How to Create Linked Catalog Tabs in PowerPoint
Question details
The user needs to set up interactive catalog tabs in a presentation to enable quick navigation to specific slides.
- Product
- PowerPoint
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Structuring a multi-section presentation with clickable tabs acting as a catalog or menu.
- Observed behavior
- Creating custom shapes as tabs and linking them to destination slides using Slide Master layouts and internal document hyperlinks.
Outline your presentation's main sections and prepare the destination slides in advance so you can easily link your custom tabs to the correct locations.
Create Linked Tabs Using the Slide Master
Using the Slide Master is the most efficient method to apply consistent, clickable tabs across odd and even slides without copying them manually onto every page.
By placing your tabs in the Slide Master, they become a permanent part of the slide layout, preventing accidental edits or movement during presentation design.
Go to the 'View' tab on the ribbon and click on 'Slide Master' to edit the underlying layouts of your presentation.
Navigate to 'Insert' > 'Shapes' and draw your catalog tabs on the left or right side of the layout. You can alternate left- and right-side tab layouts for odd and even slides.
Select a drawn tab shape, go to 'Insert' > 'Hyperlink', or simply right-click the shape and select 'Link'.
In the dialog box, select 'Place in This Document', pick the specific destination slide for that tab, and click 'OK'.
Click 'Close Master View' on the Slide Master tab, then apply your newly created layouts to the corresponding slides in your active presentation.
Add Hyperlinked Shapes Directly to Individual Slides
If you only have a few slides, you can insert hyperlinked shapes directly onto your normal slide view and copy-paste them.
Easily Create Interactive Presentations in WPS Office
WPS Presentation provides a user-friendly Slide Master and powerful hyperlinking features that make creating catalog tabs seamless. It is fully compatible with Microsoft PowerPoint formats, allowing you to easily build and share interactive slides.
- 1. Open WPS Presentation: Launch WPS Office, create a new presentation, or open your existing .pptx file.
- 2. Enter Slide Master: Navigate to the 'View' tab and select 'Slide Master' to start designing your permanent catalog tabs.
- 3. Insert and Link Shapes: Draw your shapes from the 'Insert' tab, right-click to select 'Hyperlink', and link them to a 'Place in This Document'.
- 4. Exit and Apply: Click 'Close Master View' and apply the new slide layouts to your active presentation slides.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I highlight the active tab to show which section is currently being viewed?
Yes. To achieve this, you need to create duplicate Slide Master layouts for each section. On each layout, change the fill color or formatting of the corresponding active tab shape, then apply that specific layout to the slides within that particular section.
Why aren't my hyperlinks working when I click them?
Hyperlinks are primarily active during the Slide Show presentation mode. If you are in the normal edit mode, you usually need to hold down the Ctrl key (or Cmd on Mac) while clicking the linked shape to test the navigation.
Will the hyperlinked catalog tabs work if I save the presentation as a PDF?
Yes, standard hyperlinks attached to shapes or text using the 'Place in This Document' function generally remain clickable and functional when you export or save your presentation as a PDF.
