Creating Custom Shows in PowerPoint

 Apr 07, 2016

Many people think of PowerPoint presentations as being very linear in nature; you start at slide 1 and then go 2, 3, 4, 5 etc. until you get to the last slide. But this need not be the case. Using Hyperlinks and Custom Shows, PowerPoint decks can be more dynamic than that.

A Custom Show is a set of slide that run in a certain order that are part of a bigger deck of slides. There are a few good reasons to use Custom Shows. Here are a couple:

  • Creating an “optional” set of slides that may or may not be shown depending, perhaps, on whether an audience member asks the presenter to expand on a particular point.


  • Creating two slideshows in one where the deck needs to be presented to two (or more) groups of people. There can be some slides shown to both groups and other slides that only get shown to one group or the other. That way only ONE deck needs to be maintained!


  • To create a Custom Show:

    • Go to the Slide Show tab on the Ribbon
    • Choose Custom Slide Shows, Custom Shows…
    • Click the New… button
    • Type a name for the Custom Show
    • Add the slides from the list on the left
      NB: they can be rearranged using the arrow buttons


    To create a Custom Show:

    • Choose the Custom Show to run from the Slide Show tab on the Ribbon
    • Configure the Custom Show to run automatically, using the Set Up Show dialog box
      (Slide Show tab, Set Up Slide Show…)


    With the second scenario, above, there also needs to be a way of running the Custom Show. This is best done using a Hyperlink that activates the Custom Show and then returns to the original slide. The Hyperlink can be on text or an object, such as a shape or image.

    To create the Hyperlink:

    • Select the text or object
    • Go to the Insert tab and choose Hyperlink
    • On the left choose Place in This Document
    • In the middle choose the Custom Show
    • On the right choose Show and return


    So the next time you are creating a PowerPoint presentation, remember how Custom Shows can make your decks more dynamic!

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About the Author:

Ben Kirk  

With over 16 years of experience working as a Desktop Applications specialist for a number of large education services providers, Ben is one of New Horizons most skilled and dynamic instructors. With his Advanced Diploma of Business Skills alongside his practical experience and expertise, Ben is able to provide insight and guidance to students at all skill levels across the entire Microsoft Office suite.

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