Showcase Navigation Variations

Showcase navigation can have any of numerous looks, according to your preferences. Below are six common variations. Also view the sample presentations to see how people have applied these variations. To do so, either return to Page 1 of this tutorial or click the links above.

Variation 1: Text-to-Text (Figure 4)

Here both switchboard and content slides contain only text. In a moment we'll walk you through steps for building this variation as an alternative way of presenting bullet points. Having an enormous amount of text on a slide (a traditional bullet list) is one of the best ways to guarantee a powerfully negative effect on viewers. It's just not a good idea—ever. Those of you continuing on to Relational Presentation workshops will see right away that we adamantly discourage the use of traditional bullet points AT ALL because better approaches are available. In this tutorial, we'll look at how employing a showcase strategy instead can significantly improve display effectiveness.

Variation 2: Text-to-Visual (Figure 5)

The text-based switchboard featured above can access other kinds of information as well. Target slides might hold pictures, audio, video, graphs, tables, SmartArt, or whatever. In this case, the switchboard still has a simple, clean textual appearance, but content slides are more visual or media-based in nature. In fact, I could have set up my Tucson switchboard this way, using text links instead of picture thumbnails. In that regard, people often wonder if it's better to use text or thumbnails for switchboard links. There's no right or wrong answer. The advantages of text links are that they are very compact (meaning you can have many on a slide if necessary) and they are descriptive (the text literally says what the link will open). On the other hand, obviously a thumbnail literally shows what will open. So it's up to you. We generally recommend experimenting with both link types and see which works best. Most interactive speakers use either interchangeably.

Variation 3: Visual-to-Text (Figure 6)

If your slides must contain a substantial amount of text (ideally, a very rare situation), using imagery for switchboard links adds visual appeal that somewhat offsets the blandness of textual content. To see an example of this showcase variation, visit the PowerPoint 2003 showcase tutorial and download the completed slide show. It’s a whimsical piece featuring supposed quotes from celebrities as to why the chicken really crossed the road. The celebrities are pictured on the switchboard, along with their name as a text label. Clicking any of the thumbnail links takes the user directly to the associated quote. Clicking a quote slide displays the switchboard again for another choice. We have fun with this particular presentation often during trainings and conferences, partly as a way of demonstrating Showcase navigation but also as a lively, engaging mixer.

Variation 4: Visual-to-Visual (Figure 7)

When you have a collection of visuals (pictures, charts, tables, etc.), and need random access to individual items, this variation usually is best. The switchboard thumbnail images offer strong visual clues that preview what content will open once a link is clicked. The thumbnails can be any size. We’ve found that as many as 100 can appear on a slide and still be large enough for a speaker to make out their meaning while presenting. Be careful, though. Having that many choices available might be overwhelming and counterproductive unless the thumbnails are further grouped into meaningful, smaller clusters. Such clusters are most effective when they hold around eight items or fewer. Many exceptions apply, of course. Experiment and discover what works best for you.

Variation 5: Content/Navigation Hybrid (Figure 8)

In some cases, it's helpful to set up content slides as additional Showcase switchboards. For example, a doctor discussing the progression of a disease might have strips of navigation along the side or bottom of key displays, enabling access to optional supporting detail. If the primary content is sufficient, these links go unused. Otherwise, when someone asks a relevant question or side points are appropriate, these links prove convenient and helpful. Here, again, navigation is a back and forth process between the original content slide and the supporting information. Web sites incorporate this strategy all the time. You can use it in your performances as well. Adding navigation to slide shows offers practically unlimited opportunity for highly customized, flexibly delivery. In a perfect world, if you or audience members think it, you should be able to show it, on the spot.

Variation 6: Mixed Content Slides (Figure 9)

The final variation we’ll mention applies when content slides contain multiple items, perhaps a chart, textbox AND picture. In such scenarios, you still want a presenter to be able to click anywhere on the content slide for switchboard access...but how does that work now? You cannot place a link on the slide pane itself and linking all the separate objects seems silly. The most graceful solution is to place a rectangular shape on top of the entire slide pane, covering all content. Make that shape completely transparent and then link IT to the switchboard. With mixed content, consider also using downsized screenshots of the slides as graphical link sources on the switchboard. Such a strategy is relatively easy and gives the presenter strong visual clues for finding the right slides.