Time-Saving Tips Illustration

“Perfect! I have all the time I need to create these e-learning courses … no need to rush,” said no one, ever! If you’re like most people in the e-learning field, you’re usually strapped for time and open to suggestions for getting things done faster. Well, you’re in luck! I’ve put together a list of some tips and tricks that will help you work more efficiently on your Articulate Studio projects.

Use the Format Painter
Articulate Presenter and Articulate Quizmaker

If you’re not using the format painter to its full potential, chances are you’re doing some extra steps that you can trim.

You probably already know how to copy the formatting from one object to another by selecting the correctly formatted object, clicking once on the format brush, and then selecting the object to which you’d like to apply the same format. But did you know that if you double-click on the format brush, you can apply the format to as many objects as you want? You can even changes slides without having to re-select the format painter. Talk about a time-saver!

Articulate Presenter

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Articulate Quizmaker

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Add Buttons to the Quick Access Toolbar
Articulate Presenter, Articulate Quizmaker, Articulate Engage

Did you know you can customize the PowerPoint toolbar by adding quick-access buttons to all your favorite features? I’ve saved an unbelievable amount of time using this feature. In my Quick Access Toolbar (QAT), I added these three features:

  • Arrange
  • Format Painter
  • Selection Pane

Articulate Presenter

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Articulate Quizmaker

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Articulate Engage

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To add features to your QAT, simply right-click on the feature and select Add to Quick Access Toolbar.

Articulate Presenter

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Articulate Engage

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This trick sure comes in handy on my Articulate Studio projects!

Pro tip: If you have a lot of features that you use on a regular basis, you may want to take the QAT a step further and create a custom tab. For step-by-step instructions, check out this article on How to Create a Rapid E-Learning Tab in PowerPoint by Tom Kuhlmann.

Use PowerPoint’s Hidden Gems
Articulate Presenter

Did you know that there are a ton of hidden features in PowerPoint? That’s right! Little-known features such as Shape Union, which allows you to take grouping objects one step further and actually combine them into a single shape, can be real time-savers.

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In the same article referenced above, Tom Kuhlmann also shows you how to access all those PowerPoint features that will help you shave critical production time.

Use the Change Picture Feature
Articulate Presenter and Articulate Quizmaker

Sometimes you add a picture onto a slide only to replace it later with another image. But what if you’ve already spent time scaling, formatting, and linking the image to another slide? Luckily, there is an easy way to replace your image without having to start all over. Just right-click on your image and choose Change Picture.

Articulate Presenter

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Then select the image you’d like to insert and—presto, change-o!—you’re all set.

Of course, these tips and tricks are only the start! Check out the links below for more time-saving tricks.

Articulate Studio Tips:

Articulate Storyline Tips:

What about you? What are your secrets to optimizing the creation of your e-learning courses? Please share your expertise with the community in the comments section below.

Want to try out these time-saving tips, but you don’t have Articulate software? Go ahead and download a free trial. Remember to come back to E-Learning Heroes regularly, and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on the latest e-learning tips and tricks.