Glossary for Microsoft Office terms
A
An add-in is a software extension that provides additional functions to an existing software. In the basic software, interfaces for such extensions must be provided by the manufacturer. An add-in is closely linked to the existing software. QuickSlide for PowerPoint is a PowerPoint add-in that offers additional functions which can be adapted to the needs of large businesses. (See also add-on and plug-in)
The terms add-on and add-in are often used interchangeably. In simple terms, an add-on is additional software that is based on a main program but is not closely linked to it. For those working with Microsoft Office the term add-in is more common.
Agenda Assistants (also known as Agenda Wizards) facilitate the creation and editing of presentation agendas in PowerPoint. Sometimes, a company’s corporate design is integrated within the Agenda Assistant, so all agendas are automatically brand aligned.
The widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio has become standard for presentations as it is more suited for display on digital devices than the 4:3 format. If, however, a presentation needs to be printed out as a handout, for instance, then 4:3 or even A4 in landscape orientation works better. A quick switch between different aspect ratios is not possible as the layout is shifted, meaning every individual slide must be checked and adapted to the required look and feel. Conversion tools are available which help automate the switch between different formats.
Asset management in PowerPoint is the professional management, maintenance and distribution of content elements and features used for the creation and editing of presentations. Assets include, for instance, slides, presentations, images, icons, charts, and graphic elements. Software tools like QuickSlide for PowerPoint provide comprehensive asset management functions for businesses. (See also content management)
Microsoft Azure is a cloud-computing platform which provides a broad range of cloud services, including computer, analytics, storage and networking. Users can select from these services to develop and scale new applications or run existing applications in the cloud. Azure offers four different forms of cloud computing: infrastructure as a service (IaaS), platform as a service (PaaS), software as a service (SaaS) and serverless functions. Microsoft charges customers for Azure on a pay-as-you-go (PAYG) basis, meaning subscribers receive a bill each month that only charges them for the specific resources and services they have used. For QuickSlide, Azure is an ideal solution for storing and managing content.
B
See brand management
Brand management includes the automated, company-wide integration and application of a corporate design in PowerPoint. The key objective is for all employees to automatically create brand-aligned presentations. A software tool like QuickSlide lets users work with a preset design, an array of brand-compliant templates and features like the Corporate Design Check which detects and corrects any deviations from the predefined brand specifications, such as the color palette and use of fonts. This eliminates the need to manually monitor presentations for brand alignment and improves the overall quality of company presentations.
Relaunching a brand in PowerPoint presents special challenges for businesses. PowerPoint is usually not considered when developing a new corporate design, thus necessitating a special adaption of the design specifications for presentations. Presentations differ from marketing materials in that their creation and storage is often dispersed, not centralized. This raises the question of how to encourage all employees who use PowerPoint to consider the new brand identity and integrate it in presentations – or better still, how to enable them to work automatically in the new corporate design. (see also Key factors for implementing your corporate design.)
PowerPoint is a key tool for business communications, and therefore also for internal and external branding. A consistent brand presence is not so easy to achieve in PowerPoint, however. Specific technical requirements, users’ varying levels of knowledge for using the application, and lack of flair for design, result in PowerPoint existing independently of any other branding assets in many companies, with little or no incorporation of corporate design specifications. Add-ins like QuickSlide bridge this gap and therefore ensure that every PowerPoint user can create brand-compliant presentations.
C
A company presentation works like an extended business card for a company. It would be typically developed with feedback and approval loops with the company’s managing directors and can be used as a basis for first meetings with new customers, partners and business stakeholders. Besides data and facts, a business presentation would also include the company’s values. Clear recognizability of brand elements and adherence to the corporate design are particularly important on a company presentation.
(Learn more about the creation of company presentations and modular kits for presentations)
Content management in PowerPoint encompasses professional organization, distribution and maintenance of reusable content on slides and presentations. Professional content management saves time and effort for users who create presentations, eliminates duplicate work steps, and ensures that all content is always up to date. (See also asset management in PowerPoint)
The Corporate Design Check is one of the functions in software tools like QuickSlide which checks through slides and presentations for any deviations from the corporate design and automatically corrects them. For this to function smoothly, the corporate design specifications of a company are stored directly within this function of the software.
See brand relaunch
Some software tools like QuickSlide provide a Corporate Wording Check. This is where the use of specific terminology and phrases in PowerPoint is checked for accuracy and corrected as needed. This type of tool is different from a standard spell check as it allows brand-specific spelling and capitalization, brand names and product names to be checked and standardized.
D
Data-driven presentations are used to present important figures and KPIs visually and clearly, so they are quick to grasp. They can take the form of dashboards and regular reports. A software tool like QuickSlide can automate the setup of such presentations. As a data source, Excel can be directly connected with PowerPoint so that any updates to datasets are automatically incorporated and presented on the relevant slides. (See also presentation automation)
Digital Asset Management systems, like image and media databases, can be linked directly to PowerPoint with the help of add-ins like QuickSlide. Users benefit from the fact that they can access all the assets they need for presentation creation directly in PowerPoint, and businesses benefit from greater efficiency, with time saved that would have been spent on searching for presentation materials and content.
Companies use dashboards, for instance, for financial controlling, to provide a quick and clear overview of important data which is significant for key business decisions. Any developments, changes and comparisons are depicted clearly and are thus quick to grasp. (See also data-driven presentations)
A Data Connector is a feature of add-ins like QuickSlide which links PowerPoint with Excel. This feature eliminates the tedious tasks of manually entering and updating data in PowerPoint presentations. Excel serves as the data source and synchronizes with PowerPoint’s preset formats, such as tables, charts, dashboards, etc. Data-intensive presentations can be automatically created this way. (See also data-driven presentations)
E
An extension software is either a software component or a standalone software, designed as a supplement to a main application and to provide helpful additional functions. An extension software typically provides advantages in specific application areas which are either only partially covered by the main software application or not at all. Extension software can function as an add-in/add-on or a plug-in. (See also add-in, add-on, plug-in)
H
A holistic approach to a software solution for customers is to support them at every stage, before and during implementation, and during and beyond rollout. Service providers who take this approach offer the full range of services, including the software itself, design, consulting, customization, training and system development, therefore avoiding process bottlenecks and improving efficiency. (See Partner for better business communication)
M
P
Permissions management, also called rights management, is the management of access and usage rights for specific user groups (individual users, teams, departments) when they work with presentations, slides and templates. This means the different user groups only gain access to content assets relevant to them. Restricted permissions for some content assets ensure that any confidential content is protected from view by anyone other than intended user groups, and that templates can only be changed by admin-level, not regular users.
A pitch deck is a condensed presentation, usually around 10-15 slides max, which showcases the most important and convincing information about a company as a pitch for new business. Startups, for instance, use this kind of presentation to convince investors to back their business model. Just like the term “elevator pitch,” the idea is to impress busy investors, sponsors, etc. with an idea for a company, or unique selling proposition of a product or service, within just a few minutes. The pitch presentation needs to stand out among those of competitors to be given a chance for consideration for backing and investment.
The term plug-in is used to describe software which is integrated within an existing application. Advantages of using plug-ins are that they can be applied quite specifically, plus their software component is only loaded in the main application when it’s needed. The terms add-in, add-on and plug-in are often used synonymously. (See also add-in and add-on)
See slide library
A PowerPoint image database contains visual material that is already licensed and that can be used for creating a presentation. Organizations typically store their own corporate images, such as product photos, in the image database, but also images which have been purchased specifically to use in PowerPoint presentations or for other purposes, including adverts, brochures, on social media, etc. (See DAM connection)
A company’s corporate design defines the specific components for consistent branding. The design specifications also apply to presentations and PowerPoint as a key tool for business communications. However, the specific technical requirements of PowerPoint mean the design specifications which work for other comms channels can’t always be applied easily for presentations. This makes it even more important to adapt the design especially for PowerPoint, taking its technical requirements and functionality into account, to ensure optimal brand impact.
Corporate Identity reflects a company’s self-image. Besides the (visual) corporate design, the company culture, brand language, behavior and philosophy are all elements of a Corporate Identity. The brand impact in PowerPoint is generated through the design, as well as the tone of voice, visual language, use of terminology, how information is presented, etc.
All content assets and functional elements needed for the creation and editing of presentations can be found in a PowerPoint library. Here, they are managed, updated and made centrally accessible which ensures users can find what they need and always work with the latest versions. (See also asset management in PowerPoint, Slide Pool, slide management)
A PowerPoint Master is a .potx file which is stored in the “slide master” function within PowerPoint. By opening this, users automatically create a new presentation. The master comprises design specifications, including fonts and colors. Master layouts provide a basic design framework that can be applied for different types of presentations or occasions, for instance, it specifies the positioning and sizing of images, as well as where headlines or other text elements are placed on a slide.
A PowerPoint style guide encompasses and consolidates all design specifications for presentation creation, as well as providing application examples and practical dos and don’ts. The PowerPoint Style Guide is usually developed using a corporate design manual as a basis but can be seen as a supplement which provides specific guidance for the context of PowerPoint presentation creation and usage.
PowerPoint templates – or slide templates – are sample slides which make presentation creation easier for PowerPoint users. However, the term is often used as a synonym for a PowerPoint master.
See also extension software, add-in, add-on, plug-in
Recurring presentations, dashboards or regular reports can all be automated with QuickSlide. The data source is Excel which can be linked to PowerPoint via an extended Data Connector function. This lets users create and update data visualization presentations in a few clicks.
More and more businesses are recognizing the efficiency potential of PowerPoint and thus establish professional presentation management or asset management for their company. This involves making all content assets, such as slides and templates, whole presentations and visual elements centrally available to use, organize and update as needed, which optimizes all processes for these purposes. (See also asset management)
Management presentations are those delivered to a company’s decision-makers to enable them to quickly make fundamental business decisions. There are formally regulated management presentations which can be defined very well with storyboards, and there are those which must be individually created and adapted for specific occasions or situations.
(See also storyboards, and the article Effective board meetings with pertinent presentations)
See slide master
A Media Connector function allows you to link DAM systems, image banks and media databases directly with PowerPoint. This means users gain instant access to all assets they may need to create presentations.
Especially for those creating fairly standard or repetitive slide decks, such as sales teams, a modular kit comprising slide templates and even completed slides saves a lot of time. Reusable modular assets can either be inserted as they are, click by click into a new presentation, or would need to be modified just slightly for their audience or precise situation. This avoids the time-consuming “reinventing the wheel” scenario for creating such presentations.
A modular kit for sales is a type of slide library which helps sales personnel to prepare for specific customer meetings with customized slide decks much faster than if they were to start from scratch. The structure of the kit is based on the sales funnel and target customer groups. For each preparation step, slides and presentations are provided which can either be applied as they are, or content modules can be selected and adapted as relevant to the meeting, thus allowing sales teams to produce highly customized presentation decks. Updates and maintenance of the content assets is carried out centrally. Sales employees have instant access to all the slides and templates they need, which saves valuable time that can instead be invested in further talks with customers.
Q
QuickDoc is the Word add-in by Strategy Compass for the easy creation of business documents. Employees use intelligent templates which they can fill dynamically. Text modules, addresses, business details and contact fields are centrally managed and always up to date. All documents created automatically appear in a company’s established corporate design. (See also QuickDoc – add-in for Microsoft Word – Strategy Compass)
QuickSlide is the PowerPoint add-in by Strategy Compass which elevates the use of PowerPoint to a whole new level for businesses. Presentations, slides and templates are professionally organized, a company’s corporate design is firmly integrated in QuickSlide, and the creation and editing of presentations becomes much easier and more intuitive. Companies save time and business costs when using QuickSlide for PowerPoint. (See also QuickSlide – the add-In for PowerPoint)
R
See brand relaunch (in PowerPoint)
The term rollout is used to describe the company-wide implementation of software which is then made available for all intended users once the rollout phase is complete. A test or pilot phase can precede the rollout where a limited number of users get to try out functions and features – and can provide feedback and suggestions for adapting the software before the rollout begins. Usually, training sessions on the software take place during a rollout phase.
(See Partner for better business communication with Microsoft Office)
S
A sales deck is a sales presentation primarily used by a sales team to convince potential customers of the company’s products, services and benefits, with the intention to close a sale quickly. Sales decks ideally follow a sales story that resonates with the target customer and indicates the advantages to them of making the proposed investment without simply listing performance features. (See also storyboards)
Sample presentations are set up as example versions which can then be used as technical, design or content templates for the creation of new presentations. (See also storyboards)
SharePoint is a web application from Microsoft that improves collaboration within a company. For example, SharePoint can be used as a collaborative platform and as a central document-storage repository. In the past, SharePoint offered a feature called “Slide Library.” However, due to its limited capabilities this feature was not used very often. Microsoft has therefore discontinued development.
A slide database is a central repository for storing a company’s slides and presentations. This provides all colleagues who work on PowerPoint presentations with central access to these assets. Ideally, a slide database is not purely a storage location, but an intuitive work tool that can run automatic updates, and where user permissions are managed and search functions are provided. (See also slide library)
Used as a synonym for “presentation” – typically in a sales and marketing context (sales deck, pitch deck, etc.) – referring to a former hard-copy and now digital “deck of slides.”)
The quality of a presentation isn’t only gauged by its content, but also by the level of consistency in the layout. Presentations which look completely different from slide to slide can be off-putting and distract an audience from core messages and content. In a professional context, PowerPoint slide design should be based on the company’s brand identity and convey its key design attributes. This includes fonts and color palettes, as well as specifications for text lengths, and defined ratios for images and text. (See PowerPoint specialists – masters, templates and slide pools)
A slide library facilitates presentation creation and content maintenance for businesses. Slides and presentations are stored and updated in one central location, and employees can access existing slides and templates to help them create their own presentations. Duplicate effort is thus eliminated, and central updates ensure that everyone is working with the latest versions of content assets. (See also asset management in PowerPoint)
This incorporates the organization, provision, updates and maintenance of a company’s slides and presentations, as well as ensuring consistency with standard attributes for content, design and currency.
The slide master in PowerPoint (often called a „master slide“ can be used to create of slides and presentations with predefined formatting and content positioning. Companies use the slide master to set some standards for presentations. However, the slide master alone isn’t usually enough to ensure a consistent brand presence in PowerPoint. Add-ins like QuickSlide are specially developed to establish uniform branding for presentations, company-wide.
See What makes a good PowerPoint master
A Slide Pool is a central repository from which slides, presentations, plus other content assets including icons, logos and design elements are made available, maintained and updated company-wide. PowerPoint add-ins like QuickSlide provide an integrated Slide Pool feature. (See also asset management in PowerPoint)
By storyboards for PowerPoint we’re referring to presentation templates which follow a common thread with their content and structure. These serve as orientation for users when creating presentations for specific scenarios or target groups. For example, presentations for decision-makers follow a storyboard that’s different to, for instance, sales presentations or product demos. (See also sales deck)
T
Template management falls under the wider term “asset management” but focuses on the provision and updates of presentation and slide templates for presentation creation. (See also asset management)
U
Setting up user groups is a tried-and-true system which provides structure for handling access rights and permissions for using and managing a software application. When using QuickSlide for PowerPoint, for instance, user groups can be set up to ensure content in PowerPoint, such as slides and presentations, is accessible for the relevant and authorized teams or employees in an organization. (See also permissions management and rights management)