Displaying the Total Number of Slides

PowerPoint 2003 does not have a feature that allows you to display the total number of slides in the slide number area of the slide. However, there is a simple work-around.

NOTE: Do these steps at the end of creating the presentation, when you are sure of the total number of slides in your presentation.

A. Edit the Slide Master

1. Go under the View menu, choose Master, and then Slide Master. (Figure 1)
2. The Slide Master will open. (Figure 2)
3. In the lower, right-hand corner of the slide master, there is a placeholder titled "Number Area." (Figure 3)
4. Notice the <#> inside of the placeholder. This code will display the current slide number. DO NOT DELETE IT!! (Figure 4)
5. Click to the right of the <#>, and give yourself a space.
6. Type the words "of N". (Figure 5)
   • N equals the total number of slides in the presentation.
   • For example, if the presentation has a total of 12 slides, you would type "of 12 " after the <#>.
7. Go back to the normal slide view by going to the View menu, and choosing Normal. (Figure 6)

B. Activate the Slide Footer

1. Go under the View menu and choose Header and Footer... (Figure 7)
2. The Header and Footer dialog box will open. (Figure 8)
3. Make sure the "Slide" tab is active. (Figure 9)
4. Click in the checkbox beside "Slide number". (Figure 10)
• Uncheck "Date and time" if you don't want them displayed on the slides.
• Uncheck "Footer" if you don't want the footer displayed on the slides.
5. Click the "Apply to All" button. (Figure 11)
6. You will now see the slide numbers on each slide. (Figure 12)

Figures 1- 12

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6
Figure7
Figure 8
Figure 9
Figure 10
Figure 11
Figure 12

Updated 7-9-07