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Tips for Powerpoint by Regina Griffin

How To Zoom In On An Image In PowerPoint

In today’s digital age, captivating your audience during a PowerPoint presentation is essential.

One effective way to achieve this is by zooming in on images to emphasize key points, improve visibility, and add visual interest.

This tutorial by Oregon-based teacher Regina Griffin will teach you how to seamlessly zoom in on an image within your PowerPoint slides.

Learn how to insert an image, adjust the zoom level, and incorporate creative tips and tricks to enhance your presentation skills and engage your audience effectively.

Key Takeaways:

• Zooming in on images in PowerPoint can help emphasize key points, improve visibility, and add visual interest to your presentations.
• To zoom in on an image in PowerPoint, simply select the image, navigate to the “Format” tab, and click on the “Zoom” option to adjust the zoom level.
• To make your zoomed images stand out even more, try using animation effects, adding borders or shadows, and using the “Zoom to Full Screen” option for maximum impact.

Why is Zooming in on Images Important in PowerPoint Presentations?

Zooming in on images is crucial in PowerPoint presentations as it allows presenters to highlight specific details and emphasize key points effectively.

By strategically zooming in on images, presenters can draw the audience’s attention to intricate aspects that might otherwise go unnoticed. This deliberate focus not only enhances audience engagement but also aids in maintaining their interest throughout the presentation.

Zooming contributes to the overall clarity of the content, ensuring that complex visuals are comprehended with ease. This feature acts as a powerful tool for visual communication, enabling presenters to convey their message with precision and impact.

Emphasize Key Points

One way to utilize zooming in PowerPoint is to emphasize key points, enabling presenters to draw attention to critical information and make it more visually engaging for the audience.

By strategically incorporating zoom effects, presenters can guide the audience’s focus to specific data or concepts within a slide. For instance, when showcasing intricate graphs or diagrams, zooming in on particular sections can elucidate complex details and help viewers grasp the core message effortlessly. Utilizing zoom features to progressively reveal content step by step can build anticipation and maintain audience interest throughout the presentation. This technique is particularly effective when unveiling a series of related points or unfolding a narrative.

Improve Visibility

Another advantage of zooming in on images in PowerPoint is to improve visibility, ensuring that important details are clear and easily seen by the audience.

By utilizing the zoom feature, presenters can overcome any size constraints within their slides, allowing for a closer inspection of intricate elements that might otherwise go unnoticed. This enhanced visibility not only captures the attention of the audience but also aids in their comprehension of complex concepts and data. Zooming in also helps in emphasizing specific parts of an image or diagram, steering the audience’s focus towards critical information and enhancing overall engagement during the presentation.

When intricate details are magnified, the audience can better grasp the nuances of the content being shared, leading to enhanced retention and understanding. This improved visibility ensures that every viewer, regardless of their seating arrangement or screen size, can appreciate the finer points of the presentation, fostering a more interactive and impactful communication experience.

Add Visual Interest

Zooming in on images can also add visual interest to PowerPoint presentations by creating dynamic visual effects and enhancing the overall aesthetics of the slides.

One of the creative ways to leverage the zoom effect in PowerPoint presentations is to use it for engaging transitions between slides. By incorporating zoom-in transition settings, you can smoothly navigate from one point to another, capturing the audience’s attention and maintaining a seamless flow.

By applying zoom to specific elements within a slide, such as charts, graphics, or text, you can introduce interactive features that encourage audience engagement. This interactive zoom functionality allows viewers to focus on key details and emphasizes important information effectively.

How to Zoom in on Images in PowerPoint

To zoom in on images in PowerPoint, follow these steps to enhance the visual impact of your presentation.

Ensure you have inserted the image you wish to zoom into on your slide. Next, click on the desired image to select it. Then, navigate to the Format tab at the top of the PowerPoint interface. Within the Format tab, locate the Picture Tools panel and click on the Picture Tools Format tab. Look for the Zoom group, where you will find the Zoom In and Zoom Out options. Adjust the zoom level by choosing one of these options or entering a custom percentage. For precise positioning of the zoomed image, utilize the Hand Tool available in the lower-right corner after zooming in.

Step 1: Insert an Image

The first step to zooming in on an image in PowerPoint is to insert the desired image onto your slide, ensuring it is appropriately placed within the content layout.

When selecting images for your presentation, opt for high-resolution visuals that are relevant to your content and enhance your message. Quality images are key to capturing your audience’s attention. Placing images strategically can make your slides visually appealing; consider using the Rule of Thirds to create a balanced composition. You can use the ‘Send to Back’ or ‘Bring to Front’ options to adjust the layering of your images, allowing you to stack multiple visuals for more dynamic presentations.

Step 2: Select the Image

Once the image is inserted, select the image that you intend to zoom in on, ensuring that the original image is of sufficient quality for a clear zoomed-in view.

When choosing the image for zooming, it’s essential to consider factors such as resolution, clarity, and overall visual appeal. Opt for images that are high resolution and sharp to avoid pixelation or distortion when zoomed in. Remember that the detail and quality of the original image will greatly impact the clarity of the zoomed-in version. If unsure about the quality of an image, it’s advisable to source high-quality images from reputable sites or use your high-resolution photographs for the best results.

Step 3: Navigate to the ‘Format’ Tab

Next, navigate to the ‘Format’ tab in PowerPoint to access the formatting options that will allow you to apply zoom effects to the selected image.

Once you are in the ‘Format’ tab, you will encounter a plethora of formatting tools at your disposal. These tools enable you to adjust various image properties such as size, color, borders, and more. To enhance the visual effects of your images, you can make use of the shape formats provided in the tab. Utilize options like shadows, reflections, and 3D rotations to add depth and dimension to your images. The ‘Format’ tab offers precise control over zoom settings, allowing you to zoom in or out to highlight specific details within the image.

Step 4: Click on the ‘Zoom’ Option

Click on the ‘Zoom’ option within the ‘Format’ tab to initiate the zoom feature for the selected image, allowing you to adjust the zoom level according to your preference.

Upon clicking the ‘Zoom’ option, a dialog box will appear, presenting various zoom percentage options for you to select. By adjusting the percentage, you can control the level of magnification, ensuring the image’s details are highlighted effectively.

For a closer look at specific details, opt for a higher zoom percentage, while a lower percentage could be suitable for presenting the image in its entirety. Experimenting with different zoom levels can help you determine the ideal setting based on your presentation’s context and visual content.

Step 5: Adjust the Zoom Level

Once the zoom feature is activated, adjust the zoom level by either increasing or decreasing the magnification to achieve the desired visual impact within your presentation.

Regarding fine-tuning the zoom level settings in PowerPoint, it’s crucial to strike a balance between enhancing the details of your images and maintaining overall clarity. For intricate diagrams or charts, a higher zoom level might be necessary to ensure that every element is visible to your audience.

On the other hand, for full-screen images or backgrounds, a moderate zoom level is advised to prevent distortion and pixelation. Experiment with different zoom levels for various image types to find the optimal setting that complements your presentation content.

Step 6: Use the Hand Tool to Move the Zoomed Image

Utilize the Hand Tool after zooming in on the image to move and reposition the enlarged view within the slide, allowing you to focus on specific details effectively.

The Hand Tool in PowerPoint serves as a versatile feature that enables users to smoothly pan across the zoomed-in image, aiding in precise placement and careful attention to specific elements. By simply clicking and dragging, you can navigate through the enlarged image with ease. This functionality proves invaluable when presenting intricate visuals or complex diagrams, ensuring that your audience can follow along seamlessly.

To enhance your interactive image exploration experience, practice adjusting the zoom level alongside the Hand Tool, combining both for a seamless and informative presentation.

Tips and Tricks for Zooming in on Images in PowerPoint

Enhance your PowerPoint presentations by incorporating these advanced tips and tricks for creative and impactful image zooming effects.

One powerful technique to enhance image zooming in PowerPoint is to use zoom animations strategically. By applying zoom animations, you can create a dynamic and engaging visual experience for your audience, drawing attention to key elements within your images. Consider adding borders or shadows around zoomed images to make them stand out more effectively. This simple adjustment can give your images a polished look and make them more visually appealing.

Make use of the full-screen zoom option to captivate your audience during key moments in your presentation. This feature allows you to zoom in on specific details or sections of an image, providing a more immersive viewing experience for your viewers. Experiment with different zoom levels and transitions to find the perfect balance that keeps your audience engaged and focused on your content.

Use the ‘Zoom In’ Animation Effect

Engage your audience with the ‘Zoom In’ animation effect in PowerPoint, which adds a dynamic and visually appealing zoom transition to your images.

Adding the ‘Zoom In’ animation not only brings energy and focus to specific parts of your visual content but also helps in guiding your audience’s attention effectively. For instance, when showcasing detailed diagrams or emphasizing key elements in graphs, applying the ‘Zoom In’ effect creates a more immersive experience. It’s particularly useful in educational presentations to highlight important information. By gradually zooming into crucial details, this animation keeps the audience engaged and enhances the overall impact of your message.

Add a Border or Shadow to the Zoomed Image

Enhance the visual appeal of zoomed images by adding borders or shadows in PowerPoint, creating a polished and professional look for your presentation slides.

When selecting the perfect border for your zoomed images, consider using solid lines to create a clean and defined frame, or opt for dashed lines for a more subtle touch. For shadows, experiment with different gradients and angles to achieve the desired depth and dimensionality. It’s essential to ensure that the border color complements the overall color scheme of your slide, enhancing rather than distracting from the image itself.

Use the ‘Zoom to Full Screen’ Option for Maximum Impact

For a dramatic visual effect, consider using the ‘Zoom to Full Screen’ option in PowerPoint to expand the image to fullscreen for a stunning impact on your audience.

When incorporating this feature, you have the power to immerse your viewers in the content by eliminating distractions and focusing solely on the visuals. This full-screen zoom capability is perfect for emphasizing crucial points or showcasing intricate details that might get lost in a standard-sized slide. Whether you are presenting intricate graphs, detailed diagrams, or captivating images, utilizing the ‘Zoom to Full Screen’ option can take your presentation to the next level.

Imagine transporting your audience into a virtual tour of your data or taking them on a visual journey through your project timeline—all made possible through the magic of full-screen zooming. The added element of surprise and scale can significantly enhance the storytelling aspect of your presentation, keeping your viewers engaged and eager to explore what comes next.

Mastering the art of zooming in on images in PowerPoint can significantly enhance the visual appeal and effectiveness of your presentations, providing you with a powerful tool to captivate and inform your audience.

Zooming allows presenters to focus on specific details, create smooth transitions between slides, and guide the audience’s attention to key elements. By incorporating zoom effects, you can add a dynamic touch to your slides, making them more engaging and memorable. Experimenting with different zoom techniques, such as zooming in/out, zooming to a specific area, or using the zoom summary, opens up a world of creative opportunities to convey information effectively. These visual enhancements not only elevate the overall presentation quality but also help in delivering complex ideas with clarity and impact.

Below are the references used in this tutorial on zooming in on images in PowerPoint, providing additional resources for further exploration and learning.

• Microsoft Support: Zoom in or out of a document, presentation, or worksheet in Microsoft Office: Click here
• PowerPoint Zoom feature guide from Microsoft: Access guide
• Online tutorials from Lynda.com on advanced PowerPoint functionalities: Lynda PowerPoint tutorials

Frequently Asked Questions

1. how do i zoom in on an image in powerpoint.

To zoom in on an image in PowerPoint, you can use the Zoom function under the View tab. Alternatively, you can also use the shortcut keys “Ctrl” and “+” to zoom in and “Ctrl” and “-” to zoom out.

2. Can I zoom in on a specific area of an image in PowerPoint?

Yes, you can. After selecting the image, click on the “Crop” option under the Picture Format tab. Then, drag the handles to adjust the size of the image and zoom in on the area you want.

3. Is it possible to zoom in and out on an image during a PowerPoint presentation?

Yes, you can use the Zoom function under the Insert tab to add a zoom effect to your image. This will allow you to zoom in and out on the image during your presentation.

4. How can I adjust the zoom level of an image in PowerPoint?

You can use the Zoom function to adjust the zoom level of an image by clicking on the “Zoom to” drop-down menu and selecting the desired percentage. You can also enter a specific percentage in the box next to the drop-down menu.

5. What is the keyboard shortcut for zooming in on an image in PowerPoint?

The keyboard shortcut for zooming in on an image in PowerPoint is “Ctrl” and “+”. To zoom out, use the shortcut “Ctrl” and “-“.

6. Can I zoom in on an image without losing its quality in PowerPoint?

Yes, you can. PowerPoint uses a high-quality interpolation algorithm to ensure that images maintain their quality when zoomed in. However, it is recommended to use high-resolution images to avoid any loss of quality.

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How to zoom in on small details in PowerPoint

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Some Microsoft PowerPoint slides have a lot going on. There’s might be a lot of small details or some important content, and editing that content isn’t practical. When this happens, you can create a zoom shape and use the grow animation to zoom in on the detail or content you’re talking about. Doing so allows you to retain the big picture, both visually and conceptually, while focusing on the heart of the discussion. In this article, we’ll create a zoom effect by animating a special shape, which I’ll call the zoom shape.

SEE: 69 Excel tips every user should master (TechRepublic)

This technique is simple but has a few steps:

• We’ll create a duplicate slide with the same image.
• Using a shape, we’ll outline the zoom area to create a zoom shape—the area we want to draw attention to by making it larger. This is a term I made up; you won’t find it as a shape option or setting.
• We’ll merge the image and the zoom shape to remove everything but the zoom shape.
• Finally, we’ll move the zoom shape to the original slide and add the grow animation.

I’m using Microsoft 365 on a Windows 10 64-bit system, but you can use earlier versions. You can work with your own image or download the demonstration .pptx and .ppt file s. This article assumes you have basic PowerPoint skills, such as inserting shapes and applying settings.

SEE: Windows 10: Lists of vocal commands for speech recognition and dictation (free PDF) (TechRepublic)

How to create the zoom shape

We’re going to need two copies of the map image shown in Figure A . One will be the actual slide; the second will supply the zoom shape. To create a duplicate slide, right-click the original map slide in the Navigation pane and choose Duplicate Slide from the resulting submenu ( Figure A ). PowerPoint will add the second slide, which you’ll see in the Navigation pane just below the original.

Now we’re ready to create the zoom shape by covering that area with an oval shape and then merging the map image and the shape. Move to the second slide (if necessary) and then click the Insert tab. Grab the oval shape (in the Basic Shapes section) and while dragging it over the southern tip of South America hold down the Shift key to get a perfect circle, as shown in Figure B .

With the shape still selected, use the Shape Outline option on the contextual Shape Format tab to set the outline color to red and the weight to 3 points (or anything you like).

The next step is to merge the map and the zoom shape. To do so, select both objects by selecting one, holding down the Shift key and clicking the other. With both the map and the shape selected, click the Merge Shapes dropdown (in the Insert Shapes group), and choose Intersect. Figure C shows the results; PowerPoint hides everything but the image in the zoom shape. If the Merge Shapes option is dimmed, make sure to select both the map and the shape; this feature doesn’t work with only one selected object.

At this point, I want to mention that this effect won’t always be easy to apply if the zoom area has lots of surrounding or overlapping content. In Figure C , you can see that the zoom shape includes the longitude and latitude lines on the map. I did this on purpose; a picture is worth a thousand words. If those lines distract from the zoom shape, you can look for a new map that doesn’t include those lines. Or you can continue—that’s what we’re going to do. With the zoom shape created, it’s time to move it to the original slide and add the animation.

How to animate the zoom shape

We’re ready to add the zoom shape (in the duplicate slide) to the original slide and add the animation that “zooms in.” To do so, simply paste the zoom shape to the original slide and drag it until it’s a perfect match, as shown in Figure D . In this case, those lines we talked about are helpful! If you can’t line it up perfectly, use the Nudge feature to move the zoom shape a tad. To do so, hold down the Ctrl key and click the appropriate arrow key.

With the zoom shape in place, we’re ready to move on to the last step. Before applying the animation, let’s determine how we want to trigger it. Most likely, you’ll want to use a click event; that way you can trigger the animation when you’re ready. When applying this to your own work, you can choose any event you like.

With the zoom shape selected, click the Animations tab and then click the gallery’s More button (circled in Figure E ) to expose all the animations. In the Emphasis section, click Grow/Shrink. Next, from the Effect Options dropdown, choose Huge.

You’re done! To see the effect, run the show by pressing F5. When you’re ready to see the zoom effect, as shown in Figure F , click the slide.

This zoom technique requires a few steps and as shown, a bit of thought when selecting the best image, but it’s easy to implement considering the results.

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How to zoom in on PowerPoint slides (3 different techniques)

• PowerPoint Tutorials
• Shortcuts & Hacks
• December 27, 2017

How do you zoom in on something in PowerPoint without PowerPoint first centering in on your slide?

This was a great question we got from subscriber Derek (thanks Derek!).

And it’s not so intuitive…

For example, let’s say you want to zoom in on a specific icon or two to edit them, like in the picture below. How do you do it without scrolling around, driving yourself crazy?

In this tutorial, you’ll learn 3 different ways to zoom in PowerPoint, plus a few sneaky places you might never have thought of zooming in PowerPoint before.

Looking for the NEW Zoom Transition?

If you want to learn all about the brand new Zoom Transition in PowerPoint that was added in 2016, see our other guide here .

The problem with the standard PowerPoint zoom

The problem with the standard PowerPoint zoom, is that PowerPoint automatically goes to the center of your slide as you zoom in.

The center zoom is great if the object that you want to edit is in the center of your slide, but if it’s not, that means you have to use the scroll bars to find what you are looking for.

The problem with the scroll bars is that they are hard to control, often jumping you over to the next slide as you try to find the object that you want to edit.

So instead of making your life easier (which is what they were designed to do), they make it harder.

3 Ways to Zoom in on an Object

There are three different ways you can zoom in on a PowerPoint slide:

• The View tab Zoom command (zoom dialog box)
• The Zoom slider at the bottom of the screen
• The CTRL + mouse spin wheel shortcut (my personal favorite because it’s universal, as you’ll see in a second)

If you are looking for the new zoom transition, you can learn more about what that is on the Microsoft blog here .

Pro Tip: Use the ‘Fit to Window’ tools

After zooming in on something in PowerPoint, you can quickly refit your PowerPoint window in one of two ways:

• ‘Fit slide to current window’ in the lower right-hand corner your screen
• ‘Fit to Window’ in the View tab

Zoom in on a Picture in PowerPoint

To zoom in a on a specific picture (or object) in PowerPoint, all you need to do is first select the object before you zoom. Once you select an object, any of the 3 zoom methods described above will zoom you specifically in on the object:

• The zoom dialog box
• The zoom slider
• Using CTRL plus your mouse spin wheel

This zoom trick works on anything that you can select in PowerPoint, including zooming in on a table, zooming in on a chart, zooming in on a text box, etc.

Note:  If you are trying to zoom in on a picture to show a specific part of it, you can also just crop your picture down to the desired piece.

To learn all about how to crop pictures in PowerPoint,  read our step-by-step guide here .

If you have multiple objects that you want to zoom into and edit in PowerPoint, the fastest way to do that is to:

• Select and zoom in on your first object
• Edit or format your first object
• Hit Fit Slide to Current Window
• Select and zoom in on your second object
• Edit or format your second object

If you have more than two objects, you can continue zooming in and out of your slide in this way to make all of your adjustments.

PowerPoint Thumbnail Zoom

Besides zooming in on a slide while editing it, you can also use the CTRL + mouse spin wheel shortcut to zoom in on the thumbnail images of your PowerPoint slides on the left.

Zooming in on the thumbnail images allows you to control how much of your presentation you see, and how much slide editing space you give yourself on the right.

Zooming in allows you to get a big thumbnail image of each of the preceding and following slides, while zooming out gives you an idea of how many slides are in your presentation.

Slide Sorter View Zoom

Another place you can zoom in PowerPoint to see the overall flow of your presentation, is Slide Sorter View. To open the Slide Sorter View, simply click the slide Sorter  command at the bottom of your screen.

All three zoom methods work in the Slide Sorter View:

Zooming in and out of the Slide Sorter View is useful when you want to see the overall flow of your slides within your presentation at varying levels of detail.

Slide Show View zoom

Two other places you can zoom in PowerPoint are the Slide Show Mode (F5) and Presenter View (SHIFT + F5) of your presentation. To see these PowerPoint shortcuts in action, check out the video below.

Start Slide Show PowerPoint Shortcuts

There are four keyboard shortcuts for starting slide show in PowerPoint:

Once you are in one of the presentation views of your slides, you can zoom in or zoom out by either using the CTRL + mouse spin wheel shortcut (if you have a mouse), or you can use the keyboard shortcuts listed below.

• Zooming in allows you to focus on a specific section of your slide (focusing your audience’s attention on that section).
• Zooming out allows you to see all the slides in your presentation as thumbnails.

This is often an easier way to navigate the slides in your presentation if someone wants to go back and see something, rather than trying to remember where it was in your presentation.

Knowing how to properly zoom in and out of the objects you want to edit in PowerPoint will save you a ton of time.

The key to remember is that PowerPoint will use the object you have selected as the focal point of your zoom.

If you enjoyed this tutorial and want to learn more about our other PowerPoint tutorials and free resources,  visit us here .

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Zoom Feature in PowerPoint – How to Use it Correctly!

By: Author Shrot Katewa

It is hard to accept but even the most seasoned PowerPoint users find it hard to create a table of contents that is visually modern-looking and interactive! The “ Zoom ” feature can help not only with the table of contents but much more than that!

The zoom feature in PowerPoint helps create visual links between sections of your presentation. It makes the presentation interactive by adding a clickable thumbnail of a slide or a section in your presentation and allowing you to easily navigate within your presentation with cool effects!

Even if you use PowerPoint regularly, chances are you aren’t fully aware of the “Zoom” feature in PowerPoint.

And, by now if you are thinking about zooming in on the slides using the functions provided at the bottom-right corner of PowerPoint, then you really need to go through this article as you might not be aware of one of the most awesome features in PowerPoint called “ Zoom “.

1. What is Zoom in PowerPoint?

Imagine if you could just click on an image on your slide and it just zooms into that image, opening the section of your presentation that provides more information about that image! The “Zoom” feature in PowerPoint, does exactly that!

The zoom feature in Microsoft PowerPoint is a new feature that makes your presentations interactive and dynamic. Using the zoom feature in PowerPoint, you can create a zoom slide from which you can jump to and from specific slides or sections in any order you may need during the presentation.

Let’s explore this feature by checking out some of the different types of “zoom” that you can add to your presentation –

1a. Summary Zoom

The “Summary Zoom” in Microsoft PowerPoint is a landing page where you can see the summarized slides within a page.

In the summary zoom, you can select which slides to show. You can even create summary slides to show on the summary zoom. During the presentation, you can click on any slide on the summary to proceed according to the need of the audience rather than the preset slide progression.

1b. Section Zoom

In Microsoft PowerPoint, “Section Zoom” is a slide that contains the preview and the link to the sections within the presentation.

You can click on them to jump from one section to another to highlight the important parts of your presentation.

1c. Slide Zoom

The “Slide Zoom” feature in PowerPoint allows you to navigate freely through the slides in a presentation. In the slide zoom, you can add all the slides or a few selected slides.

From this section, you can move freely between slides, emphasize the important slides, and even cut the presentation short without seeming so to the audience.

2. How to Insert Slide Zoom in Microsoft PowerPoint?

To use the “Zoom” feature in PowerPoint, first, click on the “Insert” tab. Then, click on the “Zoom” button from the ribbon. Choose the type of zoom from “Summary”, “Section”, and “Slide” zoom. Next, select the slides from the window that pops up by holding the “Ctrl” key, and click on “Insert”.

Here’s a step-by-step process with visual aids on what you need to do –

Step-1: Click on the “Insert” tab

The first step is to open the “Insert” menu. Click on the “Insert” tab which is located in the menu ribbon at the top of the screen.

Step-2: Click on the “Zoom” button

In the “Links” section of the “Insert” menu, click on the “Zoom” button. This will open a dropdown menu. Click on the “Slide Zoom” option from the dropdown menu.

Step-3: Choose the Slide and Click on “Insert”

Clicking on the “Slide Zoom” option will open the “Insert Slide Zoom” dialog box.

Select the slides you want to include in the slide zoom and then click on the “Insert” button at the bottom of the dialog box. Now all you have to do is arrange the slides in the slide zoom according to your preference.

3. How to Edit Slide Zoom in PowerPoint?

Once you add the slide zoom to your presentation, you can easily edit it. To access the editing pane, all you have to do is click on the slide zoom. Then click on the “Zoom” tab in the menu ribbon.

3a. Change Borders in Slide Zoom

To add or change the border of the slides in slide zoom, click on the “Zoom Border” option. In the dropdown menu, you can click on your preferred color for the border.

You can also click on the “Weight” option and select the border width from the secondary menu. To change the border design, click on the “Dashes” option.

3b. Add Effects in Slide Zoom

You can add various effects in the slide zoom. To do so, you have to first click on a single or multiple slides in the slide zooms where you want to add effects.

Then click on the “Zoom Effects” option. In the dropdown menu, you can click on any effect option to open a secondary pop-up menu. Click on your preferred effect. You can add multiple effects on a single zoom slide.

3c. Remove Background in Slide Zoom

In Microsoft PowerPoint slide zoom, you can remove the slide background of each slide in the slide zoom. Click on the “Zoom Background” option in the “Zoom Styles” section under the “Zoom” tab. This will remove the background of the selected slide.

4. How to Change Picture in Slide Zoom?

In Slide Zoom, the default thumbnail pictures are a screenshot of the slides. However, you can change the pictures if you want. All you have to do is follow the 4 easy steps.

Step-1: Click on the “Zoom” tab

The first step is to click on the slide thumbnail that you want to change. Then click on the “Zoom” tab at which is the last tab in the menu ribbon.

Step-2: Click on the “Change Image” option

The second step is to click on the “Change Image” button which is the first option in the “Zoom Options” section of the “Zoom” menu (as shown in the image in step 1).

Then click on the “Change Image” option from the dropdown menu.

Step-3: Click on “From a File”

When you click on the “Change Image” option, it will open a dialog box. In the “Insert Pictures” dialog box, click on the “From a File” option. This will open another dialog box.

Step-4: Click on the “Insert” button

In the “Insert Picture” dialog box, click on the image which you want to add to the slide thumbnail in the slide zoom.

Then click on the “Insert” button at the bottom of the dialog box. In the slide zoom, the original thumbnail will be changed to the selected image.

4a. How to Reset Picture in Slide Zoom?

Once you change the picture of the slide thumbnail in the PowerPoint slide zoom, you can revert it to the original thumbnail.

All you have to do is click on the “Change Image” button in the “Zoom” menu. Then click on the “Reset Image” option from the dropdown menu.

5. How to Stop Slide Zoom?

In the Microsoft PowerPoint slide show, the presentation will return to the slide zoom, after each slide. To stop this, select the slide in the slide zoom and then click on the “Zoom” tab in the menu bar.

In the “Zoom” menu, click on the “Return to Zoom” option. The checkmark in the box next to it will disappear. This will stop the slides from returning to the slide zoom screen.

5a. How to Return to Slide Zoom?

Once you stop the slide zoom on Microsoft PowerPoint, you can turn on the feature again. All you have to do is select the slide again and click on the “Zoom” tab. Then click on the box next to the “Return to Zoom” option.

The checkmark will appear again. Now the screen will return to the slide zoom after the selected slide during the presentation.

Credit to nakaridore (on Freepik) for the featured image of this article (further edited)

Easy PowerPoint Zoom Tutorial (Free Templates & Examples)

Sara Wanasek

Tired of navigating your slides in a chronological order? Looking for ways to spice up the way you interact with your presentation and engage your audience?

Transform your boring presentations into something more engaging and captivating with PowerPoint’s Zoom feature. PowerPoint Zoom allows you to create dynamic, non-linear presentations. Think of it as building a Prezi inside PowerPoint. Jump from one point in your presentation to the next seamlessly by creating links to the different sections of your presentation.

By utilizing PowerPoint’s Slide Zoom, Section Zoom, and Summary Zoom, you can easily create an entertaining and engaging presentation for your audience. There are many different ways to add these to your presentation, so read on to learn how to use PowerPoint Zoom and implement it in the best ways!

Table of Contents

What is powerpoint zoom.

PowerPoint’s Zoom feature is a tool that allows you to create interactive PowerPoint presentations . It enables you to zoom in and out of specific sections or slides, creating a more dynamic and immersive experience for your audience. With PowerPoint Zoom , you can easily create links or “zoom areas” on your slides such that when clicked during a presentation, can allow you to navigate to specific slides or sections and focus on the content that is most relevant at any given time—there’s no need to be stuck with whatever slide is chronologically next.

Why Use PowerPoint Zoom?

PowerPoint Zoom lets you present in a more flexible and interactive way. For instance, you can create a dynamic menu that allows your audience to help you choose which topics to cover first. With just a click, you can jump to that slide or section and relay that information.

PowerPoint Zoom is also particularly useful for storytelling , guiding your audience through a series of complex information without being restricted to a traditional linear slide progression.

No need for hyperlinks, tedious work, or coding—PowerPoint Zoom allows for a seamless setup and flow of your presentation.

Let’s dive right in and discover how to make a zoom effect in PowerPoint!

How to Make a Zoom Effect in PowerPoint?

PowerPoint’s Zoom feature consists of three different options: Slide Zoom, Section Zoom, and Summary Zoom. While their setups are similar, the reasons for using each one vary.

Below we will delve into each of these PowerPoint Zoom options in depth.

Download our FREE PowerPoint Zoom template to follow along! 👇

Slide Zoom PowerPoint Templates

Turn your PowerPoint into an interactive experience today with this Slide Zoom template!

When to use Slide Zoom? ⏲️

Slide Zoom, as the name suggests, allows you to create links and “zoom in” on the content of another slide without following the traditional slide-to-slide progression. This comes in especially handy when you want to direct your audience’s attention to a particular image, chart, or piece of information on a slide instantly.

How to use Slide Zoom? 💻

1. Select the Main Starting Slide : To use PowerPoint Slide Zoom, first select the starting slide where you intend to apply the Zoom effect. In our example, we are using the Iceberg Model illustration as our starting slide. We want to zoom into the different description slides from our Iceberg Model slide.

2. Access the Slide Zoom Feature : Next, click Insert > Zoom > Slide Zoom . From here, choose the slide, or slides, that you want to zoom into. Click Insert and a thumbnail or thumbnails of the slides will appear on your current slide.

3. Rearrange the Thumbnails : Rearrange the thumbnails on your slide to match your design and layout.

4. Test the Slide Zoom: Now, in presentation mode, when you click on the slide thumbnails, you can zoom into the particular slides!

With a smooth Slide Zoom effect, you will notice that transitioning from slide to slide has become significantly more engaging!

Zoom Option: Zoom Background

Notice the thick outline of each slide you added to Zoom? Let’s remove that for a cleaner, more professional look on your slides. 

To do that, click on the added Zoom slide thumbnail , then click the Zoom tab in the PowerPoint ribbon. Now, click on the Zoom Background option to hide the default background and match the background of the thumbnail to the background of your current slide.

Zoom Option: Return to Zoom

Another customizable option is the Return to Zoom feature.

With the current setup of Slide Zoom, once you click on the Zoom thumbnail and navigate to the zoomed in slide, you cannot return to the main starting slide. In other words, you will move on to the next slide in a linear order, with essentially an added zoom transition.

On the other hand, by applying Return to Zoom, you will be brought back to your main starting slide every time instead. This way you can click change the order of your slides. For example, with Return to Zoom enabled, when I can click on next slide after clicking on the “Phase #3 The Structure” slide, I will be brought back to the main starting slide instead of the “Phase #4 Mental Models” slide.

To make this happen, after selecting each of your Zoom slide thumbnails, simply click on the Return to Zoom option from the Zoom tab. 

Section Zoom

When to use section zoom ⏲️.

While Slide Zoom allows you to zoom into one slide at a time, Section Zoom allows you to zoom into a specific section containing multiple related slides of your presentation. This is especially helpful for longer presentations or presentations with multiple topics. 

How to use Section Zoom? 💻

Here, we have a deck about the Solar System. Each planet has its own section with a couple slides underneath each section. Our main slide has an overview of the whole Solar System. In this case, I would like to be able to click on a planet, then be able to learn more about that planet. You can easily do this with Section Zoom!

1. Select the Main Starting Slide : Similar to PowerPoint Slide Zoom, you have to select a starting slide where you intend to apply the Zoom effect for Section Zoom. Here we are using the Solar System slide as our main starting slide where we can zoom into the different planet sections.

2. Access the Section Zoom Feature : On the overview slide, click Insert > Zoom > Section Zoom . Then choose the sections you would like to Zoom into and click Insert . The thumbnails of the first slide of each section will appear in your current slide.

Zoom Option: Change the Image

Don’t like how the different thumbnails are making your slide looks cluttered, fret not, you can change the thumbnail image of your slides for easier viewing. 

To do this, right-click on the zoom slide thumbnail and select Change Image . Then, substitute it with an image or screenshot from your device. For instance, you can take screenshots of the different segments in your slide to “hide” the zoom slide thumbnails underneath these screenshots.

Now, when you enter presentation mode, instead of clicking z zoom slide thumbnail, you can click on a planet to zoom into a desired section! Watch this video to learn exactly how to do it! 

Summary Zoom

When to use summary zoom ⏲️.

The third and final PowerPoint Zoom feature is Summary Zoom. It lets you create a summary or overview slide that acts as a hub for your presentation. It is perfect for those times when you want to give your audience a quick recap or provide them with a visual roadmap of your presentation.

Similar to Section Zoom, Summary Zoom contains links to specific sections or slides in your presentation, allowing you to navigate to the most relevant parts of your presentation. The main distinction lies in the fact that the Summary Zoom feature will automatically generate a summary slide containing thumbnails of each section or slide for your convenience.

How to use Summary Zoom? 💻

1. Select the Main Starting Slide : Similar to both PowerPoint Slide Zoom and Section Zoom, you have to select a starting slide where you intend to apply the Zoom effect for Summary

2. Access the Summary Soon Feature : To use PowerPoint Summary Zoom, click Insert > Zoom > Summary Zoom . This will create a new slide that displays a summary of your presentation, with thumbnails of each slide.

3. Customize Appearance : You can customize the appearance of the Summary Zoom slide by selecting the Format tab. Here, you can choose from various layouts, fonts, and colors to make the slide visually appealing and aligned with your presentation’s theme.

During your presentation, easily navigate to any slide by clicking on the different Zoom slide thumbnails. It’s a great way to give your audience an easy-to-follow roadmap and ensure they stay engaged and focused throughout your presentation.

Real-World PowerPoint Zoom Examples to Engage Your Audience

Here are some real-life examples of how to use PowerPoint Zoom to create engaging and immersive presentations: 

• Sales Pitch

Create interactive slides with zoomed-in images and key features for your products or services. By allowing the audience to explore products in detail, you can generate more interest and engagement during a pitch.

• Educational Lecture with Organised Sections

Similar to our Solar System deck, you can organize your presentation into sections so that students can go through the presentations at their own pace starting with what interests them the most.

Add interactive questions to the presentation using ClassPoint , to make it even more engaging. 

• Team Meeting Roadmap

Create an engaging team meeting with Summary Zoom. Highlight key milestones and deliverables in a visual and clear roadmap to help the team stay focused and engaged throughout the meeting.

• Interactive Visuals 

Use maps and charts as your overview slide and add zoom slide thumbnails of added information to showcase further data, information, and analytics. 

• Virtual Tours or Walkthroughs

Simulate a virtual tour or walkthrough using images on your slides. Add the Zoom feature to replicate “moving” from one “location” to another.

PowerPoint Zoom FAQ

Here are some common FAQ’s about this powerful tool:

What are the differences between the PowerPoint Zoom Options? 

Slide Zoom zooms from one slide to the next while Section Zoom zooms into a whole section of your presentation before bringing you back to the overview slide. The Summary Zoom option provides you with a Table-of-Contents-like slide for an easy overview of your whole presentation. 

How to make Prezi in PowerPoint? 

You can make a PowerPoint that looks similar to Prezi with PowerPoint’s Zoom feature. With your selected slide to Zoom into, click on the Insert tab, Zoom, and select Slide, Section, or Summary Zoom.

Can I use PowerPoint Zoom on any version of PowerPoint?

PowerPoint Zoom is available on PowerPoint 2019, PowerPoint 2016, and PowerPoint for Microsoft 365. Make sure you have the latest version to take advantage of this feature.

Will my audience need any special software to view the Zoom features?

No, your audience does not need any special software. The Zoom features will work seamlessly when you present your PowerPoint file on any device with PowerPoint installed.

Can I use Zoom in combination with other PowerPoint animations and transitions?

Yes, you can! PowerPoint Zoom works well with other animations and transitions, allowing you to create a truly immersive and engaging presentation.

Can I edit or remove Zoom features from my presentation?

Absolutely! You can easily edit or remove Zoom features from your presentation at any time. Just follow the steps outlined in this blog post to make any necessary changes.

Yay! You now can create an even more engaging presentation with PowerPoint’s Zoom feature. 

The versatility and impact of PowerPoint Zoom can be used in various settings. By incorporating this feature into your presentations, you can captivate your audience, enhance information retention, and create a memorable experience for your listeners. 

Experience the power of PowerPoint Slide Zoom firsthand! Begin by exploring our templates and seamlessly integrate this feature into your upcoming presentations.

About Sara Wanasek

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How to Enlarge a Picture When Clicked on PowerPoint

Interactivity is one of many factors to keep a presentation more engaging and vivid. With a laser pointer device, now presenters can interact directly with a slide without having to stay in front of a computer. This opens a whole new exciting feature that is otherwise difficult to apply before.

One particular effect that is often used on an image is “click to zoom” . Basically, the picture would be enlarged when a mouse click is triggered on it. But how to use this effect on PowerPoint?

In this guide, I will show you how to enable that effect on a picture in PowerPoint. The procedure is quite easy, but basic knowledge of PowerPoint would be needed.

Now, let’s hop into it.

1. Launch a PowerPoint document. For example, I’m using a blank presentation.

2. Go to Insert > Pictures and select the image source of your choice.

3. Place it on a slide. Ideally, keep the dimension moderately small.

4. Click on the picture and go to Animations .

5. Now, navigate to Add Animation > Grow/Shrink .

6. Still under the Animations menu, be sure that it starts with On Click . You may also want to modify the Duration and Delay .

7. We are basically done here. But if you want to adjust the enlarged size, click Animation Pane .

8. Right-click on the animation and select Effect Options…

9. You can change the size here. Then, hit OK .

10. Finally, don’t forget to test the slide to see how it would look animated.

Tip: Add a fraction of animation time on “Smooth start” and “Smooth end” at the Effect Options window. This will make the entire animation feels fluid and less jagged.

And that’s pretty much it! The guide above is somewhat basic, leaving spacious room for improvements like adding more animation effects, additional text, and organizing timing. To learn more about animation timing on PowerPoint, check out this article .

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How to Zoom in PowerPoint

PowerPoint presentations are a highly effective way of conveying information to an audience. They allow you to organize and present data in a visually appealing manner. But what if you need to focus on a specific section of your presentation? This is where the zoom feature in PowerPoint comes in handy. In this article, we will explore the ins and outs of this powerful tool and show you how to effectively incorporate it into your presentations.

Table of Contents

The Importance of Zooming in PowerPoint

Zooming in on a particular section of your PowerPoint presentation is essential for drawing attention to specific details. This is particularly useful when you are presenting complex data or graphics that might not be immediately clear to your audience. Zooming in can make your presentation more engaging and help you to better communicate your message.

Another benefit of zooming in on your PowerPoint presentation is that it can help you to save time. Instead of having to create multiple slides to show different aspects of your data or graphics, you can simply zoom in and out as needed. This can make your presentation more efficient and allow you to cover more material in less time.

Additionally, zooming in on your PowerPoint presentation can help you to create a more professional and polished look. By highlighting specific details and using zooming effects, you can create a more dynamic and visually appealing presentation. This can help to capture and maintain your audience’s attention, and leave a lasting impression on them.

Benefits of Zooming in PowerPoint Presentations

There are several benefits of using the zoom feature in PowerPoint presentations. First and foremost, it helps you to maintain your audience’s attention. By focusing on specific areas, you can ensure that your audience is engaged and able to take in the information you are presenting. Zooming in also allows you to highlight key points and provide additional context and detail, which can help to solidify your message and ensure that your audience understands the information you are presenting.

Another benefit of using the zoom feature in PowerPoint presentations is that it can help to make your presentation more visually appealing. By zooming in on specific images or graphics, you can draw attention to them and make them stand out. This can help to break up the monotony of text-heavy slides and keep your audience engaged.

Finally, using the zoom feature can also help to make your presentation more interactive. By zooming in on specific areas and asking your audience questions or encouraging them to participate in discussions, you can create a more engaging and dynamic presentation. This can help to keep your audience interested and invested in the information you are presenting, and can ultimately lead to a more successful presentation overall.

How to Enhance Your Presentations with Zoom in PowerPoint

There are several ways to incorporate zooming into your PowerPoint presentations. One option is to use the Zoom feature in the Insert tab of the ribbon. This allows you to add a zoom effect to a specific part of your slide. Additionally, you can use the Slide Zoom option to create a zoomed-in preview of a particular slide within your presentation.

Another way to enhance your presentations with zoom in PowerPoint is to use the Morph transition. This feature allows you to smoothly transition from one slide to another, while zooming in or out on specific elements. To use the Morph transition, simply duplicate the slide you want to zoom in on, make the necessary changes to the element you want to focus on, and apply the Morph transition between the two slides. This can create a more dynamic and engaging presentation for your audience.

Key Features of Zoom in PowerPoint

There are several key features of the zoom tool in PowerPoint that are worth exploring. One of the most important is the ability to adjust the level of zoom. You can do this by clicking on the zoom option in the ribbon and selecting the magnification level you want. Additionally, you can use the zoom slider to adjust the level of zoom in real-time. This allows you to quickly and easily zoom in and out as needed during your presentation.

Another useful feature of the zoom tool in PowerPoint is the ability to zoom to a specific area of your slide. This is particularly helpful when you want to highlight a specific detail or element on your slide. To do this, simply select the area you want to zoom in on and click on the zoom option in the ribbon. Then, select the “Zoom to Selection” option and PowerPoint will automatically zoom in on that area.

Finally, PowerPoint allows you to use the Slide Zoom feature to create a visual link to specific slides in your presentation. This can help you navigate between different sections of your presentation seamlessly and keep your audience engaged with the flow of your content.

Exploring the Different Types of Zoom Options in PowerPoint

There are several different types of zoom options in PowerPoint that you can use to enhance your presentations. The first is the Summary Zoom, which allows you to create a summary slide that links to specific sections of your presentation. The next is the Section Zoom, which allows you to zoom in on a specific section of your presentation. Lastly, there is the Slide Zoom, which allows you to make a particular slide the focal point of your presentation.

Another useful zoom option in PowerPoint is the Zoom for Images, which allows you to zoom in on specific parts of an image within a slide. This is particularly helpful when presenting detailed diagrams or charts, as it allows you to highlight specific data points or sections.

It’s important to note that while zooming can be a great tool for enhancing your presentations, it’s important not to overuse it. Too much zooming can be distracting and take away from the overall message of your presentation. Use zooming strategically and sparingly to ensure that it adds value to your presentation rather than detracting from it.

How to Use Zoom for Better Engagement with Your Audience

Using zoom in your PowerPoint presentations can help to improve engagement with your audience. By focusing on a particular section of your slide, you can ensure that your audience is able to fully understand and absorb the information you are presenting. Additionally, you can use zoom to create dynamic and engaging presentations that capture your audience’s attention from start to finish.

Another way to use zoom in your presentations is to highlight important details or data points. By zooming in on specific numbers or graphs, you can draw your audience’s attention to the most critical information and help them better understand the significance of your message.

Furthermore, zoom can be used to create interactive presentations that allow your audience to explore your content in a more engaging way. By using zoom to navigate through different sections of your presentation, you can create a more immersive experience that keeps your audience interested and involved throughout your entire presentation.

Creating Custom Zoom Areas in PowerPoint

To focus on a particular section of your slide, you can use the Slide Zoom feature. This allows you to select a slide and create a zoomed-in preview that can be clicked on during your presentation. While you cannot create a custom zoom region, you can duplicate slides and use the Morph transition to simulate zooming in on specific areas of your slide.

Tips and Tricks for Using Zoom in PowerPoint Effectively

There are several tips and tricks you can use to get the most out of the zoom feature in PowerPoint. First and foremost, it is important to practice using the zoom tool before your presentation to ensure that you are comfortable with it. You should also ensure that the zoom area is visually appealing and easy to understand for your audience. Additionally, you should use zoom sparingly and only when necessary, as overuse can become distracting and detract from your message.

How to Animate Your Zooms in PowerPoint

If you want to add some additional visual interest to your PowerPoint presentation, you can also animate your zooms. By doing so, you can create a dynamic and engaging presentation that captures your audience’s attention from start to finish. To animate your zooms, simply select the slide and click on the Animations tab. From there, you can choose your desired animation effect for your zooms.

Troubleshooting Issues with Zoom in PowerPoint

If you encounter any issues with the zoom feature in PowerPoint, there are several troubleshooting steps you can take. Firstly, ensure that you are using the most up-to-date version of PowerPoint and that your computer meets the system requirements. You should also double-check that you have not accidentally disconnected any cables or devices. If all else fails, consider reaching out to Microsoft support for assistance.

Best Practices for Using Zoom in PowerPoint

When using the zoom feature in PowerPoint, it is important to follow best practices to ensure that your presentation is engaging and effective. Some key tips include using zoom sparingly, ensuring that your zoom areas are visually appealing and easy to understand, and practicing using the zoom tool before your presentation to ensure that you are confident using it.

Integrating Multimedia Elements with Zoom in PowerPoint

Incorporating multimedia elements such as images, videos, and audio can help to enhance your PowerPoint presentations. With the help of the zoom tool, you can focus on specific details of these elements to ensure that your audience is fully engaged with the information you are presenting.

Collaborating with Others on a Presentation using Zoom

If you are working on a PowerPoint presentation with others, the zoom feature can also be a useful tool for collaboration. By focusing on specific sections of your presentation, you can ensure that each collaborator is able to contribute their expertise to the presentation. Additionally, using the Summary Zoom option can make it easier to navigate through different sections of your presentation during the collaborative process.

Creating Interactive Presentations with the Help of the Zoom Feature

Using the zoom feature in PowerPoint, you can create interactive presentations that are engaging and informative for your audience. By incorporating multimedia elements, custom zoom areas, and animations, you can create a dynamic and visually appealing presentation that captures your audience’s attention and keeps them engaged from start to finish.

Overall, the zoom feature in PowerPoint is a powerful tool that can help to enhance your presentations and improve audience engagement. By using the tips and tricks outlined in this article, you can create dynamic and engaging presentations that effectively convey your message and keep your audience’s attention throughout.

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How to Use the Zoom Effect in PowerPoint

Here are some tips on how to use the Zoom effect in PowerPoint to make your presentation more interactive.

PowerPoint offers many ways to make your presentations more interesting, and the zoom tool is one of the best, as it's attractive and practical.

Let’s explore what this feature is and how to use its zoom effect in your PowerPoint projects to quickly jump between slides, draw attention to important sections, and more.

What Is the Zoom Tool in PowerPoint?

As the name suggests, PowerPoint’s zoom lets you hone in on parts of your presentation while the slideshow is running. You may need to revisit slides you already mentioned, for example, or want to keep the presentation small.

All-in-all, there are three formats for your zoom effect: summary, section, and slide. With these at your disposal, as well as additional settings, you can make your project very impressive and interactive. There are some requirements in order to be able to use zooms, so check Microsoft’s support guide for more details on the feature.

How to Use Zoom on PowerPoint

On PowerPoint, go to Insert , and you’ll find the Zoom button in your Links section. If you click the arrow, you’ll find your three formats, which will open more options once set up.

Here’s a more detailed breakdown of what Zoom tools you have and how you can make the most of them. They can really come in handy when building engaging presentations in Microsoft PowerPoint .

1. Use Summary Zoom

Once you’ve created a few slides, select Summary Zoom to open a new window, where you select the slides your zoom is to highlight as your presentation’s milestones, whether you added actual sections or not.

With your selection ticked, hit the Insert button, and a new slide will appear under Summary Section and containing your whole presentation behind the milestones you chose.

Basically, whatever comes after each of these slides will appear in your slideshow, but you can choose to zoom out of that section, move to another, and return later to go through these slides.

This is the beauty of Summary Zoom . It replaces your slideshow, putting it all onto a single slide instead, where you can easily jump in and out of the sections you need.

Finally, if you select the zoom feature on your summary slide, its toolbar will open and offer you options specific to this format, also available on the zoom’s menu when you right-click it:

• Edit Summary , taking you back to the slide selection window.
• Reset Layout , in case you regret adjustments you made to the summary.
• Change Image for the slides displayed in the summary.

2. Use Section Zoom

This effect is for jumping to a section from a particular slide. Let’s say you put a simple outline of your complex presentation on a slide, and you want to be able to quickly refer to it at different stages of the slideshow. PowerPoint has the answer.

Select a slide, go to your Zoom menu, and click Section Zoom . You’ll get a similar window as before, so you can choose the section you need to jump to.

Once done, PowerPoint will insert the zoom effect to your slide in the form of another slide, the one that starts the section you chose. It will also display how many additional slides the section contains.

You can resize and move the zoom feature around, as well as choose a better image for it from the Zoom toolbar or the feature’s right-click menu. So, even if you download PowerPoint templates from sites , you can add and customize zooms to your heart’s content.

3. Use Slide Zoom

If your presentation doesn’t have sections, but you want to jump to specific parts, try Slide Zoom . When setting it up, you only need to choose one or multiple slides you want to zoom to while presenting.

Like with Section Zoom , the feature will sit on a slide of your choice and will activate when you click on it, at which point you can run through its subsequent slides or go back to the feature’s home slide.

Keep in mind that you can go back and forth on PowerPoint presentations by clicking the arrow icons on each slide or using the arrows on your keyboard. Additionally, you can change the image of each Slide Zoom feature you add to your presentation using the same button as before.

How to Customize Your Zoom's Actions in PowerPoint

You can change many things about your zooms from their toolbar, starting with how they behave during your PowerPoint presentation.

These settings are in Zoom Options alongside the customization tools for each zoom type. You get three extra tools:

• Return to Zoom , which ensures that the presentation jumps back to your zoom’s home slide or section.
• Zoom Transition , which automates the return to your zoom.
• Duration refers to the above transition.

If you like using PowerPoint’s animations pane , feel free to explore how to make your zooms fly in and out of the screen in a pleasing way.

Choose Your Zoom's Style

The best thing you can customize is the zoom’s appearance, from its frame to its effects. This means you can blend it into your presentation very smoothly.

In the Zoom Style toolbar, you’ll find a range of outlines for your feature, which you can adjust further with the Zoom Border tool. Then, you have Zoom Effects , containing all sorts of impressive ways to make the feature pop, including Shadow , Glow , and 3D Rotation .

If you’d rather not deal with frames and effects, however, you can just click Zoom Background and use the home slide as the feature’s backdrop. Further changes may be necessary to blend the zoom and slide in effectively. You could even make your image’s background transparent before attaching it to the slide.

Arrange Your Zoom's Objects

PowerPoint also offers tools to rearrange zooms on their slides. First off, click on Selection Pane to see all the slide’s objects.

Then, you can bring any object forward or backward, change its alignment, and rotate them. So, it’s not just your zoom you can adjust, but everything else on the slide, too.

Change the Size of Your Zoom

While you can simply click and drag the edges of a zoom to make it bigger or smaller, you also have the Size section on the toolbar.

At first glance, you can only adjust the height and width of the zoom, but if you click the task pane icon, you’ll find several more options for the zoom’s size and position.

For example, besides choosing the dimensions and placement of your zoom, you can lock the aspect ratio you chose and even set the best resolution for your slideshow.

Add Alt Text to Your Zoom

A final cool tool for your presentation’s zoom effects lets you add alt text to them, so you can accommodate viewers who have low vision or blindness.

All you do is select a zoom and click Alt Text on the toolbar. A pane opens, where you can type in a description for the zoom or mark it as decorative.

Screen readers and apps for the blind and visually impaired , with the right tools, will be able to tell their users whether the zoom as a feature is informative or just an ornament.

Put PowerPoint’s Zoom Effects to Good Use

Now that you know what zooms can do for PowerPoint projects, consider how you can use them. Structure your slideshows well, and you’ll be able to create some highly interactive presentations, whether you’re there to present them or not.

A photographer, author, or job seeker could set up a portfolio that zooms into their works and achievements. Whole training sessions could be made compact and easier to follow thanks to PowerPoint’s zoom tool. Get to know its full capabilities.

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Information Technology

Recording a video lecture of yourself with Zoom and PowerPoint slidedeck

There are two different ways to record a video lecture of yourself and your PowerPoint slidedeck using Zoom.

Picture-in-picture View instructions

Video overlay View instructions

If you want to record your screen and PowerPoint without your video image (similar to an audio podcast, but with a visual component of your slides), follow these instructions .

Note: Before doing any recording, make sure to prepare your slidedeck to make room for the video image of yourself, so that your video image won't be overlaid on top of any text or images. Sometimes drawing a rectangular box on each slide helps to "save" a space for your video to go. 

• Open the Zoom app and your PowerPoint file. Close all other files and applications.
• In Zoom, click “New Meeting” (orange icon); make sure your microphone and camera are on.

• Go to PowerPoint and launch your slideshow.
• At the bottom Zoom toolbar, choose Record, then choose “Record on this Computer” from the menu that pops up. Your lecture is now recording. Note: if you don't see the Record button, you may need to click on the "More" button in the Zoom toolbar, and then choose the "Record on this Computer" option.
• Start your lecture. Advance your slides with the right arrow key; return to a previous slide with the left arrow key.
• When you are finished, click on the "Stop Recording" button in the bottom Zoom toolbar.  Note: if you don't see the Stop Recording button, you may need to click on the "More" button in the Zoom toolbar, and choose the "Stop Recording" option there.

• Trim the beginning and ending of your video (if needed) using QuickTime or another video editing tool, then upload your video to Ensemble, Reed’s media server.

Want to do more? Read how to annotate your PowerPoint slides with Zoom .

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How To Zoom Into Your Picture in PowerPoint

Home  > All Tutorials >  PowerPoint Animation > Zoom effect in PowerPoint

Learn to create a focused zoom for photos in PowerPoint. Follow our simple step by step instructions to get more out of your graphics in business presentations.

Here is the focused zoom effect in PowerPoint you will learn today:

You can use the effect to focus on…

• A certain part of a map
• Certain steps in a process
• A certain person in a group photo etc.

Let us see how to achieve the effect in a step-by-step way…

Step 1: Decide the part you want to focus on

The first step after sticking a picture on your slide is to decide the area you want to focus on. Draw a circle around the area. To make it easier to identify the outline, remove the shape's fill and color it white.

In the Custom Animation Pane add an entrance animation called ‘Wheel’ to the white circle. In the animation effect setting, change the number of spokes to 1. This will be the first part of the animation we want to create.

Step 2: Make a copy of the part you want to focus on

The main idea in this step is to make a copy of the flower and place it right on top of the flower picture in the background. For this, make a copy of the photo. Using the ‘crop’ tool crop the photo till the four sides touch the edge of the white circle.

We don’t want this cropped image to be a square. We want it to be a circle. For this, we need to make a copy of the white circle, remove the animation and fill it with the picture of the flower.

So, first ‘copy’ the cropped photo. By doing this, the piece is stored in the clipboard.

Select the copied white circle and right click to go to the ‘Format shape’ dialog box. Go to Fill -> Picture or texture fill -> Clipboard. This fills the shape with the cropped photo. Remove the outline.

Increase the transparency of the circular flower image to position it in the right place on top of the background picture. Transparency should be restored to 0%.

Now, we have a picture in the background, a hollow white circle with a ‘wheel’ animation. In addition, we have a circle with the photo of the flower placed on top of the flower picture in the background.

Related:  Transparent PowerPoint Sphere tutorial

Step 3: Apply ‘Grow/ Shrink’ animation

Click on the circle with the flower image. Apply the entrance effect 'Appear', and let the start be ‘After Previous’. Click on the flower image once again and add the ‘Grow/Shrink’ animation to make it grow to 150%. Set the speed to 'fast'. The animation should start 'After Previous’.

Now you can play the animation. Here is the sequence of what will happen:

• First, the hollow white circle appears with wheel animation to mark the area being zoomed in
• The picture of the flower ‘appears’ and ‘grows’ to 150%
• This creates the zoom effect in PowerPoint you saw at the start of this tutorial.

Isn’t the effect interesting? By learning the base technique, you can customize it to suit your needs.

If you have an issue with the quality of photos when using the 'grow' animation, you can find a solution in this tutorial .

Variations of the Zoom Effect in PowerPoint

It takes a lot of time and effort to create professional quality custom animated slides for your business slides. Most business presenters don’t have the time to create such high-quality slides for themselves. This is the reason we came up with a collection of 750+ Advanced Animated Templates for PowerPoint .

Here is a variation of the picture animation from the pack…

Here is a variation where we have used a ‘snapshot’ effect to showcase images.

Source: Graphics from Advance Animated Templates for PowerPoint

You can browse through the various animations in the Advance Animated Pack by clicking right here .

If you find this article useful, please leave us a comment below.

Related: PowerPoint Magnifying Glass Tutorial

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Create pan and zoom effects in PowerPoint

Note:  This article has done its job, and will be retiring soon. To prevent "Page not found" woes, we're removing links we know about. If you've created links to this page, please remove them, and together we'll keep the web connected.

By Glenna R. Shaw , Microsoft PowerPoint MVP, and owner of Glenna Shaw Visual Communications  site

You can add action to your digital images through the use of panning and zooming effects made famous by the documentary photographer Ken Burns. Wikipedia states, "In his documentaries, Burns often gives life to still photographs by slowly zooming in on subjects of interest and panning from one subject to another. For example, in a photograph of a baseball team, he might slowly pan across the faces of the players and come to a rest on the player the narrator is discussing."

The examples below are made by using PowerPoint 2007, but the basic instructions are the same for other versions of PowerPoint. This article also assumes knowledge of applying animations and their settings.

Begin by turning on grids and guides. These will help you with placement of several items as we work and more easily help you identify the center of the slide which is very important. (On the Home tab, in the Drawing group, click Arrange , point to Align , and then click Grid Settings , and the dialog box pictured below shows. I choose not to snap any objects because I like a little more control, but you may find snapping objects easier for you.

Select a heading below to open it and see the detailed instructions.

Create a panorama

The advantage of a panoramic picture is that it shows so much more than a traditional photograph. For example, I have a new swimming pool that I want to send pictures of to my family, but regular pictures just don't convey the overall effect very well. My solution is to create a panoramic shot of the entire pool. To do this, I stood in one location and took my first picture, turned slightly to the left, took the second picture, and so on. I then stitched these photos together on my slide by aligning and grouping them. I've shown the pictures in my example with green lines to highlight the concept. You will not want lines on your photos.

I then right-clicked on the grouped object, clicked Save as Picture , and saved my new panorama picture as PoolPanorama.jpg file.

I next deleted this grouped object and inserted the PoolPanorama.jpg file on my slide and used the cropping tool under Picture Tools , on the Format tab, in the Size group, to make the top and bottom of my panorama picture even. (To display the Picture Tools and Format tabs, make sure that you've selected the picture.)

Finally, I formatted the picture to be the same height as my slide (7.5 inches) and changed the size of the viewing window to 30% in order to see the entire picture (using the slider in the lower right corner). I then aligned the picture with the left side of the slide. For best results, the width of your panorama should be a multiple of 10 (since the slide is 10 inches wide) so you don't end with white space when the picture "moves." In my example, the width is 30 inches.

Now I use the options in the Custom Animation task pane to add a motion path of left to the panorama picture and used my mouse to extend the end point all the way to the left of the picture. (To open the Custom Animation task pane, on the Animations tab, in the Animations group, click Custom Animation .) I set timings on the motion path to a Speed of 30 seconds and clear the check boxes on the Effect tab for Smooth start , Smooth end , and select the check box for Auto-reverse .

Now, when I run the slide show, the picture of the pool will slowly pan left and then slowly pan back, allowing my audience to more fully experience the effect. Selecting the Smooth start and Smooth end check boxes will slightly slow down the animation at the beginning and end of the motion path, so that's a matter of preference.

Pan across a photograph

Adding a panning effect to a group photo allows you showcase both the group and the individuals.

I'll begin by inserting my picture on my slide. Higher resolution photos will look better, but you may have some issues with them truncating. If this happens to you, decrease the resolution of the picture. You'll want your picture to be as high quality as possible, because (when zoomed) it will lose some of the quality. See this PowerPoint MVP site for additional information: PowerPoint FAQ: Scans, Resolution, DPI section .

I resize the picture to fit the slide. To do this, I right-click on my picture, click Size and Position , and then format the picture to a height of 7.5 inches (the standard slide height). Make sure to lock your picture’s Aspect Ratio or they’ll look distorted by selecting the Lock aspect ratio check box.

I now have a photo centered on the slide.

For this example, I want to pan across my family's faces, so the first thing I'll want to do is decide where I want to start and where I want to end. To do this, I need a rectangle that's proportional to the slide. For my example, I'll use a 3-by-4-inch rectangle shown in bright yellow.

Now I copy and paste a duplicate rectangle and move it to where I want the panning to end.

I align the rectangles top and bottom and use the rectangles as a guide to crop my photo .

Finally, I delete the yellow rectangles, resize my photo to the height of my slide, align it on the left side, and then use the same steps to create the left motion path that I did in the panorama example above.

Note:  Once again, you'll want the width to be a multiple of 10, so you may need to adjust the clipping. I made my photo 20 inches wide.

Now my photo pans across my family's faces.

Zoom in and out

If you'd like to emphasize a single object in your photo, zooming in and out is very effective and easily accomplished.

In my example I'll spotlight my little grandson. I begin with the same photo on my slide and copy and paste a duplicate exactly over the top of the first photo. Then I clip the second photo around my little grandson. I've added a yellow line to show the clipped area. You'll want your clipped photo to be proportional to the slide. I made mine 3-by-4 inches.

Now I resize the clipped photo to fit the entire slide and add an entrance animation of Faded Zoom , After Previous , Delay set to 2 seconds , and Medium speed. I also add an exit animation of Faded Zoom , After Previous , Delay set to 2 seconds, and Medium speed.

My photo will now display the entire family photo, wait 2 seconds, zoom in on my little grandson, wait 2 seconds, and zoom back out to my entire family photo.

Unfortunately, the zooming only occurs from the center of the slide, so the effect still isn't quite what I'm looking for, and I'll have to add a motion path to give the impression of zooming in on the lower-left quadrant where my grandson is located. To do this, I move the clipped photo so that it's fairly centered over where my grandson is in the original photo. I now click Draw Custom Path (after clicking Motion Paths ) and draw a custom motion path from the center of my clipped picture to the center of the slide. Finally, I move the sequence of the custom motion path line in my animations to Start With Previous with my Faded Zoom entrance animation, and make sure the speed is set for Medium to match my Faded Zoom entrance. You can reorder the sequence of any animation by dragging it up or down in the Custom Animation task pane. I also lock my custom animation path (select Locked in the Path drop-down list, Custom Animation task pane) so I can move my picture around while I'm editing and keep the path the way I want it.

My last step is to add a custom animation to my clipped picture to go from the center of the slide to the start point of the other custom motion path. To do this, I have to move the picture to the center and middle of the slide and add a custom motion path to go from the center of the slide to the center of where my grandson is sitting in the original picture. I then apply the same settings to this custom motion path as I did in the first: With Previous , Medium speed and Locked .

My picture now zooms in from the appropriate location and zooms back out again to the appropriate location.

Combine zooming and panning

In my previous examples, I was able to spotlight different family members, but not all of them in a cohesive sequence. What I would really like to do is zoom in and pan across my family's faces, ending with a close-up of my little grandson.

To do this, I add an enlarged copy of my photo over the top of the original and use this to create my zoom effect. You may be tempted to use the Grow/Shrink animation effect, but the degraded resolution makes this a poor choice if you’re working with photos.

I copied and pasted a duplicate of my picture on the slide and resized it as desired. Remember some large pictures may get truncated when you run the slideshow, so take that into consideration when you resize yours. I made mine 15 inches wide. This makes it difficult to view the entire slide, so I change the window size to 40% (using the slider in the lower right corner) and align this larger picture to the Middle and Center of the slide.

I then Add shapes under Flowchart that has no fill , and I set the line color to contrast with my picture and make it a heavy line so I can easily see it. I place this crosshair shape over my first zoom and pan point. I then copy and paste two more crosshairs and place them over my other pan points.

The end result is a large image of my picture and three guides that I'll use to set up my custom animations and delete when my effects are finished.

Finally, I ensure my grouped object keeps the proper aspect ratio by right clicking it, clicking Size and Position , and then under Scale , selecting the Lock aspect ratio check box.

I add a faded zoom entrance effect for my large picture. I set it to start After Previous , Delay is set to 2 seconds (so audiences can see my original picture), and speed is set to Medium .

I then add a custom motion path to the large picture that goes from the first pan point crosshair to the center of the slide.

I set this custom motion path to With Previous , Very Slow speed, and Locked . I clear the Smooth start and Smooth end check boxes. Make sure you apply your custom motion path to the large picture and not the crosshairs shape.

The motion path may not be where you expect it, but it is correct. Now I hold down the SHIFT key and click the large picture and all the crosshairs to select them. I move all the selected items so that the starting point crosshairs are in the center of the slide.

Note:  Having the guides and rulers turned on helps me do this, and since the motion path is locked, it stays where it belongs. If the ruler does not appear, on the View tab, in the Show/Hide group, select Ruler .

I click the gray area to clear the selection of all my objects and then click the picture to select it. Now I add another custom motion path to go from the center of the second pan point to the center of the slide. I set this custom motion path to After Previous and Delay to 1 second. I select Locked and Very Slow speed and clear the check boxes for Smooth start and Smooth end .

I repeat this step to create my final pan stop. I select the picture and move it so the second crosshairs are now in the center of the slide. I add my final custom motion path going from the crosshair center of my final pan stop to the center of the slide and set it to After Previous , Delay 2 seconds, Locked , and Very Slow speed, and I clear the Smooth start and Smooth end check boxes.

And finally I hide all my reference crosshairs by setting the shape outline to None and align the large picture with the middle and center of the slide.

I then “tweaked” the start and end points of my custom motion paths to avoid having the picture edge show on screen. I could see this by using the Play button in the Custom Animation task pane.

When I run my slide show, it zooms in, pans left to right across my family's faces, and ends with a close-up of my little grandson.

As always, I encourage you to experiment, experiment, experiment for yourself.

About the author

Glenna Shaw is a Certified Project Management Professional with the federal government and an active member of the PowerPoint Community. She is Microsoft Certified in PowerPoint and Word and holds a Certificate in Accessible Information Technology.

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How to Zoom in during a Presentation in PowerPoint?

In this post, you will see the different ways to Zoom in during a Presentation in Microsoft PowerPoint .

Sometimes you will have to zoom in on your slides while presenting. It will help you to showcase your slides more clearly. Also, it enables the viewer to understand it easily.

Let’s see some of the techniques for zooming in on your slides while presenting .

• Right-Click  on the slide that you want to zoom in on while presenting.
• The pop-down menu will appear on your screen.

• Select the Zoom In option from that menu by clicking on it.
• Now, bring the highlighter to the spot you want to zoom in by dragging.

• Now, you can see the area you selected zoomed as in the below image.

To zoom out to the original slide, press the  Esc  key.

There is another simple technique to  Zoom in  on the slide during a presentation. For that, all you have to do is the below steps:

• Hold the Ctrl button and drag the Mouse Wheel to the area you want to zoom in.
• Unlike the previous technique, this technique is smoother to use.
• You can choose the extent of zoom using this simple technique.

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How to Create Click to Zoom Effect in PowerPoint

Hanisha Kapoor

Thinking to unlock some creative side of yours? Want to add some fun and innovation in your presentation? Explore your creativity with some fun ideas that we have picked up for you. Add awesome animation effects in your PowerPoint presentation and leave your audience stunned.

Want to know what it will be? Just take a look at the below presentation. Press F5 to get the view on the wider screen and click on any image.

Liked it? This is the Click to Zoom Effect where you can immediately grab your audience’s attention towards the most important thing you think. You add this amazing Click to Zoom Effect on the image, and there it is on the wide screen. It is better than just pointing out something with the scale or stick at the screen. Add this fun effect in your presentation and save your audience from the regular and simple presentations.   How can you do it?   Here are the steps:

• Insert the required image in the PowerPoint presentation. You have the choice to add many images at one time or just one image. Here, we are adding 5 images and will show how you can select one image on which you can add the Click to Zoom Effect. To insert the image, go to INSERT> PICTURE .

• Now once you have added the images, select the image on which you want to add the effect, copy and paste it on the other slide. We have chosen to add the effect on the Ring picture.

• Drag the corners of the image to enlarge the size according to the requirement.

• Add a Rectangle shape preferably on the right side of the enlarged image. To do so, click INSERT> SHAPES> RECTANGLES> RECTANGLE .

• Once you have placed the Rectangle, right click the RECTANGLE , go to FORMAT SHAPE> FILL> SOLID FILL> WHITE COLOR . Increase the Transparency to 50-60%. Go to LINE option under the FILL option, choose NO LINE .

• Let’s add some effect on the Rectangle Shape. We are doing it to make it look like a Call-to-Action button. Select the shape, go to SHAPE EFFECTS> BEVEL> CIRCLE . You can pick up any other effect.

• Now add the CROSS or MULTIPLY SHAPE over the Rectangle. We are adding the CROSS on the enlarged image to give the viewer an option to close the enlarged view and go back to the original shape. To add the CROSS BUTTON on the rectangular shape, go to INSERT> SHAPES> EQUATION SHAPES> MULTIPLY (CROSS ). Also add the text CLOSE besides the cross sign indicating the close option.

• Select the CROSS BUTTON, CLOSE text and RECTANGLE shape while pressing Ctrl Key, right click and choose the option “SAVE AS PICTURE”

• After saving as picture, insert the saved picture on the enlarged image. Place it on the right side of the image. (Delete the original shape and text before placing the saved picture).
• Next step is to apply Hyperlinks on the image. Right click the “Close” button added and select the Hyperlink option.

• Insert Hyperlink window opens up. Select the ‘Place in This Document’ option and choose the slide no. on which the original (small image) is added. Select OK.

• Time to apply some animation effects now. Select the enlarged image and go to the ANIMATION tab and select ZOOM . Select the ‘ Close’ button and apply the APPEAR animation effect to it.

• Click on the ANIMATION PANE under the ANIMATION Animation Pane will open up on the right side of the slide showing all the animation effects applied.

• Right click on the ‘Zoom’ animation effect and set it to ‘Start With Previous’ . Similarly, set the ‘Appear’ animation to ‘Start After Previous’ . Click on the ‘Timings’ option to set the duration of the animation effects according to your requirements and click OK .

• Now, we will apply hyperlink on the original (small size) image added earlier. Right click on the image and select the ‘Hyperlink’ option.

• Insert Hyperlink window opens up. Select the ‘Place in This Document’ option and choose the slide no. on which the enlarged image is added.

• Press F5, click the Ring image and see the magic of animation.

Go through again to see the Click to Zoom Effect in PowerPoint Presentation.

Open up the PowerPoint and get started to work. Enjoy creating awesome PowerPoint Presentation with this awesome effect.

Stay tuned to know more about such fun effects in PowerPoint Presentation.

Do you need professional PowerPoint Designers to help you nail your next presentation? Get in touch with our Presentation Design Agency .

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How-To Geek

6 ways to create more interactive powerpoint presentations.

Engage your audience with cool, actionable features.

Quick Links

• Add a QR code
• Embed Microsoft Forms (Education or Business Only)
• Embed a Live Web Page
• Add Links and Menus
• Add Clickable Images to Give More Info
• Add a Countdown Timer

We've all been to a presentation where the speaker bores you to death with a mundane PowerPoint presentation. Actually, the speaker could have kept you much more engaged by adding some interactive features to their slideshow. Let's look into some of these options.

1. Add a QR code

Adding a QR code can be particularly useful if you want to direct your audience to an online form, website, or video.

Some websites have in-built ways to create a QR code. For example, on Microsoft Forms , when you click "Collect Responses," you'll see the QR code option via the icon highlighted in the screenshot below. You can either right-click the QR code to copy and paste it into your presentation, or click "Download" to add it to your device gallery to insert the QR code as a picture.

In fact, you can easily add a QR code to take your viewer to any website. On Microsoft Edge, right-click anywhere on a web page where there isn't already a link, and left-click "Create QR Code For This Page."

You can also create QR codes in other browsers, such as Chrome.

You can then copy or download the QR code to use wherever you like in your presentation.

2. Embed Microsoft Forms (Education or Business Only)

If you plan to send your PPT presentation to others—for example, if you're a trainer sending step-by-step instruction presentation, a teacher sending an independent learning task to your students, or a campaigner for your local councilor sending a persuasive PPT to constituents—you might want to embed a quiz, questionnaire, pole, or feedback survey in your presentation.

In PowerPoint, open the "Insert" tab on the ribbon, and in the Forms group, click "Forms". If you cannot see this option, you can add new buttons to the ribbon .

As at April 2024, this feature is only available for those using their work or school account. We're using a Microsoft 365 Personal account in the screenshot below, which is why the Forms icon is grayed out.

Then, a sidebar will appear on the right-hand side of your screen, where you can either choose a form you have already created or opt to craft a new form.

Now, you can share your PPT presentation with others , who can click the fields and submit their responses when they view the presentation.

3. Embed a Live Web Page

You could always screenshot a web page and paste that into your PPT, but that's not a very interactive addition to your presentation. Instead, you can embed a live web page into your PPT so that people with access to your presentation can interact actively with its contents.

To do this, we will need to add an add-in to our PPT account .

Add-ins are not always reliable or secure. Before installing an add-in to your Microsoft account, check that the author is a reputable company, and type the add-in's name into a search engine to read reviews and other users' experiences.

To embed a web page, add the Web Viewer add-in ( this is an add-in created by Microsoft ).

Go to the relevant slide and open the Web Viewer add-in. Then, copy and paste the secure URL into the field box, and remove https:// from the start of the address. In our example, we will add a selector wheel to our slide. Click "Preview" to see a sample of the web page's appearance in your presentation.

This is how ours will look.

When you or someone with access to your presentation views the slideshow, this web page will be live and interactive.

4. Add Links and Menus

As well as moving from one slide to the next through a keyboard action or mouse click, you can create links within your presentation to direct the audience to specific locations.

To create a link, right-click the outline of the clickable object, and click "Link."

In the Insert Hyperlink dialog box, click "Place In This Document," choose the landing destination, and click "OK."

What's more, to make it clear that an object is clickable, you can use action buttons. Open the "Insert" tab on the ribbon, click "Shape," and then choose an appropriate action button. Usefully, PPT will automatically prompt you to add a link to these shapes.

You might also want a menu that displays on every slide. Once you have created the menu, add the links using the method outlined above. Then, select all the items, press Ctrl+C (copy), and then use Ctrl+V to paste them in your other slides.

5. Add Clickable Images to Give More Info

Through PowerPoint's animations, you can give your viewer the power to choose what they see and when they see it. This works nicely whether you're planning to send your presentation to others to run through independently or whether you're presenting in front of a group and want your audience to decide which action they want to take.

Start by creating the objects that will be clickable (trigger) and the items that will appear (pop-up).

Then, select all the pop-ups together. When you click "Animations" on the ribbon and choose an appropriate animation for the effect you want to achieve, this will be applied to all objects you have selected.

The next step is to rename the triggers in your presentation. To do this, open the "Home" tab, and in the Editing group, click "Select", and then "Selection Pane."

With the Selection Pane open, select each trigger on your slide individually, and rename them in the Selection Pane, so that they can be easily linked to in the next step.

Finally, go back to the first pop-up. Open the "Animations" tab, and in the Advanced Animation group, click the "Trigger" drop-down arrow. Then, you can set the item to appear when a trigger is clicked in your presentation.

If you want your item to disappear when the trigger is clicked again, select the pop-up, click "Add Animation" in the Advanced Animation group, choose an Exit animation, and follow the same step to link that animation to the trigger button.

6. Add a Countdown Timer

A great way to get your audience to engage with your PPT presentation is to keep them on edge by adding a countdown timer. Whether you're leading a presentation and want to let your audience stop to discuss a topic, or running an online quiz with time-limit questions, having a countdown timer means your audience will keep their eye on your slide throughout.

To do this, you need to animate text boxes or shapes containing your countdown numbers. Choose and format a shape and type the highest number that your countdown clock will need. In our case, we're creating a 10-second timer.

Now, with your shape selected, open the "Animations" tab on the ribbon and click the animation drop-down arrow. Then, in the Exit menu, click "Disappear."

Open the Animation Pane, and click the drop-down arrow next to the animation you've just added. From there, choose "Timing."

Make sure "On Click" is selected in the Start menu, and change the Delay option to "1 second," before clicking "OK."

Then, with this shape still selected, press Ctrl+C (copy), and then Ctrl+V (paste). In the second box, type 9 . With the Animation Pane still open and this second shape selected, click the drop-down arrow and choose "Timing" again. Change the Start option to "After Previous," and make sure the Delay option is 1 second. Then, click "OK."

We can now use this second shape as our template, as when we copy and paste it again, the animations will also duplicate. With this second shape selected, press Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V, type 8 into the box, and continue to do the same until you get to 0 .

Next, remove the animations from the "0" box, as you don't want this to disappear. To do this, click the shape, and in the Animation Pane drop-down, click "Remove."

You now need to layer them in order. Right-click the box containing number 1, and click "Bring To Front." You will now see that box on the top. Do the same with the other numbers in ascending order.

Finally, you need to align the objects together. Click anywhere on your slide and press Ctrl+A. Then, in the Home tab on the ribbon, click "Arrange." First click "Align Center," and then bring the menu up again, so that you can click "Align Middle."

Press Ctrl+A again to select your timer, and you can then move your timer or copy and paste it elsewhere.

Press F5 to see the presentation in action, and when you get to the slide containing the timer, click anywhere on the slide to see your countdown timer in action!

Now that your PPT presentation is more interactive, make sure you've avoided these eight common presentational mistakes before you present your slides.

How to video record yourself presenting a PowerPoint

What type of content do you primarily create?

Recording yourself presenting a PowerPoint can be challenging, especially getting the technical aspects right. You need to capture your screen, webcam, and audio seamlessly while delivering your content naturally and avoiding awkward transitions between slides.

Finding a tool that integrates all these components can seem daunting. However, recording yourself presenting a PowerPoint doesn't have to be reserved for the tech-savvy or professional speakers.

Whether you're a teacher creating online lessons, a marketer producing a product demo, or someone looking to improve their presentation skills, this guide will walk you through user-friendly tools and strategies that will teach you how to video record yourself presenting a PowerPoint.

• Recording yourself presenting a PowerPoint can be challenging, but it doesn't have to be reserved for experts.
• Video recording offers unlimited reach, repurposing opportunities, and a more engaging experience.
• Use PowerPoint's built-in recording feature or tools like Descript for a polished presentation.
• Other tools like Zoom, Loom, OBS Studio, Clipchamp, and Quick Time Player can also be used for recording.
• Tips include practicing your script, using slide notes, ensuring high-quality audio and lighting, and incorporating storytelling techniques.

Why video record yourself presenting a PowerPoint? 

Video recording your PowerPoint presentations offers several advantages:

• Unlimited reach : Unlike in-person presentations confined to a specific time and location, recorded videos allow your message to reach audiences globally at their convenience.
• Repurposing opportunities: Recorded presentations can be repurposed as evergreen content across multiple platforms, such as social media, online courses, webinars, and internal training materials, maximizing their value.
• Personal and engaging : Recording yourself narrating a presentation adds a personal touch and dynamic element that static slides alone cannot replicate. Your viewers can see and hear you deliver the content, creating a more immersive and engaging experience.

How to record your presentation with the PowerPoint app

Built-in recording feature in powerpoint.

1. Open the PowerPoint slide you want to record. 

2. Click on the Record tab of the top toolbar.

3. Click on the Record button and choose from any of the following options:

• From Current Slide
• From Beginning

4. You'll see the PowerPoint screen recording window.

5. Select the microphone and camera from the icon on the top-right.

6. Click the Stop and Replay buttons to end or replay your recording.

7. To export your presentation's recording, click Export to Video within the Recording tab.

Benefits : Easy to use, no external tools needed

Limitations : Limited editing capabilities.

How to make a more polished recording of your presentation with Descript 

While PowerPoint's built-in recording features are helpful, they may not produce the refined result you want for your presentation. That's where Descript comes in handy. 

It’s a whole production studio at your fingertips, with video recording, transcription, and editing capabilities, ready to transform dull PowerPoint slides into an engaging experience for your audience. Descript also has a built-in screen recorder.

You can use Descript on Windows, Mac, or even straight from your web browser. 

Here's step-by-step guide to recording your PowerPoint presentation with Descript.

Set up your screen recording

1. Install and open Descript. At the top of the editor, click and open the Record panel. 

2. Select Screen.

3. Set Recorder settings:

Adjust the default recording settings to your liking, including the transcription language, the maximum recording resolution, and more. 

4. Set recording options. Choose which audio and video sources to record (e.g., microphone, computer audio, camera). Remember to turn the camera on to capture your talking head video alongside your PowerPoint presentation.

5. Click the Additional Settings icon for

• Studio Sound (Optional): Enhance audio quality with noise reduction and background removal
• Transcription (Optional): Enable automatic transcription for easier editing
• Recording separate audio tracks

6. Add (optional) Speaker labels for each audio track (e.g., "Narrator," "Expert") by typing them in the text box next to your audio inputs. 

Capture your screen recording

1. Select the right recording option:

• Recording into script : Choose this if you haven’t recorded anything yet.
• Replace selection : Choose this if you already have a script and want to replace a specific section with a new recording.
• Record new layer : Pick this for recording your video as a new layer on top of an existing recording.

2. Click Record at the bottom of the Record panel.

3. Drag over the area of your screen you wish to record. Click Start Recording. Press Space to start recording the full screen.

4. Click Stop to finish recording

Bonus: Descript creates separate tracks for camera, microphone, and computer audio. You can edit each track individually for more precise control.

• Do a short test recording to ensure everything is set up correctly.
• Set your recording to transibe for easier editing.

Editing and polishing your PowerPoint recording in Descript

Descript's AI video editing tool makes it a breeze to trim, cut, and splice your video footage, ensuring a seamless flow from start to finish. You can add smooth transitions and other visual effects to make your presentation pop.

Here’s a glimpse of how to edit and polish your PowerPoint recording in Descript:

Edit your recording like a doc

Did you make a mistake during a slide transition? No problem. Just delete those sections in the text transcript (created automatically by Descript) and the video will adjust to match.

Remove filler words

Sound smoother and more confident by easily removing filler words like "um" and "uh" from the transcript.

Fix voiceover mistakes by typing

Didn't nail your delivery on a specific slide? No need to start from scratch! Descript's Overdub feature lets you simply type in the correct narration and replace the audio on that slide with AI voice cloning.

Boost video quality and engagement : 

• Crisp up audio quality by reducing background noise and room reverb with the AI-powered Studio Sound feature.
• ‎Replace your background completely with the Green Screen Video Editor —look like you're presenting in a sleek studio or broadcasting from a beach.
• Enable Eye Contact simulation with AI, so it appears you're making direct eye contact with viewers, even if you’re looking or reading something off-camera.

Other ways to video record yourself presenting a PowerPoint 

Use Zoom’s meeting recording feature to record yourself giving a PowerPoint presentation. Start a Zoom meeting with yourself, share your PowerPoint window, and enable recording

Loom is a handy screen recording tool that also offers a webcam overlay. Launch the Loom app or Chrome extension and set it to record your screen and webcam. Expect high-quality recordings but no advanced editing features. The free plan offers only five minutes of recording at a stretch.

3. OBS Studio

OBS Studio is a free, open-source screen recorder/streaming software with a steeper learning curve. It’s popular among advanced or tech-savvy users who need granular customization and control.

To record your presentation, add a "Screen Capture" source to capture your PowerPoint window and a "Video Capture Device" source for your webcam. 

4. Clipchamp: Recording natively in Windows

You can use Microsoft’s Clipchamp , the built-in screen recorder and video editor for Windows, to simultaneously capture your computer screen, webcam, and audio for recording your PowerPoint presentation. It’s also available as a browser-based app. You can record up to 30 minutes on screen and webcam recordings.

Users can also adjust the screen and webcam recordings in the editing timeline separately. 

5. Quick Time Player Recording natively in Mac

Use Mac’s Quick Time Player to record your PowerPoint presentation. It’s not as straightforward as the other options on this list, so here’s a quick guide to help you out:

• Launch Quick Time Player.
• Select File and go to New Movie Recording.
• You'll be recording your entire screen in addition to recording your face, so adjust the size and location of the recording window so that it's in a nonintrusive corner of your PowerPoint.
• Go to View and select Float on Top .
• Next, go to File and select New Screen Recording.
• On the menu that appears, select Record Selected Portion and drag a border around your PowerPoint and the webcam recording window.
• Press Record and start presenting.
• You can adjust the video quality and the audio source in the webcam recording window.

How to turn your PowerPoint presentation slides into a video 

Did you know PowerPoint lets you save your presentation as a video, too? 

Here's a breakdown of the two ways you can do so—keeping all the presentation elements (narration, animation, pointer movements, timings, and so on) intact in the presentation itself.  

Save your PowerPoint presentation as a video

This creates a separate video file (MP4 or WMV) that anyone can play, even without PowerPoint. 

Follow these steps:

• Save your presentation
• Go to File > Export > Create a Video
• Ultra HD (4K): Best for large screens (if you have Windows 10+)
• Full HD (1080p): Great for computers and TVs
• HD (720p): Good for streaming online or on DVDs
• Standard (480p): Smallest size, good for phones

4. Decide on narration

• If you haven't recorded yourself talking, choose "Don't Use Recorded Timings and Narrations" from the dropdown menu
• If you have a recording, choose "Use Recorded Timings and Narrations." You can also set how long each slide shows for (default is 5 seconds)

5. Click Create Video

6. Name your video, pick a folder to save it in, and choose a file type (MPEG-4 or Windows Media Video)

Creating the video might take a while, especially for longer presentations. You can even leave it running overnight. Once done, find your video in the chosen folder and double-click to play it.

Save your PowerPoint presentation as a slideshow

This saves your presentation as a special file (PPSX) that starts playing automatically on full screen when opened. It only works with PowerPoint.

Here’s how it works:

• Make sure your presentation is saved (regular PowerPoint file)
• Go to File > Save As .
• Pick a folder to save the slideshow in.
• Under Save as type, choose PowerPoint Show (*.ppsx) .
• Click Save .

Now when someone opens the file, it will automatically play the slideshow.

Pro tips for making better video PowerPoint presentations 

Practice your script.

Recording a flawless PowerPoint video rarely happens in one take. The key is practice.

Record practice run-throughs and watch them back. Make notes on areas that need improvement or parts lacking clarity. The more you drill your script, the more confident and natural you'll sound in the final recording.

Take advantage of PowerPoint's built-in Speaker Coach . The feature shows you whether your pace is too fast or slow, your use of filler words like "um," and suggestions to improve your voice modulation.

Use slide notes for coherent delivery

Wouldn’t a personal teleprompter make presentations so much easier? That’s what slide notes are for.

Having your thoughts and talking points organized within your PowerPoint file lets you have all crucial information and prompts readily available when recording.

Go ahead and add detailed notes or even a full script for each slide. This will help you stay on track and provide a handy transcript reference if you need to do any editing or voiceover work in post-production.

Use high-quality audio equipment or turn on Studio Sound

Poor audio recording quality is a surefire way to make even the most visually polished video feel amateurish. Do your presentation justice by investing in a decent external or Bluetooth microphone and audio interface to capture clear voiceover audio.

If you must use a built-in mic, record in a quiet environment to minimize background noise pickup. Or better yet, pair up with an AI-powered audio enhancement tool like Descript's Studio Sound , which reduces background noise , reverb, and other artifacts.

Ensure a clean background and even lighting

Ditch cluttered backgrounds. You want people to focus on the content of your PowerPoint and not be distracted by the funny shapes and colors in your video. 

Your video lighting and framing matters, too. Position yourself facing a natural light source or bring supplemental video lighting to eliminate weird shadows and squinting-level glare.

Look directly into the camera or turn on Eye Contact

Looking directly into the camera is essential to create a sense of connection with the audience. Position your webcam or camera at eye level and imagine you're talking to a friend. If you're using Descript, enable the Eye Contact feature to auto-adjust your gaze towards the camera.

• Dress professionally and maintain a good posture to project confidence and authority.
• Use visuals, animations, and multimedia elements to enhance your presentation and keep your audience engaged.
• Consider adding closed captions or subtitles to your video for better accessibility and engagement, especially for those watching without sound.
• Speak clearly and at a moderate pace, using vocal variety to emphasize key points and maintain interest.
• Incorporate storytelling techniques, real-life examples, or personal anecdotes to make your video presentation more relatable and memorable .

Take your PowerPoint presentations from amateur to amazing 

Recording yourself virtually presenting a PowerPoint allows you to distribute your message using the most engaging type of content: video. And there are many screen recording tools out there that can capture your screen and web camera footage with just a few clicks. 

But how do you stand out?

By focusing on the presentation's depth, your delivery, and the video's quality. The first two are the bare minimum to communicate your message effectively. 

But the right screen capture software and all-in-one video creation tool like Descript can help you with third. Use the tool to improve the quality of your recorded PPT presentations. 

With Descript, it's easier than ever to record your screen, polish up the audio, and create stunning visuals all in one place. So why wait? 

Sign up for Descript today and simplify your workflow while creating a PowerPoint presentation video that sticks with your audience in the long term.

How do you make a presentation video with your face?

To create a presentation video with your face, follow these steps:

• Open your presentation in PowerPoint.
• Go to the Slide Show tab.
• Click on Record and choose From Current Slide or From Beginning .
• Choose your microphone and camera by clicking on a sound icon on the top-right.
• Start recording by clicking on the record button.
• Speak into your microphone to narrate the presentation.
• Your webcam will capture your face during the recording.
• Click Stop when you finish recording.
• Export your recorded presentation by clicking on File> Export>Create a video.

How do you present yourself in PowerPoint?

To present yourself effectively in PowerPoint, follow these steps:

• Determine the key information to include in your presentation.
• Design and prepare your PowerPoint slides with a cohesive theme.
• Craft a compelling introduction to engage your audience.
• Tailor your presentation to different time constraints for flexibility.
• Capture the audience's attention before you begin speaking.

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Microsoft fabric updates blog.

Microsoft Fabric May 2024 Update

• Monthly Update

Welcome to the May 2024 update.  

Here are a few, select highlights of the many we have for Fabric. You can now ask Copilot questions about data in your model, Model Explorer and authoring calculation groups in Power BI desktop is now generally available, and Real-Time Intelligence provides a complete end-to-end solution for ingesting, processing, analyzing, visualizing, monitoring, and acting on events.

There is much more to explore, please continue to read on. 

Microsoft Build Announcements

At Microsoft Build 2024, we are thrilled to announce a huge array of innovations coming to the Microsoft Fabric platform that will make Microsoft Fabric’s capabilities even more robust and even customizable to meet the unique needs of each organization. To learn more about these changes, read the “ Unlock real-time insights with AI-powered analytics in Microsoft Fabric ” announcement blog by Arun Ulag.

Fabric Roadmap Update

Last October at the Microsoft Power Platform Community Conference we  announced the release of the Microsoft Fabric Roadmap . Today we have updated that roadmap to include the next semester of Fabric innovations. As promised, we have merged Power BI into this roadmap to give you a single, unified road map for all of Microsoft Fabric. You can find the Fabric Roadmap at  https://aka.ms/FabricRoadmap .

We will be innovating our Roadmap over the coming year and would love to hear your recommendation ways that we can make this experience better for you. Please submit suggestions at  https://aka.ms/FabricIdeas .

Earn a discount on your Microsoft Fabric certification exam!  

We’d like to thank the thousands of you who completed the Fabric AI Skills Challenge and earned a free voucher for Exam DP-600 which leads to the Fabric Analytics Engineer Associate certification.   

If you earned a free voucher, you can find redemption instructions in your email. We recommend that you schedule your exam now, before your discount voucher expires on June 24 th . All exams must be scheduled and completed by this date.    

If you need a little more help with exam prep, visit the Fabric Career Hub which has expert-led training, exam crams, practice tests and more.  

Missed the Fabric AI Skills Challenge? We have you covered. For a limited time , you could earn a 50% exam discount by taking the Fabric 30 Days to Learn It Challenge .  

Modern Tooltip now on by Default

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Fabric Spark job definition activity now available

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Power BI tooltips are embarking on an evolution to enhance their functionality. To lay the groundwork, we are introducing the modern tooltip as the new default , a feature that many users may already recognize from its previous preview status. This change is more than just an upgrade; it’s the first step in a series of remarkable improvements. These future developments promise to revolutionize tooltip management and customization, offering possibilities that were previously only imaginable. As we prepare for the general availability of the modern tooltip, this is an excellent opportunity for users to become familiar with its features and capabilities. 

Discover the full potential of the new tooltip feature by visiting our dedicated blog . Dive into the details and explore the comprehensive vision we’ve crafted for tooltips, designed to enhance your Power BI experience. 

We’ve listened to our community’s feedback on improving our tabular visuals (Table and Matrix), and we’re excited to initiate their transformation. Drawing inspiration from the familiar PivotTable in Excel , we aim to build new features and capabilities upon a stronger foundation. In our May update, we’re introducing ‘ Layouts for Matrix .’ Now, you can select from compact , outline , or tabular layouts to alter the arrangement of components in a manner akin to Excel. 

As an extension of the new layout options, report creators can now craft custom layout patterns by repeating row headers. This powerful control, inspired by Excel’s PivotTable layout, enables the creation of a matrix that closely resembles the look and feel of a table. This enhancement not only provides greater flexibility but also brings a touch of Excel’s intuitive design to Power BI’s matrix visuals. Only available for Outline and Tabular layouts.

To further align with Excel’s functionality, report creators now have the option to insert blank rows within the matrix. This feature allows for the separation of higher-level row header categories, significantly enhancing the readability of the report. It’s a thoughtful addition that brings a new level of clarity and organization to Power BI’s matrix visuals and opens a path for future enhancements for totals/subtotals and rows/column headers. 

We understand your eagerness to delve deeper into the matrix layouts and grasp how these enhancements fulfill the highly requested features by our community. Find out more and join the conversation in our dedicated blog , where we unravel the details and share the community-driven vision behind these improvements. 

Following last month’s introduction of the initial line enhancements, May brings a groundbreaking set of line capabilities that are set to transform your Power BI experience: 

• Hide/Show lines : Gain control over the visibility of your lines for a cleaner, more focused report. 
• Customized line pattern : Tailor the pattern of your lines to match the style and context of your data. 
• Auto-scaled line pattern : Ensure your line patterns scale perfectly with your data, maintaining consistency and clarity. 
• Line dash cap : Customize the end caps of your customized dashed lines for a polished, professional look. 
• Line upgrades across other line types : Experience improvements in reference lines, forecast lines, leader lines, small multiple gridlines, and the new card’s divider line. 

These enhancements are not to be missed. We recommend visiting our dedicated blog for an in-depth exploration of all the new capabilities added to lines, keeping you informed and up to date. 

This May release, we’re excited to introduce on-object formatting support for Small multiples , Waterfall , and Matrix visuals. This new feature allows users to interact directly with these visuals for a more intuitive and efficient formatting experience. By double-clicking on any of these visuals, users can now right-click on the specific visual component they wish to format, bringing up a convenient mini-toolbar. This streamlined approach not only saves time but also enhances the user’s ability to customize and refine their reports with ease. 

We’re also thrilled to announce a significant enhancement to the mobile reporting experience with the introduction of the pane manager for the mobile layout view. This innovative feature empowers users to effortlessly open and close panels via a dedicated menu, streamlining the design process of mobile reports. 

We recently announced a public preview for folders in workspaces, allowing you to create a hierarchical structure for organizing and managing your items. In the latest Desktop release, you can now publish your reports to specific folders in your workspace.  

When you publish a report, you can choose the specific workspace and folder for your report. The interface is simplistic and easy to understand, making organizing your Power BI content from Desktop better than ever. 

To publish reports to specific folders in the service, make sure the “Publish dialogs support folder selection” setting is enabled in the Preview features tab in the Options menu. 

Learn more about folders in workspaces.   

We’re excited to preview a new capability for Power BI Copilot allowing you to ask questions about the data in your model! You could already ask questions about the data present in the visuals on your report pages – and now you can go deeper by getting answers directly from the underlying model. Just ask questions about your data, and if the answer isn’t already on your report, Copilot will then query your model for the data instead and return the answer to your question in the form of a visual! 

We’re starting this capability off in both Edit and View modes in Power BI Service. Because this is a preview feature, you’ll need to enable it via the preview toggle in the Copilot pane. You can learn more about all the details of the feature in our announcement post here! (will link to announcement post)  

We are excited to announce the general availability of DAX query view. DAX query view is the fourth view in Power BI Desktop to run DAX queries on your semantic model.  

DAX query view comes with several ways to help you be as productive as possible with DAX queries. 

• Quick queries. Have the DAX query written for you from the context menu of tables, columns, or measures in the Data pane of DAX query view. Get the top 100 rows of a table, statistics of a column, or DAX formula of a measure to edit and validate in just a couple clicks! 
• DirectQuery model authors can also use DAX query view. View the data in your tables whenever you want! 
• Create and edit measures. Edit one or multiple measures at once. Make changes and see the change in action in a DA query. Then update the model when you are ready. All in DAX query view! 
• See the DAX query of visuals. Investigate the visuals DAX query in DAX query view. Go to the Performance Analyzer pane and choose “Run in DAX query view”. 
• Write DAX queries. You can create DAX queries with Intellisense, formatting, commenting/uncommenting, and syntax highlighting. And additional professional code editing experiences such as “Change all occurrences” and block folding to expand and collapse sections. Even expanded find and replace options with regex. 

Learn more about DAX query view with these resources: 

• Deep dive blog: https://powerbi.microsoft.com/blog/deep-dive-into-dax-query-view-and-writing-dax-queries/  
• Learn more: https://learn.microsoft.com/power-bi/transform-model/dax-query-view  
• Video: https://youtu.be/oPGGYLKhTOA?si=YKUp1j8GoHHsqdZo  

DAX query view includes an inline Fabric Copilot to write and explain DAX queries, which remains in public preview. This month we have made the following updates. 

• Run the DAX query before you keep it . Previously the Run button was disabled until the generated DAX query was accepted or Copilot was closed. Now you can Run the DAX query then decide to Keep or Discard the DAX query. 

2. Conversationally build the DAX query. Previously the DAX query generated was not considered if you typed additional prompts and you had to keep the DAX query, select it again, then use Copilot again to adjust. Now you can simply adjust by typing in additional user prompts.   

3. Syntax checks on the generated DAX query. Previously there was no syntax check before the generated DAX query was returned. Now the syntax is checked, and the prompt automatically retried once. If the retry is also invalid, the generated DAX query is returned with a note that there is an issue, giving you the option to rephrase your request or fix the generated DAX query. 

4. Inspire buttons to get you started with Copilot. Previously nothing happened until a prompt was entered. Now click any of these buttons to quickly see what you can do with Copilot! 

Learn more about DAX queries with Copilot with these resources: 

• Deep dive blog: https://powerbi.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/deep-dive-into-dax-query-view-with-copilot/  
• Learn more: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dax/dax-copilot  
• Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kE3TE34oLM  

We are excited to introduce you to the redesigned ‘Manage relationships’ dialog in Power BI Desktop! To open this dialog simply select the ‘Manage relationships’ button in the modeling ribbon.

Once opened, you’ll find a comprehensive view of all your relationships, along with their key properties, all in one convenient location. From here you can create new relationships or edit an existing one.

Additionally, you have the option to filter and focus on specific relationships in your model based on cardinality and cross filter direction. 

Learn more about creating and managing relationships in Power BI Desktop in our documentation . 

Ever since we released composite models on Power BI semantic models and Analysis Services , you have been asking us to support the refresh of calculated columns and tables in the Service. This month, we have enabled the refresh of calculated columns and tables in Service for any DirectQuery source that uses single sign-on authentication. This includes the sources you use when working with composite models on Power BI semantic models and Analysis Services.  

Previously, the refresh of a semantic model that uses a DirectQuery source with single-sign-on authentication failed with one of the following error messages: “Refresh is not supported for datasets with a calculated table or calculated column that depends on a table which references Analysis Services using DirectQuery.” or “Refresh over a dataset with a calculated table or a calculated column which references a Direct Query data source is not supported.” 

Starting today, you can successfully refresh the calculated table and calculated columns in a semantic model in the Service using specific credentials as long as: 

• You used a shareable cloud connection and assigned it and/or.
• Enabled granular access control for all data connection types.

Here’s how to do this: 

• Create and publish your semantic model that uses a single sign-on DirectQuery source. This can be a composite model but doesn’t have to be. 
• In the semantic model settings, under Gateway and cloud connections , map each single sign-on DirectQuery connection to a specific connection. If you don’t have a specific connection yet, select ‘Create a connection’ to create it: 

• If you are creating a new connection, fill out the connection details and click Create , making sure to select ‘Use SSO via Azure AD for DirectQuery queries: 

• Finally, select the connection for each single sign-on DirectQuery source and select Apply : 

2. Either refresh the semantic model manually or plan a scheduled refresh to confirm the refresh now works successfully. Congratulations, you have successfully set up refresh for semantic models with a single sign-on DirectQuery connection that uses calculated columns or calculated tables!

We are excited to announce the general availability of Model Explorer in the Model view of Power BI, including the authoring of calculation groups. Semantic modeling is even easier with an at-a-glance tree view with item counts, search, and in context paths to edit the semantic model items with Model Explorer. Top level semantic model properties are also available as well as the option to quickly create relationships in the properties pane. Additionally, the styling for the Data pane is updated to Fluent UI also used in Office and Teams.  

A popular community request from the Ideas forum, authoring calculation groups is also included in Model Explorer. Calculation groups significantly reduce the number of redundant measures by allowing you to define DAX formulas as calculation items that can be applied to existing measures. For example, define a year over year, prior month, conversion, or whatever your report needs in DAX formula once as a calculation item and reuse it with existing measures. This can reduce the number of measures you need to create and make the maintenance of the business logic simpler.  

Available in both Power BI Desktop and when editing a semantic model in the workspace, take your semantic model authoring to the next level today!  

Learn more about Model Explorer and authoring calculation groups with these resources: 

• Use Model explorer in Power BI (preview) – Power BI | Microsoft Learn  
• Create calculation groups in Power BI (preview) – Power BI | Microsoft Learn  

Data connectivity  

We’re happy to announce that the Oracle database connector has been enhanced this month with the addition of Single Sign-On support in the Power BI service with Microsoft Entra ID authentication.  

Microsoft Entra ID SSO enables single sign-on to access data sources that rely on Microsoft Entra ID based authentication. When you configure Microsoft Entra SSO for an applicable data source, queries run under the Microsoft Entra identity of the user that interacts with the Power BI report. 

We’re pleased to announce the new and updated connectors in this release:   

• [New] OneStream : The OneStream Power BI Connector enables you to seamlessly connect Power BI to your OneStream applications by simply logging in with your OneStream credentials. The connector uses your OneStream security, allowing you to access only the data you have based on your permissions within the OneStream application. Use the connector to pull cube and relational data along with metadata members, including all their properties. Visit OneStream Power BI Connector to learn more. Find this connector in the other category. 
• [New] Zendesk Data : A new connector developed by the Zendesk team that aims to go beyond the functionality of the existing Zendesk legacy connector created by Microsoft. Learn more about what this new connector brings. 
• [New] CCH Tagetik 
• [Update] Azure Databricks  

Are you interested in creating your own connector and publishing it for your customers? Learn more about the Power Query SDK and the Connector Certification program .   

Last May, we announced the integration between Power BI and OneDrive and SharePoint. Previously, this capability was limited to only reports with data in import mode. We’re excited to announce that you can now seamlessly view Power BI reports with live connected data directly in OneDrive and SharePoint! 

When working on Power BI Desktop with a report live connected to a semantic model in the service, you can easily share a link to collaborate with others on your team and allow them to quickly view the report in their browser. We’ve made it easier than ever to access the latest data updates without ever leaving your familiar OneDrive and SharePoint environments. This integration streamlines your workflows and allows you to access reports within the platforms you already use. With collaboration at the heart of this improvement, teams can work together more effectively to make informed decisions by leveraging live connected semantic models without being limited to data only in import mode.  

Utilizing OneDrive and SharePoint allows you to take advantage of built-in version control, always have your files available in the cloud, and utilize familiar and simplistic sharing.  

While you told us that you appreciate the ability to limit the image view to only those who have permission to view the report, you asked for changes for the “Public snapshot” mode.   

To address some of the feedback we got from you, we have made a few more changes in this area.  

• Add-ins that were saved as “Public snapshot” can be printed and will not require that you go over all the slides and load the add-ins for permission check before the public image is made visible. 
• You can use the “Show as saved image” on add-ins that were saved as “Public snapshot”. This will replace the entire add-in with an image representation of it, so the load time might be faster when you are presenting your presentation. 

Many of us keep presentations open for a long time, which might cause the data in the presentation to become outdated.  

To make sure you have in your slides the data you need, we added a new notification that tells you if more up to date data exists in Power BI and offers you the option to refresh and get the latest data from Power BI. 

Developers 

Direct Lake semantic models are now supported in Fabric Git Integration , enabling streamlined version control, enhanced collaboration among developers, and the establishment of CI/CD pipelines for your semantic models using Direct Lake. 

Learn more about version control, testing, and deployment of Power BI content in our Power BI implementation planning documentation: https://learn.microsoft.com/power-bi/guidance/powerbi-implementation-planning-content-lifecycle-management-overview  

Visualizations 

Editor’s pick of the quarter .

– Animator for Power BI     Innofalls Charts     SuperTables     Sankey Diagram for Power BI by ChartExpo     Dynamic KPI Card by Sereviso     Shielded HTML Viewer     Text search slicer  

New visuals in AppSource 

Mapa Polski – Województwa, Powiaty, Gminy   Workstream   Income Statement Table  

Gas Detection Chart  

Seasonality Chart   PlanIn BI – Data Refresh Service  

Chart Flare  

PictoBar   ProgBar  

Counter Calendar   Donut Chart image  

Financial Reporting Matrix by Profitbase 

Making financial statements with a proper layout has just become easier with the latest version of the Financial Reporting Matrix. 

Users are now able to specify which rows should be classified as cost-rows, which will make it easier to get the conditional formatting of variances correctly: 

Selecting a row, and ticking “is cost” will tag the row as cost. This can be used in conditional formatting to make sure that positive variances on expenses are a bad for the result, while a positive variance on an income row is good for the result. 

The new version also includes more flexibility in measuring placement and column subtotals. 

Measures can be placed either: 

• Default (below column headers) 
• Above column headers 

• Conditionally hide columns 
• + much more 

Highlighted new features:  

• Measure placement – In rows  
• Select Column Subtotals  
• New Format Pane design 
• Row Options  

Get the visual from AppSource and find more videos here ! 

Horizon Chart by Powerviz  

A Horizon Chart is an advanced visual, for time-series data, revealing trends and anomalies. It displays stacked data layers, allowing users to compare multiple categories while maintaining data clarity. Horizon Charts are particularly useful to monitor and analyze complex data over time, making this a valuable visual for data analysis and decision-making. 

Key Features:  

• Horizon Styles: Choose Natural, Linear, or Step with adjustable scaling. 
• Layer: Layer data by range or custom criteria. Display positive and negative values together or separately on top. 
• Reference Line : Highlight patterns with X-axis lines and labels. 
• Colors: Apply 30+ color palettes and use FX rules for dynamic coloring. 
• Ranking: Filter Top/Bottom N values, with “Others”. 
• Gridline: Add gridlines to the X and Y axis.  
• Custom Tooltip: Add highest, lowest, mean, and median points without additional DAX. 
• Themes: Save designs and share seamlessly with JSON files. 

Other features included are ranking, annotation, grid view, show condition, and accessibility support.  

Business Use Cases: Time-Series Data Comparison, Environmental Monitoring, Anomaly Detection 

🔗 Try Horizon Chart for FREE from AppSource  

📊 Check out all features of the visual: Demo file  

📃 Step-by-step instructions: Documentation  

💡 YouTube Video: Video Link  

📍 Learn more about visuals: https://powerviz.ai/  

✅ Follow Powerviz : https://lnkd.in/gN_9Sa6U  

Exciting news! Thanks to your valuable feedback, we’ve enhanced our Milestone Trend Analysis Chart even further. We’re thrilled to announce that you can now switch between horizontal and vertical orientations, catering to your preferred visualization style.

The Milestone Trend Analysis (MTA) Chart remains your go-to tool for swiftly identifying deadline trends, empowering you to take timely corrective actions. With this update, we aim to enhance deadline awareness among project participants and stakeholders alike. 

In our latest version, we seamlessly navigate between horizontal and vertical views within the familiar Power BI interface. No need to adapt to a new user interface – enjoy the same ease of use with added flexibility. Plus, it benefits from supported features like themes, interactive selection, and tooltips. 

What’s more, ours is the only Microsoft Certified Milestone Trend Analysis Chart for Power BI, ensuring reliability and compatibility with the platform. 

Ready to experience the enhanced Milestone Trend Analysis Chart? Download it from AppSource today and explore its capabilities with your own data – try for free!  

We welcome any questions or feedback at our website: https://visuals.novasilva.com/ . Try it out and elevate your project management insights now! 

Sunburst Chart by Powerviz  

Powerviz’s Sunburst Chart is an interactive tool for hierarchical data visualization. With this chart, you can easily visualize multiple columns in a hierarchy and uncover valuable insights. The concentric circle design helps in displaying part-to-whole relationships. 

• Arc Customization: Customize shapes and patterns. 
• Color Scheme: Accessible palettes with 30+ options. 
• Centre Circle: Design an inner circle with layers. Add text, measure, icons, and images. 
• Conditional Formatting: Easily identify outliers based on measure or category rules. 
• Labels: Smart data labels for readability. 
• Image Labels: Add an image as an outer label. 
• Interactivity: Zoom, drill down, cross-filtering, and tooltip features. 

Other features included are annotation, grid view, show condition, and accessibility support.  

Business Use Cases:   

• Sales and Marketing: Market share analysis and customer segmentation. 
• Finance : Department budgets and expenditures distribution. 
• Operations : Supply chain management. 
• Education : Course structure, curriculum creation. 
• Human Resources : Organization structure, employee demographics.

🔗 Try Sunburst Chart for FREE from AppSource  

Stacked Bar Chart with Line by JTA  

Clustered bar chart with the possibility to stack one of the bars  

Stacked Bar Chart with Line by JTA seamlessly merges the simplicity of a traditional bar chart with the versatility of a stacked bar, revolutionizing the way you showcase multiple datasets in a single, cohesive display. 

Unlocking a new dimension of insight, our visual features a dynamic line that provides a snapshot of data trends at a glance. Navigate through your data effortlessly with multiple configurations, gaining a swift and comprehensive understanding of your information. 

Tailor your visual experience with an array of functionalities and customization options, enabling you to effortlessly compare a primary metric with the performance of an entire set. The flexibility to customize the visual according to your unique preferences empowers you to harness the full potential of your data. 

Features of Stacked Bar Chart with Line:  

• Stack the second bar 
• Format the Axis and Gridlines 
• Add a legend 
• Format the colors and text 
• Add a line chart 
• Format the line 
• Add marks to the line 
• Format the labels for bars and line 

If you liked what you saw, you can try it for yourself and find more information here . Also, if you want to download it, you can find the visual package on the AppSource . 

We have added an exciting new feature to our Combo PRO, Combo Bar PRO, and Timeline PRO visuals – Legend field support . The Legend field makes it easy to visually split series values into smaller segments, without the need to use measures or create separate series. Simply add a column with category names that are adjacent to the series values, and the visual will do the following:  

• Display separate segments as a stack or cluster, showing how each segment contributed to the total Series value. 
• Create legend items for each segment to quickly show/hide them without filtering.  
• Apply custom fill colors to each segment.  
• Show each segment value in the tooltip 

Read more about the Legend field on our blog article  

Drill Down Combo PRO is made for creators who want to build visually stunning and user-friendly reports. Cross-chart filtering and intuitive drill down interactions make data exploration easy and fun for any user. Furthermore, you can choose between three chart types – columns, lines, or areas; and feature up to 25 different series in the same visual and configure each series independently.  

📊 Get Drill Down Combo PRO on AppSource  

🌐 Visit Drill Down Combo PRO product page  

Documentation | ZoomCharts Website | Follow ZoomCharts on LinkedIn  

We are thrilled to announce that Fabric Core REST APIs are now generally available! This marks a significant milestone in the evolution of Microsoft Fabric, a platform that has been meticulously designed to empower developers and businesses alike with a comprehensive suite of tools and services. 

The Core REST APIs are the backbone of Microsoft Fabric, providing the essential building blocks for a myriad of functionalities within the platform. They are designed to improve efficiency, reduce manual effort, increase accuracy, and lead to faster processing times. These APIs help with scale operations more easily and efficiently as the volume of work grows, automate repeatable processes with consistency, and enable integration with other systems and applications, providing a streamlined and efficient data pipeline. 

The Microsoft Fabric Core APIs encompasses a range of functionalities, including: 

• Workspace management: APIs to manage workspaces, including permissions.  
• Item management: APIs for creating, reading, updating, and deleting items, with partial support for data source discovery and granular permissions management planned for the near future. 
• Job and tenant management: APIs to manage jobs, tenants, and users within the platform. 

These APIs adhere to industry standards and best practices, ensuring a unified developer experience that is both coherent and easy to use. 

For developers looking to dive into the details of the Microsoft Fabric Core APIs, comprehensive documentation is available. This includes guidelines on API usage, examples, and articles managed in a centralized repository for ease of access and discoverability. The documentation is continuously updated to reflect the latest features and improvements, ensuring that developers have the most current information at their fingertips. See Microsoft Fabric REST API documentation  

We’re excited to share an important update we made to the Fabric Admin APIs. This enhancement is designed to simplify your automation experience. Now, you can manage both Power BI and the new Fabric items (previously referred to as artifacts) using the same set of APIs. Before this enhancement, you had to navigate using two different APIs—one for Power BI items and another for new Fabric items. That’s no longer the case. 

The APIs we’ve updated include GetItem , ListItems , GetItemAccessDetails , and GetAccessEntities . These enhancements mean you can now query and manage all your items through a single API call, regardless of whether they’re Fabric types or Power BI types. We hope this update makes your work more straightforward and helps you accomplish your tasks more efficiently. 

We’re thrilled to announce the public preview of the Microsoft Fabric workload development kit. This feature now extends to additional workloads and offers a robust developer toolkit for designing, developing, and interoperating with Microsoft Fabric using frontend SDKs and backend REST APIs. Introducing the Microsoft Fabric Workload Development Kit . 

The Microsoft Fabric platform now provides a mechanism for ISVs and developers to integrate their new and existing applications natively into Fabric’s workload hub. This integration provides the ability to add net new capabilities to Fabric in a consistent experience without leaving their Fabric workspace, thereby accelerating data driven outcomes from Microsoft Fabric. 

By downloading and leveraging the development kit , ISVs and software developers can build and scale existing and new applications on Microsoft Fabric and offer them via the Azure Marketplace without the need to ever leave the Fabric environment. 

The development kit provides a comprehensive guide and sample code for creating custom item types that can be added to the Fabric workspace. These item types can leverage the Fabric frontend SDKs and backend REST APIs to interact with other Fabric capabilities, such as data ingestion, transformation, orchestration, visualization, and collaboration. You can also embed your own data application into the Fabric item editor using the Fabric native experience components, such as the header, toolbar, navigation pane, and status bar. This way, you can offer consistent and seamless user experience across different Fabric workloads. 

This is a call to action for ISVs, software developers, and system integrators. Let’s leverage this opportunity to create more integrated and seamless experiences for our users. 

We’re excited about this journey and look forward to seeing the innovative workloads from our developer community. 

We are proud to announce the public preview of external data sharing. Sharing data across organizations has become a standard part of day-to-day business for many of our customers. External data sharing, built on top of OneLake shortcuts, enables seamless, in-place sharing of data, allowing you to maintain a single copy of data even when sharing data across tenant boundaries. Whether you’re sharing data with customers, manufacturers, suppliers, consultants, or partners; the applications are endless. 

How external data sharing works  

Sharing data across tenants is as simple as any other share operation in Fabric. To share data, navigate to the item to be shared, click on the context menu, and then click on External data share . Select the folder or table you want to share and click Save and continue . Enter the email address and an optional message and then click Send . 

The data consumer will receive an email containing a share link. They can click on the link to accept the share and access the data within their own tenant. 

Click here for more details about external data sharing . 

Following the release of OneLake data access roles in public preview, the OneLake team is excited to announce the availability of APIs for managing data access roles. These APIs can be used to programmatically manage granular data access for your lakehouses. Manage all aspects of role management such as creating new roles, editing existing ones, or changing memberships in a programmatic way.  

Check out the API reference to learn more. 

Do you have data stored on-premises or behind a firewall that you want to access and analyze with Microsoft Fabric? With OneLake shortcuts, you can bring on-premises or network-restricted data into OneLake, without any data movement or duplication. Simply install the Fabric on-premises data gateway and create a shortcut to your S3 compatible, Amazon S3, or Google Cloud Storage data source. Then use any of Fabric’s powerful analytics engines and OneLake open APIs to explore, transform, and visualize your data in the cloud. 

Try it out today and unlock the full potential of your data with OneLake shortcuts! 

Data Warehouse 

We are excited to announce Copilot for Data Warehouse in public preview! Copilot for Data Warehouse is an AI assistant that helps developers generate insights through T-SQL exploratory analysis. Copilot is contextualized your warehouse’s schema. With this feature, data engineers and data analysts can use Copilot to: 

• Generate T-SQL queries for data analysis.  
• Explain and add in-line code comments for existing T-SQL queries. 
• Fix broken T-SQL code. 
• Receive answers regarding general data warehousing tasks and operations. 

There are 3 areas where Copilot is surfaced in the Data Warehouse SQL Query Editor: 

• Code completions when writing a T-SQL query. 
• Chat panel to interact with the Copilot in natural language. 
• Quick action buttons to fix and explain T-SQL queries. 

Learn more about Copilot for Data Warehouse: aka.ms/data-warehouse-copilot-docs. Copilot for Data Warehouse is currently only available in the Warehouse. Copilot in the SQL analytics endpoint is coming soon. 

As data volumes continue to grow in today’s rapidly evolving world of Artificial Intelligence, it is crucial to reflect on historical data. It empowers businesses to derive valuable insights that aid in making well-informed decisions for the future. Preserving multiple historical data versions not only incurred significant costs but also presented challenges in upholding data integrity, resulting in a notable impact on query performance. So, we are thrilled to announce the ability to query the historical data through time travel at the T-SQL statement level which helps unlock the evolution of data over time. 

The Fabric warehouse retains historical versions of tables for seven calendar days. This retention allows for querying the tables as if they existed at any point within the retention timeframe. Time travel clause can be included in any top level SELECT statement. For complex queries that involve multiple tables, joins, stored procedures, or views, the timestamp is applied just once for the entire query instead of specifying the same timestamp for each table within the same query. This ensures the entire query is executed with reference to the specified timestamp, maintaining the data’s uniformity and integrity throughout the query execution. 

From historical trend analysis and forecasting to compliance management, stable reporting and real-time decision support, the benefits of time travel extend across multiple business operations. Embrace the capability of time travel to navigate the data-driven landscape and gain a competitive edge in today’s fast-paced world of Artificial Intelligence. 

We are excited to announce not one but two new enhancements to the Copy Into feature for Fabric Warehouse: Copy Into with Entra ID Authentication and Copy Into for Firewall-Enabled Storage!

Entra ID Authentication  

When authenticating storage accounts in your environment, the executing user’s Entra ID will now be used by default. This ensures that you can leverage A ccess C ontrol L ists and R ole – B ased a ccess c ontrol to authenticate to your storage accounts when using Copy Into. Currently, only organizational accounts are supported.  

How to Use Entra ID Authentication  

• Ensure your Entra ID organizational account has access to the underlying storage and can execute the Copy Into statement on your Fabric Warehouse.  
• Run your Copy Into statement without specifying any credentials; the Entra ID organizational account will be used as the default authentication mechanism.  

Copy into firewall-enabled storage

The Copy Into for firewall-enabled storage leverages the trusted workspace access functionality ( Trusted workspace access in Microsoft Fabric (preview) – Microsoft Fabric | Microsoft Learn ) to establish a secure and seamless connection between Fabric and your storage accounts. Secure access can be enabled for both blob and ADLS Gen2 storage accounts. Secure access with Copy Into is available for warehouses in workspaces with Fabric Capacities (F64 or higher).  

To learn more about Copy into , please refer to COPY INTO (Transact-SQL) – Azure Synapse Analytics and Microsoft Fabric | Microsoft Learn  

We are excited to announce the launch of our new feature, Just in Time Database Attachment, which will significantly enhance your first experience, such as when connecting to the Datawarehouse or SQL endpoint or simply opening an item. These actions trigger the workspace resource assignment process, where, among other actions, we attach all necessary metadata of your items, Data warehouses and SQL endpoints, which can be a long process, particularly for workspaces that have a high number of items.  

This feature is designed to attach your desired database during the activation process of your workspace, allowing you to execute queries immediately and avoid unnecessary delays. However, all other databases will be attached asynchronously in the background while you are able to execute queries, ensuring a smooth and efficient experience. 

Data Engineering 

We are advancing Fabric Runtime 1.3 from an Experimental Public Preview to a full Public Preview. Our Apache Spark-based big data execution engine, optimized for both data engineering and science workflows, has been updated and fully integrated into the Fabric platform. 

The enhancements in Fabric Runtime 1.3 include the incorporation of Delta Lake 3.1, compatibility with Python 3.11, support for Starter Pools, integration with Environment and library management capabilities. Additionally, Fabric Runtime now enriches the data science experience by supporting the R language and integrating Copilot. 

We are pleased to share that the Native Execution Engine for Fabric Runtime 1.2 is currently available in public preview. The Native Execution Engine can greatly enhance the performance for your Spark jobs and queries. The engine has been rewritten in C++ and operates in columnar mode and uses vectorized processing. The Native Execution Engine offers superior query performance – encompassing data processing, ETL, data science, and interactive queries – all directly on your data lake. Overall, Fabric Spark delivers a 4x speed-up on the sum of execution time of all 99 queries in the TPC-DS 1TB benchmark when compared against Apache Spark.  This engine is fully compatible with Apache Spark™ APIs (including Spark SQL API). 

It is seamless to use with no code changes – activate it and go. Enable it in your environment for your notebooks and your SJDs. 

This feature is in the public preview, at this stage of the preview, there is no additional cost associated with using it. 

We are excited to announce the Spark Monitoring Run Series Analysis features, which allow you to analyze the run duration trend and performance comparison for Pipeline Spark activity recurring run instances and repetitive Spark run activities from the same Notebook or Spark Job Definition.   

• Run Series Comparison: Users can compare the duration of a Notebook run with that of previous runs and evaluate the input and output data to understand the reasons behind prolonged run durations.  
• Outlier Detection and Analysis: The system can detect outliers in the run series and analyze them to pinpoint potential contributing factors. 
• Detailed Run Instance Analysis: Clicking on a specific run instance provides detailed information on time distribution, which can be used to identify performance enhancement opportunities. 
• Configuration Insights : Users can view the Spark configuration used for each run, including auto-tuned configurations for Spark SQL queries in auto-tune enabled Notebook runs. 

You can access the new feature from the item’s recent runs panel and Spark application monitoring page. 

We are excited to announce that Notebook now supports the ability to tag others in comments, just like the familiar functionality of using Office products!   

When you select a section of code in a cell, you can add a comment with your insights and tag one or more teammates to collaborate or brainstorm on the specifics. This intuitive enhancement is designed to amplify collaboration in your daily development work. 

Moreover, you can easily configure the permissions when tagging someone who doesn’t have the permission, to make sure your code asset is well managed. 

We are thrilled to unveil a significant enhancement to the Fabric notebook ribbon, designed to elevate your data science and engineering workflows. 

In the new version, you will find the new Session connect control on the Home tab, and now you can start a standard session without needing to run a code cell. 

You can also easily spin up a High concurrency session and share the session across multiple notebooks to improve the compute resource utilization. And you can easily attach/leave a high concurrency session with a single click. 

The “ View session information ” can navigate you to the session information dialog, where you can find a lot of useful detailed information, as well as configure the session timeout. The diagnostics info is essentially helpful when you need support for notebook issues. 

Now you can easily access the powerful “ Data Wrangler ” on Home tab with the new ribbon! You can explore your data with the fancy low-code experience of data wrangler, and the pandas DataFrames and Spark DataFrames are all supported.   

We recently made some changes to the Fabric notebook metadata to ensure compliance and consistency: 

Notebook file content: 

• The keyword “trident” has been replaced with “dependencies” in the notebook content. This adjustment ensures consistency and compliance. 
• Notebook Git format: 
• The preface of the notebook has been modified from “# Synapse Analytics notebook source” to “# Fabric notebook source”. 
• Additionally, the keyword “synapse” has been updated to “dependencies” in the Git repo. 

The above changes will be marked as ‘uncommitted’ for one time if your workspace is connected to Git. No action is needed in terms of these changes , and there won’t be any breaking scenario within the Fabric platform . If you have any further updates or questions, feel free to share with us. 

We are thrilled to announce that the environment is now a generally available item in Microsoft Fabric. During this GA timeframe, we have shipped a few new features of Environment. 

• Git support  

The environment is now Git supported. You can check-in the environment into your Git repo and manipulate the environment locally with its YAML representations and custom library files. After updating the changes from local to Fabric portal, you can publish them by manual action or through REST API. 

• Deployment pipeline  

Deploying environments from one workspace to another is supported.  Now, you can deploy the code items and their dependent environments together from development to test and even production. 

With the REST APIs, you can have the code-first experience with the same abilities through Fabric portal. We provide a set of powerful APIs to ensure you the efficiency in managing your environment. You can create new environments, update libraries and Spark compute, publish the changes, delete an environment, attach the environment to a notebook, etc., all actions can be done locally in the tools of your choice. The article – Best practice of managing environments with REST API could help you get started with several real-world scenarios.  

• Resources folder   

Resources folder enables managing small resources in the development cycle. The files uploaded in the environment can be accessed from notebooks once they’re attached to the same environment. The manipulation of the files and folders of resources happens in real-time. It could be super powerful, especially when you are collaborating with others. 

Sharing your environment with others is also available. We provide several sharing options. By default, the view permission is shared. If you want the recipient to have access to view and use the contents of the environment, sharing without permission customization is the best option. Furthermore, you can grant editing permission to allow recipients to update this environment or grant share permission to allow recipients to reshare this environment with their existing permissions. 

We are excited to announce the REST api support for Fabric Data Engineering/Science workspace settings.  Data Engineering/Science settings allows users to create/manage their Spark compute, select the default runtime/default environment, enable or disable high concurrency mode or ML autologging.  

Now with the REST api support for the Data Engineering/Science settings, you would be able to  

• Choose the default pool for a Fabric Workspace 
• Configure the max nodes for Starter pools 
• Create/Update/Delete the existing Custom Pools, Autoscale and Dynamic allocation properties  
• Choose Workspace Default Runtime and Environment  
• Select a default runtime 
• Select the default environment for the Fabric workspace  
• Enable or Disable High Concurrency Mode 
• Enable or Disable ML Auto logging.  

Learn more about the Workspace Spark Settings API in our API documentation Workspace Settings – REST API (Spark) | Microsoft Learn  

We are excited to give you a sneak peek at the preview of User Data Functions in Microsoft Fabric. User Data Functions gives developers and data engineers the ability to easily write and run applications that integrate with resources in the Fabric Platform. Data engineering often presents challenges with data quality or complex data analytics processing in data pipelines, and using ETL tools may present limited flexibility and ability to customize to your needs. This is where User data functions can be used to run data transformation tasks and perform complex business logic by connecting to your data sources and other workloads in Fabric.  

During preview, you will be able to use the following features:  

• Use the Fabric portal to create new User Data Functions, view and test them.  
• Write your functions using C#.   
• Use the Visual Studio Code extension to create and edit your functions.  
• Connect to the following Fabric-native data sources: Data Warehouse, Lakehouse and Mirrored Databases.   

You can now create a fully managed GraphQL API in Fabric to interact with your data in a simple, flexible, and powerful way. We’re excited to announce the public preview of API for GraphQL, a data access layer that allows us to query multiple data sources quickly and efficiently in Fabric by leveraging a widely adopted and familiar API technology that returns more data with less client requests.  With the new API for GraphQL in Fabric, data engineers and scientists can create data APIs to connect to different data sources, use the APIs in their workflows, or share the API endpoints with app development teams to speed up and streamline data analytics application development in your business. 

You can get started with the API for GraphQL in Fabric by creating an API, attaching a supported data source, then selecting specific data sets you want to expose through the API. Fabric builds the GraphQL schema automatically based on your data, you can test and prototype queries directly in our graphical in-browser GraphQL development environment (API editor), and applications are ready to connect in minutes. 

Currently, the following supported data sources can be exposed through the Fabric API for GraphQL: 

• Microsoft Fabric Data Warehouse 
• Microsoft Fabric Lakehouse via SQL Analytics Endpoint 
• Microsoft Fabric Mirrored Databases via SQL Analytics Endpoint 

Click here to learn more about how to get started. 

Data Science 

As you may know, Copilot in Microsoft Fabric requires your tenant administrator to enable the feature from the admin portal. Starting May 20th, 2024, Copilot in Microsoft Fabric will be enabled by default for all tenants. This update is part of our continuous efforts to enhance user experience and productivity within Microsoft Fabric. This new default activation means that AI features like Copilot will be automatically enabled for tenants who have not yet enabled the setting.  

We are introducing a new capability to enable Copilot on Capacity level in Fabric. A new option is being introduced in the tenant admin portal, to delegate the enablement of AI and Copilot features to Capacity administrators.  This AI and Copilot setting will be automatically delegated to capacity administrators and tenant administrators won’t be able to turn off the delegation.   

We also have a cross-geo setting for customers who want to use Copilot and AI features while their capacity is in a different geographic region than the EU data boundary or the US. By default, the cross-geo setting will stay off and will not be delegated to capacity administrators automatically.  Tenant administrators can choose whether to delegate this to capacity administrators or not. 

Figure 1.  Copilot in Microsoft Fabric will be auto enabled and auto delegated to capacity administrators. 

Capacity administrators will see the “Copilot and Azure OpenAI Service (preview)” settings under Capacity settings/ Fabric Capacity / <Capacity name> / Delegated tenant settings. By default, the capacity setting will inherit tenant level settings. Capacity administrators can decide whether to override the tenant administrator’s selection. This means that even if Copilot is not enabled on a tenant level, a capacity administrator can choose to enable Copilot for their capacity. With this level of control, we make it easier to control which Fabric workspaces can utilize AI features like Copilot in Microsoft Fabric. 

To enhance privacy and trust, we’ve updated our approach to abuse monitoring: previously, we retained data from Copilot in Fabric, including prompt inputs and outputs, for up to 30 days to check for misuse. Following customer feedback, we’ve eliminated this 30-day retention. Now, we no longer store prompt related data, demonstrating our unwavering commitment to your privacy and security. We value your input and take your concerns seriously. 

Real-Time Intelligence 

This month includes the announcement of Real-Time Intelligence, the next evolution of Real-Time Analytics and Data Activator. With Real-Time Intelligence, Fabric extends to the world of streaming and high granularity data, enabling all users in your organization to collect, analyze and act on this data in a timeline manner making faster and more informed business decisions. Read the full announcement from Build 2024. 

Real-Time Intelligence includes a wide range of capabilities across ingestion, processing, analysis, transformation, visualization and taking action. All of this is supported by the Real-Time hub , the central place to discover and manage streaming data and start all related tasks.  

Read on for more information on each capability and stay tuned for a series of blogs describing the features in more detail. All features are in Public Preview unless otherwise specified. Feedback on any of the features can be submitted at https://aka.ms/rtiidea    

Ingest & Process  

• Introducing the Real-Time hub 
• Get Events with new sources of streaming and event data 
• Source from Real-Time Hub in Enhanced Eventstream  
• Use Real-Time hub to Get Data in KQL Database in Eventhouse 
• Get data from Real-Time Hub within Reflexes 
• Eventstream Edit and Live modes 
• Default and derived streams 
• Route data streams based on content 

Analyze & Transform  

• Eventhouse GA 
• Eventhouse OneLake availability GA 
• Create a database shortcut to another KQL Database 
• Support for AI Anomaly Detector  
• Copilot for Real-Time Intelligence 
• Tenant-level private endpoints for Eventhouse 

Visualize & Act  

• Visualize data with Real-Time Dashboards  
• New experience for data explorati on  
• Create triggers from Real-Time Hub 
• Set alert on Real-time Dashboards 
• Taking action through Fabric Items 

Ingest & Process 

Real-Time hub is the single place for all data-in-motion across your entire organization. Several key features are offered in Real-Time hub: 

• Single place for data-in-motion for the entire organization  

Real-Time hub enables users to easily discover, ingest, manage, and consume data-in-motion from a wide variety of sources. It lists all the streams and KQL tables that customers can directly act on. 

2. Real-Time hub is never empty  

All data streams in Fabric automatically show up in the hub. Also, users can subscribe to events in Fabric gaining insights into the health and performance of their data ecosystem, 

3. Numerous connectors to simplify data ingestion from anywhere to Real-Time hub  

Real-Time hub makes it easy for you to ingest data into Fabric from a wide variety of sources like AWS Kinesis, Kafka clusters, Microsoft streaming sources, sample data and Fabric events using the Get Events experience.  

There are 3 tabs in the Hub:  

• Data streams : This tab contains all streams that are actively running in Fabric that user has access to. This includes all streams from Eventstreams and all tables from KQL Databases. 
• Microsoft sources : This tab contains Microsoft sources (that user has access to) and can be connected to Fabric. 
• Fabric events : Fabric now has event-driven capabilities to support real-time notifications and data processing. Users can monitor and react to events including Fabric Workspace Item events and Azure Blob Storage events. These events can be used to trigger other actions or workflows, such as invoking a data pipeline or sending a notification via email. Users can also send these events to other destinations via Event Streams. 

Learn More  

You can now connect to data from both inside and outside of Fabric in a mere few steps.  Whether data is coming from new or existing sources, streams, or available events, the Get Events experience allows users to connect to a wide range of sources directly from Real-Time hub, Eventstreams, Eventhouse and Data Activator.  

This enhanced capability allows you to easily connect external data streams into Fabric with out-of-box experience, giving you more options and helping you to get real-time insights from various sources. This includes Camel Kafka connectors powered by Kafka connect to access popular data platforms, as well as the Debezium connectors for fetching the Change Data Capture (CDC) streams. 

Using Get Events, bring streaming data from Microsoft sources directly into Fabric with a first-class experience.  Connectivity to notification sources and discrete events is also included, this enables access to notification events from Azure and other clouds solutions including AWS and GCP.  The full set of sources which are currently supported are: 

• Microsoft sources : Azure Event Hubs, Azure IoT hub 
• External sources : Google Cloud Pub/Sub, Amazon Kinesis Data Streams, Confluent Cloud Kafka 
• Change data capture databases : Azure SQL DB (CDC), PostgreSQL DB (CDC), Azure Cosmos DB (CDC), MySQL DB (CDC)  
• Fabric events : Fabric Workspace Item events, Azure Blob Storage events  

Learn More   

With enhanced Eventstream, you can now stream data not only from Microsoft sources but also from other platforms like Google Cloud, Amazon Kinesis, Database change data capture streams, etc. using our new messaging connectors. The new Eventstream also lets you acquire and route real-time data not only from stream sources but also from discrete event sources, such as: Azure Blob Storage events, Fabric Workspace Item events. 

To use these new sources in Eventstream, simply create an eventstream with choosing “Enhanced Capabilities (preview)”. 

You will see the new Eventstream homepage that gives you some choices to begin with. By clicking on the “Add external source”, you will find these sources in the Get events wizard that helps you to set up the source in a few steps. After you add the source to your eventstream, you can publish it to stream the data into your eventstream.  

Using Eventstream with discrete sources to turn events into streams for more analysis. You can send the streams to different Fabric data destinations, like Lakehouse and KQL Database. After the events are converted, a default stream will appear in Real-Time Hub. To turn them, click Edit on ribbon, select “Stream events” on the source node, and publish your eventstream. 

To transform the stream data or route it to different Fabric destinations based on its content, you can click Edit in ribbon and enter the Edit mode. There you can add event processing operators and destinations. 

With Real-Time hub embedded in KQL Database experience, each user in the tenant can view and add streams which they have access to and directly ingest it to a KQL Database table in Eventhouse.  

This integration provides each user in the tenant with the ability to access and view data streams they are permitted to. They can now directly ingest these streams into a KQL Database table in Eventhouse. This simplifies the data discovery and ingestion process by allowing users to directly interact with the streams. Users can filter data based on the Owner, Parent and Location and provides additional information such as Endorsement and Sensitivity. 

You can access this by clicking on the Get Data button from the Database ribbon in Eventhouse. 

This will open the Get Data wizard with Real-Time hub embedded. 

You can use events from Real-Time hub directly in reflex items as well. From within the main reflex UI, click ‘Get data’ in the toolbar: 

This will open a wizard that allows you to connect to new event sources or browse Real-Time Hub to use existing streams or system events. 

Search new stream sources to connect to or select existing streams and tables to be ingested directly by Reflex. 

You then have access to the full reflex modeling experience to build properties and triggers over any events from Real-Time hub.  

Eventstream offers two distinct modes, Edit and Live, to provide flexibility and control over the development process of your eventstream. If you create a new Eventstream with Enhanced Capabilities enabled, you can modify it in an Edit mode. Here, you can design stream processing operations for your data streams using a no-code editor. Once you complete the editing, you can publish your Eventstream and visualize how it starts streaming and processing data in Live mode .   

In Edit mode, you can:   

• Make changes to an Eventstream without implementing them until you publish the Eventstream. This gives you full control over the development process.  
• Avoid test data being streamed to your Eventstream. This mode is designed to provide a secure environment for testing without affecting your actual data streams. 

For Live mode, you can :  

• Visualize how your Eventstream streams, transforms, and routes your data streams to various destinations after publishing the changes.  
• Pause the flow of data on selected sources and destinations, providing you with more control over your data streams being streamed into your Eventstream.  

When you create a new Eventstream with Enhanced Capabilities enabled, you can now create and manage multiple data streams within Eventstream, which can then be displayed in the Real-Time hub for others to consume and perform further analysis.  

There are two types of streams:   

• Default stream : Automatically generated when a streaming source is added to Eventstream. Default stream captures raw event data directly from the source, ready for transformation or analysis.  
• Derived stream : A specialized stream that users can create as a destination within Eventstream. Derived stream can be created after a series of operations such as filtering and aggregating, and then it’s ready for further consumption or analysis by other users in the organization through the Real-Time Hub.  

The following example shows that when creating a new Eventstream a default stream alex-es1-stream is automatically generated. Subsequently, a derived stream dstream1 is added after an Aggregate operation within the Eventstream. Both default and derived streams can be found in the Real-Time hub.  

Customers can now perform stream operations directly within Eventstream’s Edit mode, instead of embedding in a destination. This enhancement allows you to design stream processing logics and route data streams in the top-level canvas. Custom processing and routing can be applied to individual destinations using built-in operations, allowing for routing to distinct destinations within the Eventstream based on different stream content. 

These operations include:  

• Aggregate : Perform calculations such as SUM, AVG, MIN, and MAX on a column of values and return a single result. 
• Expand : Expand array values and create new rows for each element within the array.  
• Filter : Select or filter specific rows from the data stream based on a condition. 
• Group by : Aggregate event data within a certain time window, with the option to group one or more columns.  
• Manage Fields : Customize your data streams by adding, removing, or changing data type of a column.  
• Union : Merge two or more data streams with shared fields (same name and data type) into a unified data stream.  

Analyze & Transform 

Eventhouse, a cutting-edge database workspace meticulously crafted to manage and store event-based data, is now officially available for general use. Optimized for high granularity, velocity, and low latency streaming data, it incorporates indexing and partitioning for structured, semi-structured, and free text data. With Eventhouse, users can perform high-performance analysis of big data and real-time data querying, processing billions of events within seconds. The platform allows users to organize data into compartments (databases) within one logical item, facilitating efficient data management.  

Additionally, Eventhouse enables the sharing of compute and cache resources across databases, maximizing resource utilization. It also supports high-performance queries across databases and allows users to apply common policies seamlessly. Eventhouse offers content-based routing to multiple databases, full view lineage, and high granularity permission control, ensuring data security and compliance. Moreover, it provides a simple migration path from Azure Synapse Data Explorer and Azure Data Explorer, making adoption seamless for existing users. 

Engineered to handle data in motion, Eventhouse seamlessly integrates indexing and partitioning into its storing process, accommodating various data formats. This sophisticated design empowers high-performance analysis with minimal latency, facilitating lightning-fast ingestion and querying within seconds. Eventhouse is purpose-built to deliver exceptional performance and efficiency for managing event-based data across diverse applications and industries. Its intuitive features and seamless integration with existing Azure services make it an ideal choice for organizations looking to leverage real-time analytics for actionable insights. Whether it’s analyzing telemetry and log data, time series and IoT data, or financial records, Eventhouse provides the tools and capabilities needed to unlock the full potential of event-based data. 

We’re excited to announce that OneLake availability of Eventhouse in Delta Lake format is Generally Available. 

Delta Lake  is the unified data lake table format chosen to achieve seamless data access across all compute engines in Microsoft Fabric. 

The data streamed into Eventhouse is stored in an optimized columnar storage format with full text indexing and supports complex analytical queries at low latency on structured, semi-structured, and free text data. 

Enabling data availability of Eventhouse in OneLake means that customers can enjoy the best of both worlds: they can query the data with high performance and low latency in their  Eventhouse and query the same data in Delta Lake format via any other Fabric engines such as Power BI Direct Lake mode, Warehouse, Lakehouse, Notebooks, and more. 

To learn more, please visit https://learn.microsoft.com/en-gb/fabric/real-time-analytics/one-logical-copy 

A database shortcut in Eventhouse is an embedded reference to a source database. The source database can be one of the following: 

• (Now Available) A KQL Database in Real-Time Intelligence  
• An Azure Data Explorer database  

The behavior exhibited by the database shortcut is similar to that of a follower database  

The owner of the source database, the data provider, shares the database with the creator of the shortcut in Real-Time Intelligence, the data consumer. The owner and the creator can be the same person. The database shortcut is attached in read-only mode, making it possible to view and run queries on the data that was ingested into the source KQL Database without ingesting it.  

This helps with data sharing scenarios where you can share data in-place either within teams, or even with external customers.  

AI Anomaly Detector is an Azure service for high quality detection of multivariate and univariate anomalies in time series. While the standalone version is being retired October 2026, Microsoft open sourced the anomaly detection core algorithms and they are now supported in Microsoft Fabric. Users can leverage these capabilities in Data Science and Real-Time Intelligence workload. AI Anomaly Detector models can be trained in Spark Python notebooks in Data Science workload, while real time scoring can be done by KQL with inline Python in Real-Time Intelligence. 

We are excited to announce the Public Preview of Copilot for Real-Time Intelligence. This initial version includes a new capability that translates your natural language questions about your data to KQL queries that you can run and get insights.  

Your starting point is a KQL Queryset, that is connected to a KQL Database, or to a standalone Kusto database:  

Simply type the natural language question about what you want to accomplish, and Copilot will automatically translate it to a KQL query you can execute. This is extremely powerful for users who may be less familiar with writing KQL queries but still want to get the most from their time-series data stored in Eventhouse. 

Stay tuned for more capabilities from Copilot for Real-Time Intelligence!   

Customers can increase their network security by limiting access to Eventhouse at a tenant-level, from one or more virtual networks (VNets) via private links. This will prevent unauthorized access from public networks and only permit data plane operations from specific VNets.  

Visualize & Act 

Real-Time Dashboards have a user-friendly interface, allowing users to quickly explore and analyze their data without the need for extensive technical knowledge. They offer a high refresh frequency, support a range of customization options, and are designed to handle big data.  

The following visual types are supported, and can be customized with the dashboard’s user-friendly interface: 

You can also define conditional formatting rules to format the visual data points by their values using colors, tags, and icons. Conditional formatting can be applied to a specific set of cells in a predetermined column or to entire rows, and lets you easily identify interesting data points. 

Beyond the support visual, Real-Time Dashboards provide several capabilities to allow you to interact with your data by performing slice and dice operations for deeper analysis and gaining different viewpoints. 

• Parameters are used as building blocks for dashboard filters and can be added to queries to filter the data presented by visuals. Parameters can be used to slice and dice dashboard visuals either directly by selecting parameter values in the filter bar or by using cross-filters. 
• Cross filters allow you to select a value in one visual and filter all other visuals on that dashboard based on the selected data point. 
• Drillthrough capability allows you to select a value in a visual and use it to filter the visuals in a target page in the same dashboard. When the target page opens, the value is pushed to the relevant filters.    

Real-Time Dashboards can be shared broadly and allow multiple stakeholders to view dynamic, real time, fresh data while easily interacting with it to gain desired insights. 

Directly from a real-time dashboard, users can refine their exploration using a user-friendly, form-like interface. This intuitive and dynamic experience is tailored for insights explorers craving insights based on real-time data. Add filters, create aggregations, and switch visualization types without writing queries to easily uncover insights.  

With this new feature, insights explorers are no longer bound by the limitations of pre-defined dashboards. As independent explorers, they have the freedom for ad-hoc exploration, leveraging existing tiles to kickstart their journey. Moreover, they can selectively remove query segments, and expand their view of the data landscape.  

Dive deep, extract meaningful insights, and chart actionable paths forward, all with ease and efficiency, and without having to write complex KQL queries.  

Data Activator allows you to monitor streams of data for various conditions and set up actions to be taken in response. These triggers are available directly within the Real-Time hub and in other workloads in Fabric. When the condition is detected, an action will automatically be kicked off such as sending alerts via email or Teams or starting jobs in Fabric items.  

When you browse the Real-Time Hub, you’ll see options to set triggers in the detail pages for streams. 

Selecting this will open a side panel where you can configure the events you want to monitor, the conditions you want to look for in the events, and the action you want to take while in the Real-Time hub experience. 

Completing this pane creates a new reflex item with a trigger that monitors the selected events and condition for you. Reflexes need to be created in a workspace supported by a Fabric or Power BI Premium capacity – this can be a trial capacity so you can get started with it today! 

Data Activator has been able to monitor Power BI report data since it was launched, and we now support monitoring of Real-Time Dashboard visuals in the same way.

From real-time dashboard tiles you can click the ellipsis (…) button and select “Set alert”

This opens the embedded trigger pane, where you can specify what conditions, you are looking for. You can choose whether to send email or Teams messages as the alert when these conditions are met.

When creating a new reflex trigger, from Real-time Hub or within the reflex item itself, you’ll notice a new ‘Run a Fabric item’ option in the Action section. This will create a trigger that starts a new Fabric job whenever its condition is met, kicking off a pipeline or notebook computation in response to Fabric events. A common scenario would be monitoring Azure Blob storage events via Real-Time Hub, and running data pipeline jobs when Blog Created events are detected. 

This capability is extremely powerful and moves Fabric from a scheduled driven platform to an event driven platform.  

Pipelines, spark jobs, and notebooks are just the first Fabric items we’ll support here, and we’re keen to hear your feedback to help prioritize what else we support. Please leave ideas and votes on https://aka.ms/rtiidea and let us know! 

Real-Time Intelligence, along with the Real-Time hub, revolutionizes what’s possible with real-time streaming and event data within Microsoft Fabric.  

Learn more and try it today https://aka.ms/realtimeintelligence   

Data Factory 

Dataflow gen2 .

We are thrilled to announce that the Power Query SDK is now generally available in Visual Studio Code! This marks a significant milestone in our commitment to providing developers with powerful tools to enhance data connectivity and transformation. 

The Power Query SDK is a set of tools that allow you as the developer to create new connectors for Power Query experiences available in products such as Power BI Desktop, Semantic Models, Power BI Datamarts, Power BI Dataflows, Fabric Dataflow Gen2 and more. 

This new SDK has been in public preview since November of 2022, and we’ve been hard at work improving this experience which goes beyond what the previous Power Query SDK in Visual Studio had to offer.  

The latest of these biggest improvements was the introduction of the Test Framework in March of 2024 that solidifies the developer experience that you can have within Visual Studio Code and the Power Query SDK for creating a Power Query connector. 

The Power Query SDK extension for Visual Studio will be deprecated by June 30, 2024, so we encourage you to give this new Power Query SDK in Visual Studio Code today if you haven’t.  

To get started with the Power Query SDK in Visual Studio Code, simply install it from the Visual Studio Code Marketplace . Our comprehensive documentation and tutorials are available to help you harness the full potential of your data. 

Join our vibrant community of developers to share insights, ask questions, and collaborate on exciting projects. Our dedicated support team is always ready to assist you with any queries. 

We look forward to seeing the innovative solutions you’ll create with the Power Query SDK in Visual Studio Code. Happy coding! 

Introducing a convenient enhancement to the Dataflows Gen2 Refresh History experience! Now, alongside the familiar “X” button in the Refresh History screen, you’ll find a shiny new Refresh Button . This small but mighty addition empowers users to refresh the status of their dataflow refresh history status without the hassle of exiting the refresh history and reopening it. Simply click the Refresh Button , and voilà! Your dataflow’s refresh history status screen is updated, keeping you in the loop with minimal effort. Say goodbye to unnecessary clicks and hello to streamlined monitoring! 

• [New] OneStream : The OneStream Power Query Connector enables you to seamlessly connect Data Factory to your OneStream applications by simply logging in with your OneStream credentials. The connector uses your OneStream security, allowing you to access only the data you have based on your permissions within the OneStream application. Use the connector to pull cube and relational data along with metadata members, including all their properties. Visit OneStream Power BI Connector to learn more. Find this connector in the other category. 

Data workflows  

We are excited to announce the preview of ‘Data workflows’, a new feature within the Data Factory that revolutionizes the way you build and manage your code-based data pipelines. Powered by Apache Airflow, Data workflows offer seamless authoring, scheduling, and monitoring experience for Python-based data processes defined as Directed Acyclic Graphs (DAGs). This feature brings a SaaS-like experience to running DAGs in a fully managed Apache Airflow environment, with support for autoscaling , auto-pause , and rapid cluster resumption to enhance cost-efficiency and performance.  

It also includes native cloud-based authoring capabilities and comprehensive support for Apache Airflow plugins and libraries. 

To begin using this feature: 

• Access the Microsoft Fabric Admin Portal. 
• Navigate to Tenant Settings. 

Under Microsoft Fabric options, locate and expand the ‘Users can create and use Data workflows (preview)’ section. Note: This action is necessary only during the preview phase of Data workflows. 

2. Create a new Data workflow within an existing or new workspace. 

3. Add a new Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) file via the user interface. 

4.  Save your DAG(s). 

5. Use Apache Airflow monitoring tools to observe your DAG executions. In the ribbon, click on Monitor in Apache Airflow. 

For additional information, please consult the product documentation .   If you’re not already using Fabric capacity, consider signing up for the Microsoft Fabric free trial to evaluate this feature. 

Data Pipelines 

We are excited to announce a new feature in Fabric that enables you to create data pipelines to access your firewall-enabled Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 (ADLS Gen2) accounts. This feature leverages the workspace identity to establish a secure and seamless connection between Fabric and your storage accounts. 

With trusted workspace access, you can create data pipelines to your storage accounts with just a few clicks. Then you can copy data into Fabric Lakehouse and start analyzing your data with Spark, SQL, and Power BI. Trusted workspace access is available for workspaces in Fabric capacities (F64 or higher). It supports organizational accounts or service principal authentication for storage accounts. 

How to use trusted workspace access in data pipelines  

Create a workspace identity for your Fabric workspace. You can follow the guidelines provided in Workspace identity in Fabric . 

Configure resource instance rules for the Storage account that you want to access from your Fabric workspace. Resource instance rules for Fabric workspaces can only be created through ARM templates. Follow the guidelines for configuring resource instance rules for Fabric workspaces here . 

Create a data pipeline to copy data from the firewall enabled ADLS gen2 account to a Fabric Lakehouse. 

To learn more about how to use trusted workspace access in data pipelines, please refer to Trusted workspace access in Fabric . 

We hope you enjoy this new feature for your data integration and analytics scenarios. Please share your feedback and suggestions with us by leaving a comment here. 

Introducing Blob Storage Event Triggers for Data Pipelines 

A very common use case among data pipeline users in a cloud analytics solution is to trigger your pipeline when a file arrives or is deleted. We have introduced Azure Blob storage event triggers as a public preview feature in Fabric Data Factory Data Pipelines. This utilizes the Fabric Reflex alerts capability that also leverages Event Streams in Fabric to create event subscriptions to your Azure storage accounts. 

Parent/Child pipeline pattern monitoring improvements

Today, in Fabric Data Factory Data Pipelines, when you call another pipeline using the Invoke Pipeline activity, the child pipeline is not visible in the monitoring view. We have made updates to the Invoke Pipeline activity so that you can view your child pipeline runs. This requires an upgrade to any pipelines that you have in Fabric that already use the current Invoke Pipeline activity. You will be prompted to upgrade when you edit your pipeline and then provide a connection to your workspace to authenticate. Another additional new feature that will light up with this invoke pipeline activity update is the ability to invoke pipeline across workspaces in Fabric. 

We are excited to announce the availability of the Fabric Spark job definition activity for data pipelines. With this new activity, you will be able to run a Fabric Spark Job definition directly in your pipeline. Detailed monitoring capabilities of your Spark Job definition will be coming soon!  

To learn more about this activity, read https://aka.ms/SparkJobDefinitionActivity  

We are excited to announce the availability of the Azure HDInsight activity for data pipelines. The Azure HDInsight activity allows you to execute Hive queries, invoke a MapReduce program, execute Pig queries, execute a Spark program, or a Hadoop Stream program. Invoking either of the 5 activities can be done in a singular Azure HDInsight activity, and you can invoke this activity using your own or on-demand HDInsight cluster. 

To learn more about this activity, read https://aka.ms/HDInsightsActivity  

We are thrilled to share the new Modern Get Data experience in Data Pipeline to empower users intuitively and efficiently discover the right data, right connection info and credentials.   

In the data destination, users can easily set destination by creating a new Fabric item or creating another destination or selecting existing Fabric item from OneLake data hub. 

In the source tab of Copy activity, users can conveniently choose recent used connections from drop down or create a new connection using “More” option to interact with Modern Get Data experience. 

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