Wednesday 19 December 2012

The 12 Best Engineering and Information Technology Jobs

The 12 Best Engineering and Information Technology Jobs

Here is the full list of CareerCast.com’s Top 12 Best Jobs of 2012 in engineering and information technology:

1. Software Engineer

Hiring Outlook: 25.02
Work Enviornment: 41.00
Stress: 10.42
Income: $90,000
Researches, designs, develops and maintains software systems along with hardware development for medical, scientific, and industrial purposes.

2. Computer Systems Analyst

Hiring Outlook: 22.58
Work Enviornment: 47.390
Stress: 16.480
Income: $78,000
Plans and develops computer systems for businesses and scientific institutions.


3. Web Developer

Hiring Outlook: 21.49
Work Environment: 51.00
Stress: 22.79
Income: $75,000
Creating and maintaining layout, navigation, and interactivity of intranet and internet websites.

4. Petroleum Engineer

Hiring Outlook: 17.48
Work Environment: 52.06
Stress: 19.48
Income: $114,000
Plans drilling locations and effective production methods for optimal access to oil and natural gas.

5. Civil Engineer

Hiring Outlook: 18.73
Work Environment: 52.060
Stress: 22.33
Income: $77,000
Plans and supervises the building of roads, bridges, tunnels, and buildings.

6. Computer Programmer

Hiring Outlook: 11.78
Work Environment: 50.18
Stress: 11.78
Income: $71,000
Organizes and lists the instructions for computers to process data and solve problems in logical order.

7. Technical Writer

Hiring Outlook: 15.93
Work Enviornment: 65.75
Stress: 30.16
Income: $63,000
Transforms scientific and technical information into readily understandable language.

8. Nuclear Engineer

Hiring Outlook: 10.32
Work Environment: 52.06
Stress: 32.12
Income: $99,000
Conducts research, designs, and monitors the operation and maintenance of nuclear reactors and power plant equipment.

9. Aerospace Engineer

Hiring Outlook: 4.24
Work Environment: 50.06
Stress: 20.34
Income: $97,000
Designs, develops, and tests new technologies concerned with the manufacture of commercial and military aircraft and spacecraft.

10. Mechanical Engineer

Hiring Outlook: 9.03
Work Enviornment: 52.41
Stress: 22.33
Income: $78,000
Develops mechanical products and coordinates the operation and repair of power-using and power-producing machinery.

11. Electrical Engineer

Hiring Outlook: 7.39
Work Environment: 52.56
Stress: 23.39
Income: $87,000
Conducts research and plans and directs design, testing, and manufacture of electrical equipment. 

12. Industrial Designer

Hiring Outlook: 9.35
Work Environment: 48.25
Stress: 24.85
Income: $76,000
Designs and develops manufactured products. 
 
 

Eight Trends Driving the Future of Information Technology

The Future of IT


Previous


The emerging world of information technology is one in which data is king, social platforms evolve as a new source of business intelligence, and cloud computing finally delivers on IT’s role as a driver of business growth, according to a new report from Accenture (NYSE: ACN).
The identified identifies eight emerging trends that challenge long-held assumptions about IT and are poised to reshape the business landscape. The report also offers “action steps” that high performing businesses and governments can take to prepare for the new world of computing.

One of the most significant trends identified in the report finds that the age of “viewing everything through an application lens is coming to an end.” Instead, platform architectures will be selected primarily to cope with soaring volumes of data and the complexity of data management, not for their ability to support applications.
The tried and true relational database will not go away, but it will soon start to make way for other types of databases – streaming databases, for instance – that mark a significant departure from what IT departments and business users have relied on for decades.

The report also predicts the evolution of social media into social platforms. This means company websites may no longer be the first port of call for customers. This has the potential to disrupt the way companies conduct business, posing new challenges – and opportunities – for IT.
For example, “social identities” – based on the rich history of information that individuals leave in social networks – will become much more valuable to businesses than the traditional and isolated information they get when an individual registers on their corporate website.
Accenture also sees a new conversation emerging around cloud computing, which will become so pervasive that the term itself becomes superfluous. According to the report, hybrid clouds – software-as-a-service (SaaS) and platform-as-a-service (PaaS) in combination with internal applications – will “cement IT’s role as a driver of business growth.”
The focus will shift from simple infrastructure solutions to developing cloud strategies that deliver increased functionality and flexibility using a mix of public and private cloud-based application and platform services. While many challenges remain, cloud is nonetheless poised to change the face of enterprise computing.

The fortress mentality, in which all IT has to be architected to be foolproof, is giving way to a security architecture that responds proportionately to threats when and where they happen.” As a result, the role of people in data security will decline, replaced by automated capabilities that detect, assess, and respond immediately.

Individual privacy will take center stage as a result of increased government regulation and policy enforcement. The report concludes: “We expect that leading players will develop superior levels of understanding, enterprise-wide, about the distinctions between being a data processor – broadly handling the personal data of others – versus being a data controller, thus lowering the risks of unwitting breaches or privacy regulations and perceptions of privacy breakdowns.”
Companies that continue to view analytics as a simple extension of business intelligence will be “severely underestimating analytics’ potential to move the needles on the business.” Among other failings, traditional BI does not take advantage of the wealth of unstructured data that is now available. IT leaders will need to work closely with business leaders to identify where analytics can be leveraged effectively, as well as the proper mix of services required to optimize analytics capabilities across the enterprise.
Information technology is evolving from a world that is server-centric to one that is service-centric. Companies are quickly moving away from monolithic systems that were wedded to one or more servers toward finer-grained, reusable services distributed inside and outside the enterprise. The goal: to decouple infrastructure, systems, applications, and business processes from one another.
Today, business process design is driven by the need for optimization and cost reduction. Tomorrow it will be driven by the need to create superior user experiences that help to boost customer satisfaction. Great user experiences will require more layered approaches than what is typical today. As such, application design will be a multidisciplinary exercise: Typically handled today by IT architects and business owners, tomorrow it will involve optimization from the perspective of the process actor, with the emphasis on simplicity and on removing inefficiencies.




The Top 10 Information Technology Jobs

The Top 10 Information Technology Jobs
 


We all know that the IT industry is one of the hottest and most lucrative fields around these days. But do you know which specific IT jobs are considered the top 10 IT jobs? The list below details the best of the bunch and the information you’ll need to get into one of these careers yourself.




Information technology jobs are expected to increase by 37% between now and 2016.
An Overview of the Top 10 IT Jobs


Information technology jobs are big commodities now and will remain so in the future. Between now and 2016, the number of these jobs is expected to increase by 37%. The average rate of growth for jobs in general during this same time period is only projected to be 9-11%. Although job prospects will be excellent throughout the IT field, many of the best jobs are going to require higher levels of training and experience. At the top of those specific professions, however, six-figure salaries are quite common in many jobs.

The Top 10 IT Jobs

Here is some information about the top 10 IT jobs that are currently available:

• Lead Application Developer — As a lead application developer, your job is to manage the teams that are responsible for developing software. That means you can play an important role at every stage of the development process, including designing, coding, and testing the software. Generally, you will need a bachelor's degree in computer science as a minimum education requirement, and most employers will want you to have at least 3 to 5 years of experience in software development under your belt as well. On average, you can expect to earn between $80,000 and $110,000 per year in this position. Unfortunately, this is one of the few IT jobs that is expected to decline in numbers slightly in the next few years, so opportunities may not be as plentiful.

• Application Architect — When a new application is needed, the architect is the mind behind its construction. That means you'll be responsible for designing the different parts of the application, including the interface and infrastructure, based on the standards provided by the client. Although the minimum education required is a bachelor's degree in computer science, your chances of securing employment are better if you have a master's degree. You can also expect to be required to have at least 8 years experience in developing software and applications. The anticipated salary for this position is between $85,000 and $120,000. The good news is that this is going to be a fast growing field, with a current projected growth rate of over 30% over the next decade.

• Messaging Administrator — These administrators are responsible for helping companies stay in touch with one another. They handle email systems, including fixing problems with the systems and providing back-up options to ensure that none of the messages are lost. You should expect to be in demand a great deal with your employer. A few years of experience working with the same systems that your potential employer uses is highly desirable, as is at least a bachelor's degree in computer science or information systems. The salary range for messaging administrator jobs is about the same as that for application architects.

• Data Modeler — In this position, you are going to be responsible for developing models to illustrate data flow. To accomplish this goal, you will need to analyze vast sets of data requirements. Most employers are going to be looking for past experience working with data management, as well as a bachelor's degree in a computer-related field. The anticipated salary for this type of work is between $74,000 and $102,000 per year, while the anticipated growth in this area is about 38% over the next decade, which is considerably higher than average.

• Network Manager — As a network manager, you will play a crucial role in maintaining the company's networking technology. You will be required to work with other team members to make sure the network is up and running correctly at all times. Because the position is one of immense responsibility, employers want you to have at least 10 years of experience in the field, in addition to management experience. The average salary for this position is between $75,000 and $99,000 per year. Like most IT positions, job growth is expected to reach nearly 40% by 2016.

• Senior IT Auditor — For this position, you will be responsible for developing the review procedures for ensuring that the company's computer systems are meeting the industry standards. You'll establish testing and evaluation plans, as well. The position typically requires a bachelor's degree in computer science or a similar field. Most employers look for at least 5 years of experience working directly with an IT auditing team. You can earn between $86,000 and $115,000 in this position. Again, expect phenomenal job growth in this area.

The Top 10 Information Technology Jobs
For many of the top information technology jobs, six-figure salaries are common.
• Senior Web Developer — As the head web developer, you'll be responsible for handling all aspects of the process to bring your applications to the Internet. That includes working with the development and marketing staff. Most employers want to be sure that you have at least 5 years of experience working with a wide variety of web-related technologies. A degree in computer science is also necessary. The salary for this job is between $76,000 and $108,000. Again, these positions should increase by about 37% by 2016.

• Business Intelligence Analyst — In this role, your position will be to create the methods for data analysis. You'll also be responsible for a number of other issues as well, including reporting on solutions and analyzing data that can be communicated to senior management in the form of reports. You will need a bachelor's degree in a computer-related field and a number of years of direct work experience. The average salary is between $78,000 and $108,000 per year. Job growth is expected to be comparable to growth for the other IT positions.

• Staff Consultant — In this position, you'll need to work with your colleagues for project planning. Usually, you'll need to have a bachelor's degree in computer science or business. You will also need to have at least 2 years of experience in business and in consulting. The average salary for this type of job is between $60,000 and $82,000. This field is expected to increase by 78%, which is the highest rate of all the top 10 IT jobs.

• Tier 2 Help Desk — Although not one of the most prestigious of the top ten IT jobs, working at the tier 2 help desk is essential. You would take the calls that can't be solved by the Tier 1 staff, and you have to filter out the issues which require in-person service. Having past help desk experience is essential. Most employers would also like these employees to have either a two- or four-year degree in computer science. The salary for these jobs is typically between $35,000 and $46,000 per year. As more companies expand their computer and technology products, more help desk staff will be needed, so strong growth is expected.

Tuesday 18 December 2012

FortiGate Network Security Platform


                FortiGate Network Security Platform

FortiGate consolidated security platform delivers unmatched performance and protection while simplifying your network. Fortinet offers models to satisfy any deployment requirement from the FortiGate-20 series for small offices to the FortiGate-5000 series for very large enterprises, service providers and carriers. FortiGate platforms integrate the FortiOS™ operating system with FortiASIC™ processors and the latest-generation CPUs to provide comprehensive, high-performance security. Each FortiGate includes the widest range of security and networking functions on the market, including:
  • Firewall, VPN, and Traffic Shaping
  • Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)
  • Antivirus/Antispyware/Antimalware
  • Integrated Wireless Controller
  • Application Control
  • Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
  • Vulnerability Management
  • IPv6 Support
  • Web Filtering
  • Antispam
  • VoIP Support
  • Layer 2/3 Routing
  • WAN Optimization & Web Caching

FortiGate appliances provide enterprise-class protection against network, content, and application-level threats. Dynamic updates from the FortiGuard Labs global threat research team ensure your systems are protected against the latest threats. FortiGate platforms incorporate sophisticated networking features, such as high availability (active/active, active/passive) for maximum network uptime, and virtual domain (VDOM) capabilities to separate various networks requiring different security policies.

Products

FortiGate® Network Security


                FortiGate® Network Security Platform

FortiGate consolidated security platform delivers unmatched performance and protection while simplifying your network. Fortinet offers models to satisfy any deployment requirement from the FortiGate-20 series for small offices to the FortiGate-5000 series for very large enterprises, service providers and carriers. FortiGate platforms integrate the FortiOS™ operating system with FortiASIC™ processors and the latest-generation CPUs to provide comprehensive, high-performance security. Each FortiGate includes the widest range of security and networking functions on the market, including:
  • Firewall, VPN, and Traffic Shaping
  • Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)
  • Antivirus/Antispyware/Antimalware
  • Integrated Wireless Controller
  • Application Control
  • Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
  • Vulnerability Management
  • IPv6 Support
  • Web Filtering
  • Antispam
  • VoIP Support
  • Layer 2/3 Routing
  • WAN Optimization & Web Caching

FortiGate appliances provide enterprise-class protection against network, content, and application-level threats. Dynamic updates from the FortiGuard Labs global threat research team ensure your systems are protected against the latest threats. FortiGate platforms incorporate sophisticated networking features, such as high availability (active/active, active/passive) for maximum network uptime, and virtual domain (VDOM) capabilities to separate various networks requiring different security policies.

Products

FortiGate® Network Security


                FortiGate® Network Security Platform

FortiGate consolidated security platform delivers unmatched performance and protection while simplifying your network. Fortinet offers models to satisfy any deployment requirement from the FortiGate-20 series for small offices to the FortiGate-5000 series for very large enterprises, service providers and carriers. FortiGate platforms integrate the FortiOS™ operating system with FortiASIC™ processors and the latest-generation CPUs to provide comprehensive, high-performance security. Each FortiGate includes the widest range of security and networking functions on the market, including:
  • Firewall, VPN, and Traffic Shaping
  • Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)
  • Antivirus/Antispyware/Antimalware
  • Integrated Wireless Controller
  • Application Control
  • Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
  • Vulnerability Management
  • IPv6 Support
  • Web Filtering
  • Antispam
  • VoIP Support
  • Layer 2/3 Routing
  • WAN Optimization & Web Caching

FortiGate appliances provide enterprise-class protection against network, content, and application-level threats. Dynamic updates from the FortiGuard Labs global threat research team ensure your systems are protected against the latest threats. FortiGate platforms incorporate sophisticated networking features, such as high availability (active/active, active/passive) for maximum network uptime, and virtual domain (VDOM) capabilities to separate various networks requiring different security policies.

Products

How to setup FortiGate to use 3G USB mobile internet modem as the WAN connection


How to setup FortiGate to use 3G USB mobile internet modem as the WAN connection

Requirement:
  • FortiGate 50B device with FortiOS v4.0,build0320,110419 (MR2 Patch 6)
  • Huawei Mobile Connect E169 HSDPA USB stick with a SIM card for a Vodafone Mobile Connect services

Configuration steps:

  • connect the modem in the USB port on the FortiGate device and enable the modem with the following command:
    config system modem
        set status enable
    end
  • Detect the custom vendor and product ID of the USB modem with the following command:
    diagnose sys modem wireless-id
    you should get something like this:
    vendor: 0x12d1, product: 0×1003, registered: yes
    0x12d1 is the vendor ID for the Huawei, and 0×1003 is the product ID for Huawei E169, for Huawei E367a the product ID should be 0×1446 and for Huawei E367b 0×1506
  • Configure your modem interface with the following commands:
    config system modem
        set status enable
        set pin-init "at+cpin=YOUR_SIM_CARD_PIN#"
        set auto-dial enable
        set wireless-custom-vendor-id 0x12d1 (HUAWEI ID)
        set wireless-custom-product-id 0x1003 (E169 ID)
        set phone1 "*99***1#"(VODAFONE NUMBER)
        set extra-init1 "at+cgdcont=1,\"ip\",\"data.vip.hr(YOUR APN)\""
    end
  • Dial the modem with:
    execute modem dial
If you are using the web interface of your FortiGate device, when you enable the modem interface you will get Modem option under System > Network section on the left side menu. You can set up some of the options, like phone or Extra Initialization String there too. Also you can condial or hang-up your 3g connection from there too.
Web interface for modem connection

Tuesday 27 November 2012

10 easy steps to customizing an Outlook 2010 form


10 easy steps to customizing an Outlook 2010 form

Takeaway: Outlook forms can streamline your email chores — especially when they’re designed with your needs in mind. This walk-through shows how easy it is to set up your own custom forms.
Creating a custom Outlook form is easier than you might think. You’ll begin with a template that already contains most of the functionality you’ll need. You can add and delete fields and controls. You can even use VBScript to automate specifics tasks. While creating and implementing a custom form is easy, it does require several steps and for that reason alone, can be a bit confusing. I’ll walk you through the process and even show you how to add a bit of VBScript magic.

1: Determine your needs

You’ll always begin a custom form by modifying one of the default forms shown in Figure A. Perhaps users need an updated message or journal entry form. If you’re sharing calendar data, you’ll probably start with an appointment or even a task form. You’ll have to alter the default — that’s the whole point — but the default gives you a good head start.

Figure A

Base a custom form on one of the many default forms.

2: Display the Developer tab

The tools you need for customizing a form are on the Developer tab in Outlook 2010. To display this tab, click the File tab and select Options under Help. Then, click Customize Ribbon in the left pane, check Developer in the list to the right (under the Customize The Ribbon drop-down), and click OK.

3: Open a form template in design view

In step 1, you determined your task and chose an existing form to customize. Now, you’re ready to open that form in design view. To do so, click the Developer tab (step 2) and click Design A Form in the Custom Forms group. In Outlook 2007, choose Forms from the Tools menu and then choose Design A Form. The default library, the Standard Forms Library (shown in Figure A), is the right library. Select Contact and click Open. Outlook will open the default form in design view, as shown in Figure B.

Figure B

You’ll begin with a default form in design view.

4: Add and change fields

You’ll start with a default form and remove what you don’t need and insert what you do. Deleting a field is easy: Select it and press [Delete]. For instance, select the Business Fax components (one at a time or hold down [Shift] as you click each) and press [Delete] to delete them. To change a field’s label text, right-click the label, choose Edit, and enter the new text. Not all fields can be changed or deleted; if the background is gray and the Field Chooser (shown in Figure B) is visible, you can edit the contents.

5: Add new fields

To add a field, choose the appropriate category from the Field Chooser drop-down and then drag a field to the form. Figure C shows two new name fields: Assistant’s Name and Manager’s Name. If the Field Chooser isn’t visible, click Field Chooser in the Tools group. If the option’s dimmed, you can’t edit (add fields) to the current page. Spend a little time familiarizing yourself with the available fields.

Figure C

Drag and drop new fields onto the custom form.

6: Add a custom field

Many predefined fields are available, but you can create a custom field when necessary. To do so, click New at the bottom of the Field Chooser. Enter a name for the field, define a data type, and specify a format using the Type and Format drop-downs, respectively. Once you’ve defined the field, it will appear in the Field Chooser. Drag it to the form as you would a predefined field.

7: Add a control

Using the Control Toolbox, you can add any of the controls you’re used to working with: label, text, combo box, list box, check box, option button, toggle button, command button, and so on. If the Control Toolbox isn’t visible, right-click the form’s gray background and check Control Toolbox. Then, drag and drop a control to the form and update the label text, if necessary.
If you plan to use VBScript to program the field, click the Display tab and give the control a meaningful name you can refer to easily later. In Figure D, I’ve added a combo box and named itcboDepartment.

Figure D

Rename controls (and fields) if you plan to refer to them in VBScript.

8: Add a little VBScript

It’s likely that you’ll want to enhance the new form by using VBScript. For instance, to populate the combo box with a list of departments, click View Code in the Form group to launch the Script Editor. Then, in the Script Editor window, insert the following lines:
Sub Item_Open()

  Set FormPage = Item.GetInspector.ModifiedFormPages("General")

  Set Control = FormPage.Controls("cboDepartment")

  Control.PossibleValues = "Administrative;Accounting;IT"

End Sub

9: Publish your form

Before anyone can use the custom form, you must publish it to a library or a folder. While still in design view, click Publish in the Form group and choose Publish Form. (The Publish Form and Publish Form As options work similarly to the Save and Save As commands.) In the resulting dialog, choose Outlook Folders from the drop-down, click Browse, and select Contacts. After selecting the folder, click OK and name the form NewContactForm, as shown in Figure E. Finally, click Publish.

Figure E

Publishing forms
Designate a folder and give the custom form a name.
To use the form, go to Contacts and click the New Items option in the New group (on the Home tab) to access the custom form, as shown in Figure F. The published form, shown in Figure G, displays the new fields and the combo box populated by VBScript. In Outlook 2007, choose Forms from the Tools menu and then select Choose Form.

Figure F

The custom form will be available for use as soon as you publish it.

Figure G

VBScript populates the combo box you added to the new contact form.
You can also save the custom form to a library by choosing Personal Forms Library instead of Outlook Folders.

10: Make the custom form the default

When using a custom form to modify the default form, you must override the built-in default. Right-click the folder — not the Contacts shortcut, but the Contacts folder under My Contacts, as shown in Figure H. Choose Properties from the resulting context menu. On the General tab (the default), choose the custom folder from the When Posting To This Folder Use drop-down and click OK.

Figure H

Use your custom form as the default, when appropriate.

The 10 most important things to teach your PowerPoint users


The 10 most important things to teach your PowerPoint users

Competent PowerPoint users have a variety of skills, whether they’re creating or delivering the presentation. But being effective is more about fulfilling a concept than the technical steps required to create individual slides. The following guidelines will help your users be competent, whether they’re creating, presenting, or both.

1: Know how to use the program

Your users must know how to run PowerPoint. More important, they must know how to adapt if the technology fails. Don’t turn your users loose until they’re prepared to face the giant blank screen of death. This advice seems obvious, but many presenters are lost if something technical goes wrong. Don’t let that happen to your users!

2: Know the material

#1 can be a showstopper, but it shouldn’t be. In fact, if the presenter is thoroughly familiar with the material, a technological mishap won’t even matter. Make sure your presenters can carry onwithout the visual aids. The audience will appreciate the message just the same, perhaps more.

3: Practice

Knowing how to deliver the material can mean the difference between an ordinary presentation and a great presentation. Make sure users know how to use PowerPoint’s stopwatch feature to rehearse their presentations. PowerPoint records the time spent on each slide, as shown inFigure A. This information will help users stay on track during the actual presentation. The Rehearse Timings feature is in the Set Up group on the Slide Show tab. In PowerPoint 2003, it’s on the Slide Show menu.

Figure A

Presenters will benefit from timing their rehearsal sessions.

4: Print a slide list

No matter how well presenters know their material, they can benefit from a slide list. First, it’s great for documenting the presentation. Second, it’ll help the presenter find specific data on the fly. (To jump to a specific slide, they can enter the slide number and press [Enter].)
To create a slide list based on slide titles, click the Outline pane’s Outline tab. For a shorter list of just slide titles, collapse the view by right-clicking the pane and choosing Collapse and then Collapse All, as shown in Figure B.

Figure B

Collapse the outline for a list of slides.
To print the list, click the File tab and choose Print. Click the second item under Settings and choose Outline from the Print Layout options. With Outline selected (Figure C), click Print to print the outline view — your slide list. In PowerPoint 2007, click the Office button and click Print. (Choose Print from the File menu in PowerPoint 2003.) Then, choose Outline View from the Print What drop-down and click OK.

Figure C

Choose Outline to generate a list of slides.

5: Keep it simple

Where text is concerned, less is more. Your presenters don’t want the audience reading slides; they want the audience listening to them. Your presenters are the text. Slides are just visual clues that support the discussion. For example, the slide in Figure D is bad — for a number of reasons — but perhaps the worst offense is the amount of text. The introduction is not necessary. That’s what the presenter should be saying.

Figure D

If the presenter says it, the slide doesn’t need to repeat it — delete it!
When a text-heavy slide is necessary, the presenter should hold the slide back until it’s relevant and then pause so the audience can read it. When creating a self-running presentation, users can relax this rule quite a bit.

6: Don’t rely too heavily on bullet points

Most experts recommend that you not use bullet points (which run amuck with PowerPoint’s layout defaults). Here’s the general rule: Each bullet point should be a slide of its own. If this is too overwhelming at first, show users how to organize the information using bullet points and then move each bulleted item to a blank slide. From there, they can develop that single thought using graphics and (some) subtle animation. Naturally, the presentation will have a lot more slides, but the overall presentation will be more effective and memorable. Removing bullets doesn’t tie your users’ hands; it frees them up so they can move beyond mere bullet points.
Following the advice in #5, you’ll get rid of the introductory text in Figure D, leaving some ugly bulleted text to revamp. If you move each bullet to its own slide, you generate six slides, but they’ll be more memorable. The introductory slide shown in Figure E doesn’t need a bit of text — leave that for the presenter — but the message is clear and the audience will remember it.

Figure E

This slide makes its point without a single word of text.
To avoid the wrath that the above pronouncement is sure to unleash, I add this simple disclaimer: Bullet points aren’t bad or wrong. But use them sparingly because slide after slide of them is ineffective and boring.

7: Use Slide Master

Creating the presentation can be a laborious process, so efficiency matters. Show users how to configure the Slide Master first thing. It saves time up front and later. Users can quickly create a consistent look that’s easy to maintain. If they decide to change an attribute at some point, they need to change only the Slide Master, not every slide in the presentation.
Slide Master, shown in Figure F, is on the View tab in the Master Views group (Presentation Views in PowerPoint 2007). In PowerPoint 2003, choose Master from the View menu and then select Slide Master.

Figure F

Users will save time and effort with the Slide Master.

8: Use common fonts

PowerPoint doesn’t embed fonts by default. That presents a problem if the system that runs the presentation doesn’t have the presentation’s fonts installed. Windows will substitute a font, which might work; and then again, it might not. Users can avoid this potential problem by using common Windows fonts, such as Arial, Times New Roman, Tahoma, and so on. In fact, you might make a convention for using common fonts. Another workaround is to embed the fonts in the presentation. Doing so eliminates substitutions, but also increases the size of the presentation. This is one area where #7 can help: You can quickly avert disaster by updating the font via the Slide Master.
To embed fonts, click the File tab, choose Options (under Help), select Save in the left pane, and then check the Embed Fonts In The File option, shown in Figure G. In PowerPoint 2007, click the Office button and then click PowerPoint Options. In PowerPoint 2003, choose Options from the Tools menu.

Figure G

Embedding fonts prevents problems when the specified font isn’t available.

9: Use legible fonts

Users, especially those new to PowerPoint, will often go overboard with specialty fonts, attributes, and splashy colors, just because they’re available. Help users avoid this pitfall by applying these basic guidelines to improve legibility:
  • Make sure the font size is large enough to see in a conference or meeting room (start at 26 points and don’t be afraid to go larger).
  • Use a sans serif font.
  • Keep attributes, such as bold, underline, italics, and shadows, to a minimum. While these attributes may be effective in print, they can appear out of focus on a slide.
  • When using color, contrast is good.
  • Use dark text on a light background or light text on a dark background, as shown in Figure H. Anything in between is a wash.

Figure H

The light versus dark concept at work.

10: Avoid clip art

Clip art has a tendency to be overdone. It’s just too complex for presentation purposes. Your users will ask, “If I limit the text and don’t use clip art, what’s left?” Let them create their own simple graphics using basic shapes and symbols. It takes practice and patience, and don’t expect them to reinvent themselves as graphic design artists. Just introduce PowerPoint’s graphic tools and see what happens.
Of course, you don’t have to ban clip art entirely. Show users how to make small adjustments to simplify and improve clip art. For example, Figure I shows a before-and-after view of the clip art flower used in Figure E. Removing the outline around the petals helped tone down the cartoon effect.

Figure I

Removing the outline from the petals renders the flower a bit (albeit not much) less cartoonish.
Custom graphics will better represent your core concepts because your users will be creating graphics that fulfill their purpose instead of forcing someone else’s generic designs to fit. If users simply can’t get the knack of graphics, consider hiring a consultant who specializes in presentation graphics. Sometimes, that’s what you need.