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Automatic Slide Numbers

All presentations in PowerPoint have slide numbers on every slide except on Title slides.

This is referred to as "Automatic" slide numbers and remains the default for all new presentations.

The type of slide numbers used can be changed from the (Options > Settings)(Slides tab) dialog box.

The type of slide numbers used in the active presentation is also indicated by a checkbox on the Options drop-down menu.

This toggle allows you to quickly hide or show the automatic slide numbers.

Manual Slide Numbers

It is also possible to have slide numbers starting from any particular slide, not necessarily from the first normal slide.

Starting your slide numbers from a different slide is useful if you want to include a Contents Page in your presentation.

This is referred to as "Manual" slide numbers and can be changed from the (Options > Settings)(Slides tab) dialog box.

Switching to "Manual" slide numbers will enable you to start the numbering from any slide.

The "Refresh" checkbox allows you to quickly refresh the slide numbers if slides have been inserted and deleted.

You can also use the command on the Options drop-down menu to refresh the slide numbers in the active presentation.

Refresh Slide Numbers Automatically

If you are constantly making changes to your presentations by inserting and deleting slides the "Manual" slide numbers will have to be manually refreshed to ensure the slide numbers are correct.

It is possible to have the "Manual" slide numbers update automatically when slides are inserted and deleted.

This is switched off by default but can be turned on from (Options > Settings)(General tab, "Refresh Manual Slide Numbers Automatically").

Different Sections

Different sections can be quickly created and are distinguished by different colours and backgrounds.

If you use different sections in your presentation then you must change the slide numbers to "Manual".

Any "Automatic" slide numbers will be placed behind the coloured bars and will not be visible.

You must use "Manual" slide numbers when you have different sections in your presentation.

Things to Remember

The Slides tab of the (Options > Settings) dialog box is disabled when you have Slide Sorter view displayed.

The Slides tab of the (Options > Settings) dialog box is disabled when you have an invalid presentation active.

Slide numbers cannot be added to a Title Slide.

The "Refresh Manual Slide Numbers Automatically" option will only work when you use the shortcut menu to delete slides and either the shortcut menu or toolbar to insert slides.