In most cases, Microsoft 365 applications offer more features than Microsoft 2021 applications. Thankfully, the current PowerPoint 365 and PowerPoint 2021 software have helpful features that users can find across both versions. Here are the top 5 new features added to PowerPoint 365 and PowerPoint 2021.
Sketched Outline
Most people are familiar with the fact that PowerPoint allows users to customize the outside border of a text box, shape, or SmartArt graphic. One new feature that Microsoft has implemented within PowerPoint is Sketched outlines! To activate this new feature, simply go to the Shape Format tab, click Shape Outline, and then select Sketched. This new customization allows users to implement a personalized feel to their presentations.
Hex Colors
In the past, users have been limited to using RBG values or preset color options when customizing colors in PowerPoint. Thanks to the updates in PowerPoint 365 and 2021, users now have the opportunity to enter Hex color values. This makes it convenient to create a unified PowerPoint in line with your company branding documents! Now you won’t have to worry about converting from a Hex to a RBG. Instead, you can quickly add colors and continue your creative process!
Stock Library
One of the benefits of creating a slideshow within PowerPoint is that you can access royalty-free images, icons, illustrations, videos, and more! With thousands of media options, this new feature is a time and money saver for users everywhere. To find these royalty-free media options, click on the Insert tab, select Pictures, and then choose Stock Images. This will allow users to choose stickers, cartoon/cutout people, images, or icons to add to their presentation.
Link to Slide
When working collaboratively on a slide show, it can be beneficial to point someone directly to the slide they need to work on. This is now possible with the Link to this Slide feature! To use this new feature, right-click on the slide you would like to share the link to and select Link to this Slide. This will allow you to choose if the receiver can edit the slide or if they are only able to view it. Once you have generated the link, you can send it out and share it with your team!
Record Slide Show
While recording a slide show may not be a new feature, it has been updated! With people working remotely or through a hybrid system, it can be hard to have everyone meet in person simultaneously. This can complicate meetings when the presenter is only able to meet remotely. Thankfully, the Record feature has been updated to improve the experience of presenting remotely.
These top 5 new features are great ways to increase engagement within your PowerPoint presentations. To learn more about new features that users can utilize, check out the SmartPath's Bigger Brains courses Mastering PowerPoint 365 Beginner (2022) and Mastering PowerPoint 2021 Beginner. SmartPath's Bigger Brains is always focused on providing updated and relevant content.
Excel 2021
XMATCH
This new feature takes the preexisting MATCH function and improves upon it. The XMATCH function searches for a specific item and returns with the item’s position. This works by stating the item you want to know the position of and selecting a range of cells you would like to search in. After specifying these requirements, the XMATCH function will search and return the exact position relative to the field of cells selected.
XLOOKUP
Like XMATCH, the XLOOKUP function can help find information in a spreadsheet. This function works when you need to find data in a table or a row. What makes this function unique is the ability to search for data in one column and receive the correlating data from the same row in a separate column. The benefit of this function is that it will return data results no matter where the information is in relation to the initial search.
LET Function
The LET function allows users to assign names to data to calculate results inside a formula. Essentially, this function can help users keep track of the purpose of a cell or cell range in a function. For those who may repeat the same formulas throughout a spreadsheet, this can be a real-time-saver! Additionally, this function helps improve the readability of a formula, especially when working in a shared document.
Excel 365
In addition to all the features mentioned above, Excel 365 has some exciting new features specific to its software.
LAMBDA Function
This new feature allows users to create custom functions in Excel. After naming and defining a function, you can use it again in the workbook! Depending on personal preference, these custom functions can be as simple or complex as desired. One of the unique aspects of this function is that the LAMBDA function does not require the use of macros or script.
Navigation Pane
Most people are familiar with the Navigation pane and how it can help navigate documents with ease. Most people are familiar with this feature inside Microsoft Word, but this time-saver is now available in Excel. This new tool is an easy way to understand a workbook’s layout, see what elements exist within the workbook, and navigate directly to those elements.
Data Validation List
This new feature can help streamline the data you collect in your Excel spreadsheets. A data validation list can help ensure that data is uniform and has no spelling errors. Additionally, if you have a spreadsheet open to multiple users, including a data validation list can help guarantee that only data you have approved makes it into the spreadsheet.
There are lots of new features available in Excel 365 and Excel 2021. These top 3 features for each version are just the tip of the iceberg! Look through the SmartPath Bigger Brains library to learn more about all the updates Excel 365 and Excel 2021 have to offer! Bigger Brains focuses on providing updated and relevant content.
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