Introduction
The AutoContent Wizard is a handy tool in PowerPoint 2000 that allows you to quickly create a presentation. It provides 8-12 pre-designed slides that you can easily customize by adding your own pictures and text. While the wizard can save time, the resulting presentations tend to be fairly structured and don’t allow for much customization or creativity.
How the AutoContent Wizard Works
The AutoContent Wizard provides step-by-step instructions for building a presentation:
- Dialog boxes prompt you to select the type of presentation, how you will use it, and the name
- Click “Finish” and the first slide appears
- The left pane contains suggestions for information to add to each slide
For example, if you choose “Business Plan” presentation, PowerPoint will create slides like “Company Overview,” “Market Analysis,” “Financial Plan,” etc. You simply fill in the details.
Customizing an AutoContent Wizard Presentation
To customize a presentation from the AutoContent Wizard:
- Click any slide icon in the left pane to edit that slide
- Replace sample text with your own
- Add or delete slides as needed
- Change the order of slides
- Apply a new design template
While the wizard provides a quick starting point, you’ll likely need to customize to fit your specific needs.
Presentation Samples
Another option besides the AutoContent Wizard is using the presentation samples under the “Presentations” tab. These include:
- Business Plan
- Certificate
- Marketing Plan
Rather than walking you through decisions, these are complete sample presentations on various topics that you can use as a starting point.
Pros and Cons of the AutoContent Wizard
Pros:
- Quick way to create an initial presentation outline
- Helpful for new PowerPoint users
- Easy to customize and add your own content
Cons:
- Presentations can seem generic
- Restricts creativity compared to a blank presentation
- Focuses more on appearance than meaningful content
Tips for Using the AutoContent Wizard Effectively
- Treat it as a starting point rather than the final presentation
- Customize it heavily with your own text, graphics, etc.
- Use it for basic structure, but build your presentation from there
- Avoid over-reliance on the generic sample content
- Balance appearance with meaningful messaging
Conclusion
In summary, the AutoContent Wizard can be a useful way for PowerPoint beginners to easily create presentations. However, the tool has faced criticism for overly structured and superficial results. With heavy customization and a focus on quality content over appearances, the AutoContent Wizard can facilitate building an effective presentation quickly. But it shouldn’t replace putting thought into a presentation’s substance and flow.
