presentation section divider

• Add and delete slides Video
• Apply or change a slide layout Video
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• Add a watermark to your slides Video
• Organize slides into sections Video
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Organize slides into sections

Use sections to organize your PowerPoint slides into meaningful groups.

Add a section

Right-click between slides and select Add Section .

Type in a section name.

Select Rename .

Click the triangle to collapse a section, and the number shows the slides in that section.

Move or delete a section

Select View > Slide Sorter .

From here, you can:

Move a section - Right-click and select Move Section Up or Move Section Down .

Delete a section - Right-click and select Remove Section .

Organize your PowerPoint slides into sections

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PowerPoint Sections: How to Create Sections in PowerPoint to Reorganize Presentations Quickly

In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to use PowerPoint sections, including how to create them, rename them, and use them to rearrange entire segments of the presentation in the Slide Sorter View.

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PowerPoint sections are useful for collapsing and expanding multiple slides, removing multiple slides, and rearranging segments of presentations.

To add a section, press Alt, H, T1 in the PC version of PowerPoint and select “Add Section”:

(This shortcut is Alt, H, T in older, non-365 versions; there is no built-in Mac shortcut for this command, so you must go to the “Home” menu and click on “Section” manually.)

Once you do this, the section name will appear on the left-hand side of the screen on top of the presentation slides in this new section:

You can now collapse and expand all the slides in this section by right-clicking it or going to the “Section” menu with Alt, H, T1:

You can also drag around the section and put it before or after other parts of the presentation:

Sections are useful in this “normal view,” but to use them most effectively , you’ll need to enter the Slide Sorter View (see below).

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Master PowerPoint by creating a sell-side M&A / valuation pitch book for Jazz Pharmaceuticals - plus company/deal profiles and more.

Video Table of Contents:

0:39:  Slide Sorter View

3:42:  Sections

9:21:  Exercise: Add Sections to the Jazz Slides

14:50:  Recap and Summary

[Click the “Files & Resources” tab to get all the PowerPoint files for this lesson.]

The Slide Sorter View and PowerPoint Sections

The default viewing mode in PowerPoint is too limited to use sections effectively because you can only see a few slides on the screen at once.

To use sections more effectively, you should enter the Slide Sorter View with the Alt, W, I shortcut (⌘ + 2 on Mac):

This “Slide Sorter View” removes the main slide edit area and presents only a high-level presentation summary.

You can’t use this view to edit slides, but you can use it to move around normal slides.

To return to the “normal view,” press Alt, W, L on PC or ⌘ + 1 on Mac.

Most shortcuts that work in the normal viewing mode of PowerPoint also work in the Slide Sorter View:

Move to Previous or Next Slide: Arrow Keys (PC / Mac)

Jump to First Slide: Home (PC) / Fn + <– (Mac)

Jump to Last Slide: End (PC) /  Fn + –> (Mac)

Select Multiple Slides: Shift + Click (PC / Mac)

Insert Slide: Ctrl + M (PC) / ⌘ + Shift + N (Mac)

Insert Slide and Select Layout: Alt, H, I / N/A on Mac

Delete Slide: Del (PC / Mac)

Duplicate Current Slide: Ctrl + Shift + D (PC) / ⌘ + Shift + D (Mac)

Without even using sections, you can select multiple slides in the Slide Sorter View by pressing Shift and clicking on each one, and you can drag them to any position you want:

Doing this in the normal editing view is much less efficient because you must scroll to select multiple slides.

How to Create Sections in PowerPoint: Best Practices

When you add sections in PowerPoint, you should always start at the end of the presentation and move to the front .

When you add a section, PowerPoint applies it to all the slides after the insertion point – so if you add a section on slide 1, every slide in your presentation will be in that section!

Let’s say that your presentation has 25 slides, and they’re organized like this:

Slides 1 – 10: Introduction

Slides 11 – 14: Market Analysis

Slides 15 – 19: Leadership Team

Slides 20 – 25: Conclusions

If you want to add sections to this presentation, you should open the Slide Sorter View, go to slide 20, and add the “Conclusions” section there with Alt, H, T1, A.

Then, you should move to slide 15 and add the “Leadership Team” section, move to slide 11 and add the “Market Analysis” section, and, finally, move to slide 1 and add the “Introduction” section.

Ideally, each section will start with a normal slide that indicates the section’s title or marks it as the next “part” of the presentation.

We follow this approach in the Jazz Pharmaceuticals slides here:

With these “Section Divider” slides in the normal presentation, it’s easy to enter the Slide Sorter View and use the Alt, H, T1 shortcut to add sections in the right spots:

In the Slide Sorter View, you can also press the Right Mouse Button (RMB) on a Section Name to activate additional commands, such as “Remove Section & Slides” and “Move Section Up/Down”:

These commands can be useful if you start with an existing presentation and remove large parts rather than specific slides.

PowerPoint Section Practice Exercise: How to Add Sections to a Long Presentation

Your practice exercise in this lesson is to take the “Before” version of the Jazz Pharmaceuticals slides , add sections in the right spots, and rearrange the entire presentation so the sections are in the correct numerical order.

The presentation should start with Section 1 and then move to Section 2, 3, and so on, and the last two parts should be Appendix A and Appendix B.

You can start this exercise by entering the Slide Sorter View with Alt, W, I, and jumping to the end of the presentation with the End key (Fn + –> on Mac):

You can then move to slide 48 and press Alt, H, T1, A to add a section and name it “Financial_Projections”:

And then, you can proceed backward to slide 44 and add a section and name for the Appendix B slides.

Next, go to slide 32, add a section, and do the same on slides 28, 23, 14, and 2.

When you’re done, your presentation should look like this in the Slide Sorter View:

Now you need to reorder the presentation.

For this part, you might have to enter the normal viewing/edit mode with Alt, W, L to read the “Section Numbers” on each divider slide.

For your reference, here’s the correct numerical order:

Section 1: Market Update and Summary

Section 2: Review of Jaguar Management Forecasts

Section 3: Jaguar Valuation

Section 4: Potential Strategic Alternatives

Section 5: Process Recommendations

Appendix A: Financial Projection Assumptions

Appendix B: Valuation Data

For this part of the exercise, it’s useful to collapse all the sections with the Alt, H, T1, O shortcut so you can focus on just their order:

Once you’ve done this, you can click on each section name and drag it up or down to put the section in its proper position:

When you’ve finished rearranging all the sections, you can expand everything once again with Alt, H, T1, X, and your presentation should look like this in the Slide Sorter View:

Finally, you’ll need to move the “Table of Contents” slide to the Introduction section.

Currently, it’s at the end of the “Management Forecasts” section, which is incorrect:

Beyond PowerPoint Sections: More Advanced Methods for Organizing Your Presentations

Sections and the Slide Sorter View are very useful for organizing and reordering your presentations, but they only scratch the surface of the proper PowerPoint setup required for investment banking pitch books .

It’s also critical to understand the Slide Master , templates based on custom layouts, and how to use tools such as Drawing Guides, Theme Colors, and “reference shapes” to make your presentations easy to modify.

We cover all that and more in the full PowerPoint Pro course on this site, and we even give you tools and templates for workflow automation, including our full PowerPoint macro package.

About Brian DeChesare

Brian DeChesare is the Founder of Mergers & Inquisitions and Breaking Into Wall Street . In his spare time, he enjoys lifting weights, running, traveling, obsessively watching TV shows, and defeating Sauron.

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Mastering Section Dividers for Impactful Presentations

Mike macasero.

• September 21, 2023

Presentations are a powerful way to communicate ideas, persuade audiences, and showcase your expertise. However, structuring and organizing content can be a challenge, especially when dealing with complex or extensive information. This is where section dividers come into play. These design elements can enhance your presentation’s visual appeal and overall effectiveness. In this article, we will discuss the importance of section dividers, best practices for using them, and tips for creating visually appealing and impactful presentations.

Why Use Section Dividers?

• Structure and Organization: Section dividers help break up content into logical, manageable segments. This organization makes it easier for your audience to follow your presentation and understand your message.
• Visual Appeal: Well-designed section dividers can add a professional touch to your presentation, making it more visually appealing and engaging. They help create a polished, cohesive look that reflects positively on you and your content.
• Guiding the Audience: Section dividers serve as signposts, guiding your audience through your presentation. They signal transitions between topics and help maintain a clear narrative flow, reducing the risk of confusion or disinterest.

Best Practices for Using Section Dividers

• Be Consistent: Use a consistent design and formatting for all your section dividers to maintain a cohesive look throughout your presentation. This includes consistent font styles, sizes, and colors, as well as divider style and placement.
• Keep it Simple: Avoid overly intricate designs that may be distracting or difficult to read. Opt for clean, simple section dividers that complement your content without stealing the spotlight.
• Use Clear, Descriptive Titles: Your section dividers should clearly indicate the content of each segment. Use concise, descriptive titles that accurately represent the information within each section.
• Space Them Strategically: Section dividers should be placed at logical points in your presentation, such as the beginning of a new topic or after a significant transition. Avoid using too many dividers, as this can make your presentation feel disjointed or overwhelming.
• Leverage Visual Hierarchy: Use visual hierarchy to guide your audience’s attention and indicate the relative importance of different sections. This can be achieved through the use of different font sizes, styles, and colors, as well as strategic placement of images or graphics.

Tips for Creating Visually Appealing Section Dividers

• Align with Your Presentation Theme: Your section dividers should complement your presentation’s overall theme and design. Choose colors, fonts, and styles that align with your branding and visual identity.
• Use High-Quality Images and Graphics: If you choose to incorporate images or graphics into your section dividers, ensure they are high-quality, relevant, and professional. Avoid using clip art or generic stock images that may detract from your presentation’s credibility.
• Incorporate White Space: White space, or negative space, is crucial for creating a clean, balanced design. Ensure that your section dividers have adequate white space around them, making them easy to read and visually appealing.
• Experiment with Typography: Creative typography can add visual interest to your section dividers. Experiment with different font styles, weights, and sizes, but be sure to maintain readability and consistency with your overall presentation design.

Section dividers are essential tools for creating organized, visually appealing, and impactful presentations. By following best practices and design tips, you can harness the power of section dividers to elevate your presentation game and leave a lasting impression on your audience. Remember, a well-structured presentation is not only easier to follow but also more likely to engage and persuade your audience.

Further Reading: Enhance Your Presentation Skills

• The Art of Storytelling: Crafting a Compelling Presentation
• How to Design Visually Engaging Presentations

How to Master the Art of Q&A Sessions for Successful Presentations

5 creative presentation techniques to ditch bullet points.

• 12 Common Presentation Design Mistakes You Need to Avoid

He is the Founder and Head of Design at Slideckly, which offers PowerPoint presentation design services. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business with a concentration in Management Information Systems. In his free time, he enjoys playing guitar, singing karaoke, reading non-fiction, and learning new skills.

The Power of Emotion in Presentation Design

Engaging Presentations: Harnessing Psychology for Impact

Entrepreneurs’ Guide to Pitch Deck Creation: DIY, AI Templates, or White-Glove Service?

The Art of Template Taming: Unleashing Your Content’s Full Potential

Use Your Visuals as an Aid, Not a Competitor in Your Presentation

Me, Myself, and AI: How Artificial Intelligence is Helping My Business and Personal Life

Unlock the Power of Your Presentations: How Less Really is More

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How to organize a microsoft powerpoint slideshow using sections.

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These 5 tricks helped fix my youtube music recommendations, today's nyt connections hints and answer for june 28 (#383), quick links, about sections in microsoft powerpoint, use sections in powerpoint on windows or mac, use sections in powerpoint on the web.

If you have a lengthy presentation , keeping it organized is important. One way to do this in Microsoft PowerPoint is to use sections. We'll show you what they are and how you can make use of them.

You can group slides into various sections to keep things neat and tidy. Expand a section and collapse the rest so you can focus on what you're working on. You can also easily move sections if you want to rearrange your presentation.

If you're looking for a better way to organize your PowerPoint slideshows, let's look at how to use sections.

If you use Microsoft Word , you might be familiar with how sections work in that application. But sections in PowerPoint are completely different. Rather than breaking up a document , as sections do in Word, sections work more like folders in PowerPoint.

Related: How to Add, Delete, and Rearrange PowerPoint Slides

Sections contain groups of slides for organizational purposes only. Sections are not visible when presenting your show, and after creating sections you can still move your slides to rearrange them as you normally would.

Sections are available in Microsoft PowerPoint on Windows, Mac, and the web. Because the features differ slightly on the web versus desktop, we'll look at each separately.

You can organize your slideshow easily with sections on Windows or Mac. This is especially helpful if you're collaborating with others . For instance, you might assign certain sections to specific people.

Related: How to Collaborate on a Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation

Create a Section

You can create a section using Normal or Slide Sorter view as well as with the Home tab.

On the View tab, select "Normal" or "Slide Sorter" and pick the thumbnail for the first slide you want in the section. Right-click and choose "Add Section" from the shortcut menu.

To use the Home tab, select the slide to start the section by making it the active slide. Then, click the Section drop-down arrow and pick "Add Section."

You'll immediately see a pop-up window prompting you to name your section. Enter the name and click "Rename."

If the slide you pick to start a section is not the first slide in your presentation, a Default Section will be created automatically and contain all slides before your created section.

Once you set up sections, you'll see the number of slides within each one. Click the arrow next to a section header to collapse or expand it.

Manage Sections

You can rename and collapse or expand all sections in your slideshow. And like creating a section, you can do so in Normal view, Slide Sorter view, or using the Home tab.

Either right-click the section in one of the mentioned views or select the Section drop-down arrow on the Home tab to take an action on your section.

If you want to delete a section, you have three different options. You can delete the selected section, delete the section and the slides in it, or delete all sections in the slideshow.

Right-click the section and choose one of the delete actions.

If you use the Home tab to manage your sections, you'll only see two of the delete actions in the Section drop-down box. You can either remove the selected section or all sections. So if you want to delete a section and its slides too, use the right-click method above.

Move a Section

You may decide to move a section, which would include that group of slides, to a different spot in your presentation.

In either Normal or Slide Sorter view, select the section, drag it to its new location in the slideshow, and release.

Alternatively, right-click the section and choose "Move Section Up" or "Move Section Down."

In Microsoft PowerPoint on the web , you can create and use sections. However, you do have limited actions.

To create a section, select the View tab and choose "Slide Sorter" at the top. Then, right-click the first slide you want in the section and choose "Add Section" from the shortcut menu.

When the section appears, replace "Untitled Section" with the name you want, and press Enter or Return.

You can only see sections you create in Slide Sorter view. They are not collapsible or expandable like in the desktop application.

To rename, remove, or move a section, head back to View > Slide Sorter. Right-click the section header to take an action.

Sections in PowerPoint give you a good way to keep track of and manage your slides. Whether working alone or sharing the slideshow with others, you're sure to keep your presentation organized.

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