- Select File → Save As
- Open the Save As dialog box.
Click the All Formats (or Save as Type) drop-down list.
Select the required file format from the available options.
Common formats include:
- .odp – OpenDocument Presentation (default format)
- .ppt – Microsoft PowerPoint 97/2000/XP/2003 format
- .pptx – Microsoft PowerPoint format
After selecting the format, click Save to store the presentation in the chosen file type.
Steps: File → Save As → Choose format → Save.

Running a Slide Show – Important Notes

A slide show is used to display the presentation to an audience.
To start a slide show:
- Select Slide Show → Start from First Slide
- Click the Slide Show icon on the toolbar
- Press F5 on the keyboard
To end the slide show at any time, press the Esc key.

Saving a Presentation as PDF

Click File → Export as PDF.
Select the folder where the file will be saved.
Enter a file name.
Click Save.

Closing a Presentation

To close a presentation:
- Select File → Close
- Or press Ctrl + W

Using Help in LibreOffice Impress

Selecting Help → LibreOffice Help opens the Help window.
The Help window contains a list of available topics related to Impress features and commands.
The fastest way to open the Help window is by pressing the F1 key.

Working with Slides

Slides are the individual pages of a presentation.
To continue creating a presentation, new slides can be added as required.
LibreOffice Impress allows you to add:
- New Slides
- Duplicate Slides
A Duplicate Slide creates an exact copy of an existing slide.
A New Slide creates a fresh slide that can have a different layout and content.

Inserting a Duplicate Slide

A duplicate slide is useful when the new slide needs the same design, layout, or content as an existing slide.
It saves time because there is no need to recreate the slide from the beginning.

Methods to Insert a Duplicate Slide

Select the slide from the Slides Pane and choose: Slide → Duplicate Slide
Right-click the slide and select: Duplicate Slide
Right-click inside the Workspace and choose: Slide → Duplicate Slide
Click the Duplicate Slide icon on the Presentation Toolbar.

Inserting a New Slide

A new slide is added when new content needs to be presented.

Methods to Insert a New Slide

Select: Slide → New Slide
Right-click a slide and choose: New Slide
Right-click an empty area in the Workspace and select: Slide → New Slide
Click the New Slide icon on the Presentation Toolbar.
Use the keyboard shortcut: Ctrl + M

Slide Layout

After inserting a new slide, it contains one or more content boxes (placeholders).
Content boxes are used to insert different types of content into a slide such as text, images, videos, charts or table etc.
To change the layout of a slide:
- Select the slide from the Slides Pane.
- The slide appears in the Workspace.
- Choose the required layout from the Layouts section in the Sidebar.
Different layouts provide different arrangements of titles, text, and other objects.

Copying and Moving Slides – Important Notes

Existing slides can be reused within the same presentation or in another presentation.
Copying creates a duplicate of the slide.
Moving changes the position of the slide without creating a copy.

Cut and Paste Method

Select the slide you want to move or copy.
Right-click the slide and choose:
- Cut to move the slide.
- Copy to create a duplicate.
Select the location where the slide should be placed.
Right-click and choose Paste.

Drag and Drop Method

To Copy a Slide

Select the slide.
Press and hold the Ctrl key.
Click and hold the left mouse button on the slide.
Drag the slide to the desired location.
Release the mouse button and then the Ctrl key.

To Move a Slide

Select the slide.
Click and hold the left mouse button.
Drag the slide to the required position.
Release the mouse button.

Unlike copying, moving a slide does not require the Ctrl key.

Deleting Slides

Select the slide from the Slides Pane.
Right-click on the selected slide.
Choose Delete Slide from the context menu. OR
Select the slide and press the Delete key on the keyboard.

Renaming a Slide

By default, slides are named Slide 1, Slide 2, Slide 3, and so on.

Steps to Rename a Slide

Select the slide in the Slides Pane.
Right-click on the selected slide.
Choose Rename Slide from the context menu.
The Rename Slide dialog box appears.
Enter the new slide name.
Confirm the change

Copying, Moving and Deleting Content – Important Notes

LibreOffice Impress uses the same text editing commands as LibreOffice Writer.
Text and objects can be copied, moved, or deleted within the same presentation or between different presentations.

Copying and Moving Content

Before copying or moving, first select the text or object.
Right-click the selected content and choose:
- Copy to create a duplicate.
- Cut to move the content.
Place the cursor at the destination where the content should appear.
Right-click and select Paste to insert the copied or cut content.

Deleting Text

Text can be deleted using the Delete and Backspace keys.
Delete Key
- Removes the character to the right of the cursor.
Backspace Key
- Removes the character to the left of the cursor.

Viewing a Presentation

Users can view slides in larger, smaller, or normal size for better readability and editing.
The display size of a presentation is controlled using the Zoom feature.

Controlling the Size of the View (Zoom)

The Zoom and View Layout dialog box can be opened from the View menu.
Users can:
- Select a predefined zoom value.
- Enter a custom zoom percentage as a whole number.
Zooming changes only the display size of slides and does not affect the actual content.

Methods to Zoom In or Zoom Out

Using the Zoom Slider

The Zoom Slider is located on the Status Bar. Drag the slider to: Zoom In (increase slide size) or Zoom Out (decrease slide size)

Using the Zoom Button

Click the Zoom button on the Standard Toolbar. Select the desired zoom level.

Using the Menu

Select: View → Zoom → Zoom
The Zoom and View Layout dialog box appears.
Choose the required zoom option.

Workspace Views in LibreOffice Impress

LibreOffice Impress provides different workspace views to help users create, organize, and manage presentations efficiently.
Workspace views can be accessed from the View menu.
The main workspace views are:
- Normal View
- Outline View
- Notes View
- Slide Sorter View

Normal View

Normal View is the default and most commonly used view.
It is used to:
- Create and edit slides
- Format content
- Insert text, images, charts, and other objects
- Apply animation effects
The selected slide appears in the Workspace at the center of the window.
Slide thumbnails are displayed in the Slides Pane on the left side for easy navigation.

Outline View

Outline View displays all slides in a sequential outline format.
Only the text content of slides is shown.
Graphics, images, charts, and animations are not displayed.
It helps in:
- Reviewing presentation content
- Checking the logical flow of topics
- Editing text quickly
Useful for focusing on the structure of the presentation.

Notes View

Notes View is used to add speaker notes for individual slides.
These notes help the presenter during the presentation.
Notes are not visible to the audience during the slide show.
It provides a separate area below the slide for entering explanatory notes and reminders.

Slide Sorter View

Slide Sorter View displays all slides as thumbnails on a single screen.
It is mainly used to:
- Rearrange slide order
- Organize presentations
- Manage multiple slides at once

Formatting Text and apply Animations

Formatting Text in LibreOffice Impress

Text in a presentation can be formatted to improve its appearance and readability.
Formatting can be done using:
- Formatting Toolbar
- Format → Text menu option
- Keyboard shortcuts

Basic Text Formatting

Font Name

Used to change the style or typeface of text.
Select a font from the Font Name drop-down list.

Font Size

Used to increase or decrease the size of text.
Select the required size from the Font Size drop-down list.

Increase Font Size

Enlarges the selected text.
Shortcut: Ctrl + ]

Decrease Font Size

Reduces the size of the selected text.
Shortcut: Ctrl + [

Bold

Makes text darker and more prominent.
Used to emphasize important content.
Shortcut: Ctrl + B

Italic

Slants the text to the right.
Often used for emphasis or special terms.
Shortcut: Ctrl + I

Underline

Draws a line below the selected text.
Shortcut: Ctrl + U

Strikethrough

Draws a line through the middle of the selected text.
Indicates deleted or cancelled content.

Superscript

Raises text above the normal line.
Commonly used for exponents and mathematical expressions.
Shortcut: Ctrl + Shift + P

Subscript

Places text below the normal line.
Commonly used in chemical formulas.
Shortcut: Ctrl + Shift + B

Font Colour

Changes the colour of the selected text.
Choose a colour from the colour palette.

Highlight Colour

Applies a coloured background behind the selected text.
Used to highlight important information.

Paragraph Formatting

Text Alignment

Used to position text within a text box.

Left Align – Aligns text to the left margin.
Center Align – Places text in the center.
Right Align – Aligns text to the right margin.
Justify – Aligns text evenly along both margins.

Vertical Alignment

Used to position text vertically within a text box.

Align Top – Places text at the top.
Align Center Vertically – Places text in the middle.
Align Bottom – Places text at the bottom.

Bullets and Numbering

Used to organize information in list form.

Bullets

Display information as unordered points.

Numbering

Display information in a numbered sequence.
Different bullet and numbering styles can be selected from the drop-down list.
Additional options are available through the Bullets and Numbering Dialog Box.

Paragraph and Line Spacing

Increase Paragraph Spacing

Increases the space before and after a paragraph.

Decrease Paragraph Spacing

Reduces the space before and after a paragraph.

Line Spacing

Adjusts the distance between lines within a paragraph.
Different line spacing options can be selected from the drop-down menu.

Create and use Tables in LibreOffice Impress

Inserting Tables

Tables are used to organize and present data in rows and columns.
A table can be inserted into a slide in several ways:
- Click the Table icon on the Standard Toolbar.
- Select Insert → Table from the menu.
- Click the Table icon in a blank slide’s content box.

Entering and Editing Data in a Table

Data is entered by placing the insertion point inside a table cell and typing the content.
The insertion point can be moved within the table using:
- Mouse click
- TAB key
- Arrow keys

Navigation in a Table

TAB Key → Moves to the next cell.
Arrow Keys → Move between adjacent cells.
Mouse Click → Directly places the cursor in a selected cell.

Selecting a Cell

Move the mouse pointer to the left edge of the cell.
When the pointer changes to a slanted white arrow, click the mouse button.
The cell becomes selected.

Selecting a Row or Column

Position the mouse pointer on the row or column.
When the pointer changes to a slanted white arrow:
- Click and drag across the row or column.

Method 2: Using the Context Menu

Right-click the desired row or column.
Choose the appropriate selection option from the context menu.

Selecting a Table

Move the mouse pointer to the table border.
When the pointer changes to a slanted white arrow, click the left mouse button.
The entire table gets selected.

Adjusting Column Width and Row Height

Adjusting Column Width

Move the mouse pointer to the border between two columns.
When the pointer changes to a double-headed arrow (↔), click and hold the left mouse button.
Drag the border left or right to set the required width.
Release the mouse button.

Adjusting Row Height

Move the mouse pointer to the border between two rows.
When the pointer changes to a resize pointer, click and hold the left mouse button.
Drag the border up or down to adjust the row height.
Release the mouse button.
This allows tables to be resized for better appearance and readability.

Table Borders and Background

Right-click on the table border.
Select Table Properties.
The Table Properties dialog box opens.
Use the available options to:
- Change table borders
- Modify border styles and thickness
- Apply background colours or effects
Proper formatting makes tables more attractive and easier to understand.

Insert and Format image in presentation

Inserting an Image from a File

Select Insert → Image from the menu bar. Or click the Insert Image icon on the Standard Toolbar.
The Insert Image dialog box appears.
Browse and select the required image file.
Click Open (or insert) to place the image on the slide.

Inserting an Image from the Gallery

Select Insert → Media → Gallery.
The Gallery window opens and displays different image categories (themes).
Select a theme and browse the available images.
Choose the desired image.
Drag the image onto the slide workspace.
Release the mouse button to place the image on the slide.

Formatting Images in LibreOffice Impress

Image formatting is used to adjust the appearance and position of images in a presentation.
Common image formatting operations include:
- Moving
- Resizing
- Rotating

Moving Images

Click on the image to select it.
The mouse pointer changes to a hand shape.
Click and hold the left mouse button.
Drag the image to the desired location.
Release the mouse button.

Resizing Images

Click on the image to select it.
Selection handles appear around the image.
Move the pointer over a selection handle.
The cursor changes to a resize pointer.
Click and drag the handle to increase or decrease the image size.
Release the mouse button when the required size is achieved.

Rotating Images

Select the image.
Click the Rotate icon on the Line and Filling Toolbar.
Click the selected image again.
The selection handles change their shape and appearance.
Click and drag the mouse in the direction you want to rotate the image.
Release the mouse button when the desired rotation is achieved.

Formatting Images Using the Image Toolbar

The Image Toolbar can also be displayed by selecting:
- View → Toolbars → Image
Using the Image Toolbar, images can be adjusted and enhanced according to presentation requirements.

Managing Graphic Objects

LibreOffice Impress provides various tools for creating and managing graphical objects.
Graphic objects include:
- Lines
- Shapes
- Diagrams
- Drawings
These objects can be created using the Drawing Toolbar.
To display the Drawing Toolbar: Select View → Toolbars → Drawing

Drawing Lines

Open the Drawing Toolbar.
Click the small triangle beside the Line Tool.
Select the required line type.
Click and drag on the slide.
Release the mouse button to create the line.

Drawing Shapes

Select the desired shape from the Drawing Toolbar.
Click on the slide.
Drag the mouse to create the shape.
Release the mouse button when the required size is achieved.

Grouping Objects

Multiple objects can be combined into a single group.
After grouping, all selected objects behave as one object.

Steps to Group Objects

Select the objects:
- Drag a selection rectangle around them, or
- Hold Shift and click each object
Group the selected objects by:
- Format → Group
- Or press Ctrl + Shift + G
- Or right-click and select Group

Ungrouping Objects

Ungrouping separates a grouped object back into individual objects.

Steps to Ungroup Objects

Select the grouped object.
When selection handles appear, choose:
- Format → Group → Ungroup
- Or press Ctrl + Alt + Shift + G
- Or right-click the group and select Ungroup

Working with Slide Masters

Slide Master is a predefined design template that controls the overall appearance of slides.
Slide Masters are available in the Master Pages section of the Sidebar.
The Master Pages section contains three categories:
- Used in this Presentation – Masters currently used in the presentation.
- Recently Used – Masters that were recently applied.
- Available for Use – All available slide masters and templates.
Click the expand marker (+) to view the slide master thumbnails.
Click the collapse marker (−) to hide the thumbnails.
To apply a Slide Master:
- Open the Master Pages section.
- Select the desired slide master.
- Click on it to apply the design to the presentation.

Adding Slide Transitions

Slide Transition is a visual effect that appears when moving from one slide to another during a presentation.
Transitions make presentations more attractive and engaging.

Steps to Add a Transition

Open the Sidebar.
Click the Slide Transition icon.
Select the slide(s) in the Slides Pane or Slide Sorter View.
- To apply a transition to all slides, do not select any specific slide.
Choose a transition effect from the Apply to Selected Slides list.

Modifying Transition Effects

After selecting a transition, additional settings can be customized.

Transition Speed

Controls how fast or slow the transition effect appears.

Sound Effects

A sound can be added to play during the transition.
Select a sound from the Sound list.

Loop Until Next Sound

Available when a sound is selected.
Repeats the sound continuously until another sound starts.

Slide Advancement Options

By Mouse Click

The next slide appears when the presenter clicks the mouse.

Automatically After

The slide changes automatically after a specified time.
The duration must be set by the user.

Applying Transition to All Slides

Click Apply to All Slides to use the same transition effect throughout the presentation.

Previewing the Transition

Click Slide Show to preview and check the transition effects from the current slide.

Understand Features of an effective presentation

Introduction to Digital Presentations