Attaching an Action to Text or an Object

In addition to attaching hyperlinks to text or objects by clicking the Hyperlink button, you can attach them by clicking the Action button, which is also in the Links group on the Insert tab. In the dialog box displayed when you click the Action button, you can specify whether the action should take place when you click the linked text or object or when you point to it. And instead of designating a target to which PowerPoint should jump if the link is clicked or pointed to, you can designate an action such as starting a program or playing a sound.

If attaching an action to existing text or an object on a slide is not appropriate, you can insert an action button. These shapes are designed to be used as icons to which actions are attached. Included are buttons for the following:

• Navigation actions (Back, Forward, Beginning, End, Home, and Return)

• Display actions (Information, Movie, Document, Sound, and Help)

Also included is an action button that you can customize to your own needs.

In this exercise, you will select a word in a bulleted list and attach an action that displays a hidden slide when the word is clicked. You will also attach a sound that plays when you point to a slide title. Finally you will create an action button that jumps to an overview slide when clicked, and another action button that returns you to the previously displayed slide.

1.	Display Slide 11, and select the word Champion.
2.	On the Insert tab, in the Links group, click the Action button. The Action Settings dialog box opens.
3.	On the Mouse Click tab, under Action on click, click the Hyperlink to option, click the arrow at the right end of the box below, and then in the list, click Slide. The Hyperlink To Slide dialog box opens.
4.	Scroll the Slide title list, and then click (12) The Battle. The number 12 is enclosed in parentheses because this slide is hidden. You want to be able to click the word Champion to go to the slide about the possible types of battles, if appropriate.
5.	Click OK to close the Hyperlink to Slide dialog box, and then click OK again to close the Action Settings dialog box. The word Champion is now underlined and displayed in the Hyperlink color assigned by the color scheme.
6.	Display Slide 4, and select The Hero.
7.	In the Links group, click the Action button, and then in the Action Settings dialog box, click the Mouse Over tab.
8.	Under Action on mouse over, click the Play sound option, click the arrow at the right end of the box below, click Applause in the list, and then click OK. The title is now underlined and displayed in the Hyperlink color.
9.	Switch to Slide Show view, and then point to The Hero. The Applause sound plays.
10.	Right-click the screen, point to Go to Slide, and then click 11 The Skill or Power.
11.	In the bulleted list, click Champion. PowerPoint displays the hidden slide about types of battles.
12.	Press to return to Normal view, and then display Slide 8.
13.	On the Insert tab, in the Illustrations group, click the Shapes button. The Shapes gallery opens.
14.	Under Action Buttons at the bottom of the gallery, click the Action Button: Home icon. Action Button: Home The pointer changes to a cross.
15.	In the lower-right corner of the slide, drag to create a Home action button about half an inch square. When you release the mouse button, the Action Settings dialog box opens with the Hyperlink To option selected and First Slide in the box below. At the bottom of the dialog box, the Highlight Click check box is selected, but dimmed to indicate that you cannot change this setting.
16.	Click the Hyperlink to arrow, and then in the list, click Slide. The Hyperlink To Slide dialog box opens.
17.	In the Slide title list, click 3. Characteristics of a Hit Fantasy, and then click OK twice.
18.	With the action button still selected on the slide, on the Format contextual tab, in the Shape Styles group, click the blue thumbnail in the fourth row (Subtle Effect - Accent 3). The color of the Home action button is now compatible with the background. When you click the action button, you will jump to Slide 3, which is an overview of Slides 4 through 14. Referring back to this slide after showing half of the listed topics is a good idea, but suppose you need a quick way of jumping back to Slide 8 so that you can resume the discussion.
19.	Display Slide 3, and then on the Insert tab, in the Illustrations group, click the Shapes button to display the Shapes gallery.
20.	Under Action Buttons at the bottom of the gallery, click the Action Button: Return icon, and then in the lower-right corner of the slide, drag to create a Return action button about half an inch square. Action Button: Return When you release the mouse button, the Action Settings dialog box opens with the Hyperlink To option selected and Last Slide Viewed selected in the box below.
21.	Click OK to close the Action Settings dialog box.
22.	Change the color of the action button to one that is compatible with the background.
23.	Display Slide 8, switch to Slide Show view, and then click the Home action button to jump to Slide 3.
24.	On Slide 3, click the Return action button to jump back to Slide 8, and then click the mouse button to display Slide 9.
25.	Press to end the slide show.