PowerPoint 2013: Hyperlinks and Action Buttons

Hyperlinks and action buttons are useful tools in PowerPoint 2013 presentations that allow you to connect to other slides, files, webpages, or run programs. Here is a comprehensive guide on how to work with hyperlinks and action buttons in PowerPoint 2013.

What are Hyperlinks in PowerPoint

Hyperlinks allow you to link to other webpages, files, email addresses, or slides within your PowerPoint presentation. When you click on a hyperlink, it will open the linked resource.

Some examples of things you can hyperlink in PowerPoint:

  • Websites
  • Other PowerPoint presentations
  • Documents like PDFs or Word files
  • Specific slides within the same presentation
  • Email addresses to open a new email message

Hyperlinks make your presentations more interactive and allow smooth navigation for your audience.

How to Insert a Hyperlink in PowerPoint

Inserting a hyperlink in PowerPoint is easy:

  1. Select the text or object you want to make into a hyperlink
  2. Go to the Insert tab and click Hyperlink
  3. In the Insert Hyperlink dialog box:
    • Choose the type of resource you want to link to
    • Enter the address or location of the resource
    • Customize the display text if needed
  4. Click OK

The text or object is now hyperlinked and will open the linked resource when clicked on during the slideshow.

Pro Tip: PowerPoint automatically recognizes web addresses and email addresses as you type and formats them as hyperlinks automatically.

Tips for Managing Hyperlinks

Here are some tips for effectively managing hyperlinks in PowerPoint:

  • Give descriptive names to linked files
  • Organize supporting files into folders
  • Use relative file paths instead of absolute file paths
  • Avoid linking very large files
  • Check hyperlinks before presenting to ensure they work properly
  • Update links if files get moved or renamed

What are Action Buttons in PowerPoint

Action buttons are built-in shapes that allow you to add interactivity to your PowerPoint slides:

Some examples of actions you can set action buttons to do:

  • Navigate to other slides
  • Play audio or video clips
  • Run slideshow transitions
  • Launch external programs or macros
  • Link to external documents

Action buttons make handy clickable buttons to add to your slides.

How to Insert an Action Button

Adding an action button to your slides takes just a few clicks:

  1. On the Insert tab, click Shapes
  2. Scroll down and select the action button shape you want
  3. Click on the slide where you want to insert the button
  4. In the Action Settings dialog box:
    • Choose what action you want the button to perform
    • Set any additional options for that action
  5. Click OK

The action button is inserted and will perform its assigned action when clicked on during the slideshow.

Pro Tip: You can insert action buttons that appear on every slide by using Slide Master view.

Customizing Action Buttons

There are a couple useful ways to customize your action buttons:

  • Add icons – Replace the default shapes with more modern, icon-based buttons
  • Change color – Match the color scheme of your presentation
  • Add hover actions – Set a separate action to occur on mouse hover

Customizations like these can make your action buttons fit in better with your slide design.

Best Practices

When working with hyperlinks and action buttons, keep these best practices in mind:

  • Test all hyperlinks and buttons before presenting
  • Use descriptive display text for hyperlinks
  • Avoid linking to files that could be unavailable to your audience
  • Organize supporting files in folders to keep track of them
  • Consider color contrast and slide design when formatting buttons
  • Update links instead of creating new ones if files get moved

Following these tips will help ensure your hyperlinks and action buttons operate smoothly for your audience.

In Summary

Hyperlinks and action buttons unlock lots of presenter power in PowerPoint 2013. They allow you to connect your slides to other content and add interactivity.

By mastering hyperlinks and action buttons, you can:

  • Create smooth navigation for your audience
  • Link to related documents and websites
  • Launch slideshow elements with easy-to-click buttons
  • Automate complex slideshow actions

With a little creativity, you can transform your ordinary PowerPoint slides into a dynamic presentation experience for your viewers.