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Unit 1: Using the Application
ICDL Category 1 · Working with Presentations (1.1) & Productivity (1.2)
1.1.1 Opening & Closing Impress 1.1.1
LibreOffice Impress is a free, open-source presentation application — the Alin Li alternative to Microsoft PowerPoint! Create slides with text, images, charts, animations, and more.
Open: Application Menu → search "Impress" → click. Or double-click any .odp / .pptx file.
Close: Ctrl + Q (app) or Ctrl + W (file). Click ❌.
1.1.2–1.1.4 Creating & Saving 1.1.2–1.1.4
New presentation: File → New → Presentation. Or from templates: File → New → Templates.
| Format | Extension | Use |
|---|---|---|
| ODP (Open Document) | .odp | Default open standard — always use! |
| PowerPoint | .pptx | Sharing with PowerPoint users |
.pdf | Sharing a read-only version | |
| Show (auto-play) | .ppsx / .odp | Opens directly in slideshow mode |
| Image | .png / .jpg | Export individual slides as pictures |
Save: Ctrl + S. Save As: Ctrl + Shift + S. Export PDF: File → Export as PDF.
1.2 Productivity Tools 1.2
| Feature | How |
|---|---|
| Preferences | Tools → Options → LibreOffice → User Data / Paths |
| Help | F1 |
| Zoom | View → Zoom, or Ctrl + scroll wheel, or slider (bottom-right) |
| Show/hide toolbars | View → Toolbars |
| Switch presentations | Window menu or Alt + Tab |
✏️
Quiz: Using the Application
6 questions · ICDL Category 1
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Unit 2: Developing a Presentation
ICDL Category 2 · Views (2.1), Slides (2.2), Master Slide (2.3)
2.1.1–2.1.2 Presentation Views 2.1
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Normal View
The main editing view. Shows one slide with the slide panel on the left. Best for editing content on individual slides. Default view.
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🔲
Slide Sorter
Shows all slides as thumbnails. Best for rearranging slides (drag and drop), deleting, and seeing the overall flow. View → Slide Sorter.
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🎨
Master Slide View
Edit the master template that controls the design of all slides. Changes here affect every slide using that master. View → Master Slide.
Tap
📝
Notes Page
Shows the slide with a notes area below. Add speaker notes that only YOU see during the presentation. View → Notes.
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📋
Outline View
Shows only the text content of all slides in outline form. Great for writing and organizing your presentation's structure and flow. View → Outline.
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🖥️
Slide Show
Full-screen presentation mode! Shows slides as the audience will see them, with animations and transitions. Press F5 to start.
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2.1.3 Unique Slide Titles 2.1.3
Good practice: Give each slide a unique, descriptive title. This helps when navigating in Outline view and during the slideshow. "Our Results" is better than "Slide 5".
2.2 Working with Slides 2.2
| Action | How |
|---|---|
| Apply slide layout | Right-click slide → Slide Properties → Layout tab. Or use the Layouts panel in sidebar. |
| Apply design/theme | Slide → Slide Properties → Background tab. Or use Master Slides panel in sidebar. |
| Change background colour | Slide → Slide Properties → Background → Color. Apply to this slide or all slides. |
| Add new slide | Right-click in slide panel → Insert New Slide. Or Ctrl + M. Choose layout. |
| Copy/move slides | In Slide Sorter or panel: drag to move, Ctrl + drag to copy. Also between presentations. |
| Delete slides | Right-click slide → Delete Slide, or select → Delete key. |
Common slide layouts:
🏷️
Title Slide
For the first slide. Has a large title and subtitle area. Used for the presentation title, your name, date.
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📝
Title + Content
Most common layout. Title at top, content area below for text, images, charts, or tables.
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🏷️
Title Only
Just a title — the rest of the slide is empty for you to place objects freely.
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⬜
Blank
Completely empty. Full creative freedom to place anything anywhere.
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2.3 Master Slides 2.3
Master Slide = A template that controls the design of ALL slides. When you change the master, ALL slides update automatically. This ensures consistent design throughout your presentation.
To edit the Master Slide: View → Master Slide. You can:
| Action | Effect |
|---|---|
| Insert a logo/image into master | Appears on EVERY slide automatically |
| Remove an object from master | Disappears from all slides |
| Change font size/type/colour in master | ALL slides update to match |
Click "Close Master View" when done editing.
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Quiz: Developing a Presentation
8 questions · ICDL Category 2
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Unit 3: Text & Tables
ICDL Category 3 · Handling Text (3.1), Formatting (3.2), Tables (3.3)
3.1.1 Good Slide Content Practice 3.1.1
The golden rules of slide text:
✅ Use short, concise phrases — not full sentences or paragraphs
✅ Use bullet points and numbered lists to organize information
✅ Follow the 6×6 rule: max 6 bullet points per slide, max 6 words per point
❌ Don't read your slides word-for-word — slides support your talk, they don't replace it
❌ Don't overcrowd slides with too much text
✅ Use short, concise phrases — not full sentences or paragraphs
✅ Use bullet points and numbered lists to organize information
✅ Follow the 6×6 rule: max 6 bullet points per slide, max 6 words per point
❌ Don't read your slides word-for-word — slides support your talk, they don't replace it
❌ Don't overcrowd slides with too much text
3.1.2–3.1.7 Entering & Editing Text 3.1.2–3.1.7
Enter text: Click a placeholder (e.g., "Click to add title") and type. In Outline view, type directly to add text to any slide.
| Action | How |
|---|---|
| Edit text | Double-click the text box → make changes |
| Copy/Move text | Ctrl + C / Ctrl + X → Ctrl + V (works between presentations too) |
| Delete text | Select → Delete or Backspace |
| Undo / Redo | Ctrl + Z / Ctrl + Y |
| Add/modify indents | Tab to indent, Shift + Tab to outdent. Or use indent buttons on toolbar. |
| Bullets/Numbers | Toolbar buttons. Click dropdown arrow to change style. |
3.2 Text Formatting 3.2
| Format | Shortcut | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Font size / type | Toolbar dropdowns | Use readable fonts; keep consistent |
| Bold | Ctrl + B | Emphasize key words |
| Italic | Ctrl + I | For quotes, titles, emphasis |
| Underline | Ctrl + U | Use sparingly in presentations |
| Shadow | Format → Character → Font Effects | Adds depth to text |
| Font colour | Font Color dropdown | Ensure contrast with background! |
| Case changes | Format → Text → UPPERCASE / lowercase | — |
| Alignment | Ctrl + L/E/R | Left, Centre, Right within text frame |
| Line spacing | Format → Paragraph → Indents & Spacing | Single, 1.5, Double |
| Hyperlink | Ctrl + K | Insert → Hyperlink. Edit/remove: right-click. |
3.3 Tables in Slides 3.3
Insert table: Insert → Table → choose rows & columns → OK.
| Action | How |
|---|---|
| Enter/edit text | Click a cell and type. Tab moves to next cell. |
| Select cells/rows/columns | Click and drag, or use Table menu → Select |
| Insert/delete rows/columns | Right-click → Insert/Delete Row/Column |
| Resize columns/rows | Drag column/row borders |
| Delete table | Click table border → Delete |
✏️
Quiz: Text & Tables
8 questions · ICDL Category 3
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Unit 4: Charts & Organisation Charts
ICDL Category 4 · Charts (4.1) & Organisation Charts (4.2)
4.1 Charts in Presentations 4.1
Charts make data visual and easy to understand. Insert → Chart → choose type (column, bar, line, pie) → enter data in the data table → click outside to finish.
| Action | How |
|---|---|
| Select chart | Click on it |
| Edit chart data | Double-click chart → right-click → Data Table |
| Change type | Double-click chart → right-click → Chart Type |
| Add/edit title | Double-click → Insert → Title |
| Add data labels | Click data series → Insert → Data Labels (values/percentages) |
| Change colours | Double-click chart → click bar/slice → right-click → Format → Area |
| Change background | Right-click chart area → Format Chart Area → Area tab |
4.2 Organisation Charts 4.2
An organisation chart (org chart) shows a hierarchy — like a family tree for a company or school:
Create: Insert → Diagram (or use shapes manually). In some versions, use SmartArt-like features.
| Action | How |
|---|---|
| Create org chart | Use shapes + connectors, or Insert SmartArt/Diagram if available |
| Add co-workers (same level) | Add a shape at the same hierarchical level, connect with lines |
| Add subordinates (below) | Add a shape below and connect with a line downward |
| Change hierarchy | Move shapes up/down, reconnect lines |
| Remove people | Select the shape → Delete. Reconnect remaining lines. |
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Quiz: Charts
6 questions · ICDL Category 4
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Unit 5: Graphical Objects & Drawing
ICDL Category 5 · Insert/Manipulate (5.1) & Drawing (5.2)
5.1 Inserting & Manipulating Objects 5.1
| Action | How |
|---|---|
| Insert picture | Insert → Image → browse → Open |
| Insert shape | Insert → Shape, or use Drawing toolbar |
| Select objects | Click on it. Ctrl + click to select multiple. |
| Copy/Move | Ctrl + C/X + V. Works between presentations. |
| Resize (keep proportions) | Hold Shift + drag corner handle |
| Resize (free) | Drag corner handle without Shift |
| Resize chart | Click chart → drag handles |
| Delete | Select → Delete |
| Rotate | Select → click rotation handle (circle at top), or right-click → Position and Size → Rotation |
| Flip | Right-click → Flip → Horizontally / Vertically |
5.1.7–5.1.8 Alignment 5.1.7–5.1.8
Align objects precisely on the slide or relative to each other:
| Align To | Options | How |
|---|---|---|
| Relative to slide | Left, Centre, Right, Top, Bottom | Select object → Format → Align → choose option |
| Relative to each other | Left, Centre, Right, Top, Bottom, Middle | Select multiple objects → Format → Align → choose |
💡 Tip: Select multiple objects by holding Ctrl and clicking each one. Then align them all at once for a professional, clean layout!
5.2 Drawing Objects 5.2
Use the Drawing toolbar (View → Toolbars → Drawing) to create shapes:
📏
Line
A straight line. Hold Shift to draw perfectly horizontal, vertical, or 45°.
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➡️
Arrow
A line with an arrowhead. Change start/finish style in Format → Position and Size.
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⬛
Rectangle / Square
Hold Shift while drawing to make a perfect square. Add text by double-clicking inside.
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⬮
Oval / Circle
Hold Shift while drawing for a perfect circle. Double-click to add text inside.
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⬅️
Block Arrow
Large arrows for flowcharts and diagrams. Can contain text inside.
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📝
Text Box
A free-floating text area. Place it anywhere on the slide. Insert → Text Box, then draw.
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Formatting shapes: Right-click → Area (fill colour), Line (border colour/width/style), Shadow. For arrows: Format → Position and Size → change start/finish arrow style.
5.2.6–5.2.7 Grouping & Layering 5.2.6–5.2.7
| Action | How |
|---|---|
| Group objects | Select all → right-click → Group. Now they move/resize as one unit. |
| Ungroup | Right-click grouped object → Ungroup |
| Bring forward (one level) | Right-click → Arrange → Bring Forward |
| Send backward (one level) | Right-click → Arrange → Send Backward |
| Bring to front (top) | Right-click → Arrange → Bring to Front |
| Send to back (bottom) | Right-click → Arrange → Send to Back |
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Quiz: Graphical Objects
8 questions · ICDL Category 5
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Unit 6: Prepare & Deliver
ICDL Category 6 · Preparation (6.1) & Check/Deliver (6.2)
6.1.1 Slide Transitions 6.1.1
Transitions are visual effects when moving from one slide to the next (fade, wipe, dissolve, etc.).
- Select a slide (or select all: Ctrl + A in Slide Sorter)
- Go to Slide → Slide Transition (or the Transitions panel in sidebar)
- Choose a transition effect (Fade, Push, Wipe, etc.)
- Set speed and options
- Click "Apply to All Slides" if you want the same transition everywhere
To remove: select slide → choose "None" in transitions panel.
💡 Tip: Use transitions sparingly! One or two consistent transitions look professional. Too many different flashy transitions look distracting and unprofessional.
6.1.2 Animations 6.1.2
Animations control how individual objects (text, images, shapes) appear, move, or disappear on a slide.
- Select the object you want to animate
- Go to View → Animation (or the Animation panel in sidebar)
- Click + Add Effect
- Choose type: Entrance (how it appears), Emphasis (highlight), Exit (how it disappears), Motion Paths (movement)
- Set timing: On Click, After Previous, With Previous
To remove: select the animation in the panel → click Delete (🗑️).
6.1.3–6.1.6 Notes, Hiding & Footers 6.1.3–6.1.6
| Feature | How |
|---|---|
| Presenter notes | Click in the Notes area below the slide (Normal view) and type. Only YOU see these during presentation. |
| Hide a slide | Right-click slide → Hide Slide (it won't show during slideshow). Right-click → Show Slide to unhide. |
| Footer text | Insert → Header and Footer → type text → Apply (this slide) or Apply to All |
| Slide numbers | Insert → Header and Footer → check "Slide number" ✅ |
| Auto date | Insert → Header and Footer → check "Date and time" → choose Fixed or Auto-update |
6.2.1 Spell Check 6.2.1
Press F7 or Tools → Spelling. Works the same as Writer — correct, ignore, or add words to dictionary.
6.2.2 Orientation & Output Format 6.2.2
Slide orientation: Slide → Slide Properties → Page tab → Portrait or Landscape (default is landscape for on-screen presentations).
Output format: Choose paper size for printing, or on-screen dimensions for digital presentation.
6.2.3 Printing 6.2.3
Ctrl + P opens print dialog. Options:
| Print Option | What It Prints |
|---|---|
| All slides | The entire presentation |
| Specific slides | Enter slide numbers (e.g., 1, 3, 5-8) |
| Handouts | Multiple slides per page (2, 4, 6, or 9 per page) — great for audience! |
| Notes pages | Each slide with its presenter notes below |
| Outline | Text content only in outline format |
| Number of copies | Print multiple sets |
6.2.4–6.2.5 Delivering the Slideshow 6.2.4–6.2.5
| Action | How |
|---|---|
| Start from first slide | F5 or Slide Show → Start from First Slide |
| Start from current slide | Shift + F5 or Slide Show → Start from Current Slide |
| Next slide | Click, →, ↓, Space, Enter, or Page Down |
| Previous slide | ←, ↑, Backspace, or Page Up |
| Go to specific slide | Type the slide number + Enter |
| End slideshow | Esc or right-click → End Show |
The average TED Talk has about 30 slides for an 18-minute talk — roughly one slide every 36 seconds. Simple, visual slides with minimal text keep the audience engaged!
🎮 Activity: Slideshow Navigation Match
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Quiz: Prepare & Deliver
8 questions · ICDL Category 6
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Final Exam: Presentations with LibreOffice Impress
20 questions · All 6 ICDL Categories · Score 70%+ to pass!
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Alin Li ICDL Academy — Presentations with LibreOffice Impress