Create Progress Bars in PowerPoint

Progress bars are a valuable tool for visually representing the progress and status of projects or presentations. In PowerPoint, they offer an effective way to convey complex information at a glance and guide the audience’s attention.

What is a Progress Bar?

A progress bar is a graphical representation that visualizes the progress or status of a specific process or task. Typically, a progress bar consists of a horizontal line or bar that fills or empties based on the progress.

The bar represents the overall progress, while the filled or empty area represents the completed or pending portion. Progress bars are useful tools for simplifying complex information and providing clear guidance to the audience.

Why Include a Progress Bar in Your Presentation?

Progress bars in PowerPoint are commonly used in many presentations. They are an effective visual aid for illustrating the progress or status of a process, presentation, or project. They allow your audience to quickly understand how far the process has advanced and how much is left to be done.

In PowerPoint, progress bars provide clear orientation to the audience and enhance communication effectiveness. This facilitates understanding and improves the clarity of the presented information.

Additionally, progress bars help structure the flow of a presentation and provide the audience with a sense of the completed and pending parts. This promotes audience attention and engagement. Furthermore, progress bars add a professional and visually appealing touch to the presentation, enhancing the overall visual impact and impressing the audience.

How to Create a Progress Bar in PowerPoint

There are two options to display a progress bar in PowerPoint. You can either create a progress bar manually within PowerPoint or use code input to display a progress indicator on your slides. We’ll explain how both options work.

Option 1: Manually Create a Progress Bar in PowerPoint

Follow these quick and easy steps to create a progress bar directly in PowerPoint without any additional software:

Step 1: Insert a Rectangle

Open your PowerPoint presentation and go to the “Insert” tab. Select the “Shapes” option, where you’ll find a variety of shapes. The rectangle is the best choice for a classic progress bar, and we recommend using a rectangle with rounded corners. Click on the rectangle tool and drag it to the desired size and position on the slide.

Step 2: Customize the Rectangle for the Progress Bar

To transform the rectangle into a progress bar, customize it by clicking on the rectangle to display the formatting options. Modify the colors of the bar by selecting a fill color that matches your presentation design. You can also adjust the thickness of the bar to achieve the desired visual effect. Experiment with different colors and thicknesses to create the optimal progress bar for your presentation.

If you have chosen the option of a rounded rectangle, rotate it 90° counterclockwise or use the ALT + ← key combination.

Next, you can copy the shape multiple times as needed. Use Ctrl + C to copy and Ctrl + V to paste, moving the copies to the correct positions. PowerPoint’s smart guides will help you align them precisely, or you can use the shortcut Ctrl + D to duplicate the shape.

Rotate the last shape 180° to create an endpoint.

Then, select all the middle shapes and go to the “Drawing Tools/Format” tab, click on “Edit Shape”, then “Change Shape”, and choose Rectangle.

Finally, copy the progress bar to the appropriate slides and customize the colors as needed.

Step 3: Adding Animations and Effects

To animate the progress bar and represent the progress, select the progress bar and go to the “Animations” tab. Here, you’ll find various animation effects. A popular effect for progress bars is the “Wipe” effect, where the bar animates from left to right or vice versa. Choose your desired effect and adjust the duration and delay to customize it.

Step 4: Customizing the Progress Bar to Fit the Content

Adjust the length and position of the progress bar according to the information you want to convey. If the progress bar represents the progress of a specific process or task, change the length based on the percentage of completion. Add text or numbers to indicate the progress more precisely, making the bar informative and easy to understand.

Option 2: Inserting a Progress Indicator Using Code

This option is for advanced PowerPoint users and requires some patience. If you prefer not to create a progress bar manually, you can insert a progress indicator using code.

1. Start your presentation in PowerPoint and go to the “View” tab.
2. Click on “Macros” and enter a name for the macro, such as “ProgressBar”.
3. Click on “Create.”
4. An editor will open. In the text box, you will see “Sub ProgressBar()” and “End Sub.”
5. Between these two lines, enter the following code:
   On Error Resume Next With ActivePresentation
   For X = 1 To .Slides.Count
   .Slides(X).Shapes(“PB”).Delete
   Set s = .Slides(X).Shapes.AddShape(msoShapeRectangle, _
   0, .PageSetup.SlideHeight - 8, _
   X * .PageSetup.SlideWidth / .Slides.Count, 8)
   s.Fill.ForeColor.RGB = RGB(150, 150, 40)
   s.Name = “PB”
   Next X:
   End With
6. If you want to change the color of the progress bar, modify the RGB color code according to your preferences.
7. Finally, select “File” and “Close and Return to Microsoft PowerPoint.”

To display the progress indicator, go back to the “View” tab and click on “Macros” again. Select the created macro and click on “Run.”

To ensure that the changes are visible the next time you open the presentation, save the file as .pptm, which stands for “PowerPoint with Macros.”

For a more detailed guide with images, you can refer to this link.

Making Progress Bars Visually Appealing

To make your progress bars stand out in presentations, here are some attractive customization tips:

• Using Gradients and Effects: Instead of a solid color, incorporate gradients to add depth and dimension. You can also apply effects such as shadows or glows for added visual interest.

• Incorporating Symbols and Icons: Consider adding symbols and icons to your progress bars. For instance, use a checkmark to indicate completed steps or a question mark for pending tasks.

PresentationLoad offers a wide range of professionally designed icons that you can explore in our shop.

• Using Images or Textures: Enhance the background of your progress bars with images or textures that align with your presentation theme. Ensure the background is not too overpowering, allowing the progress bars to stand out.

• Adapting the Progress Indicator to Different Themes: Customize the visual appearance of your progress bars to match your content. For a nature presentation, consider a growing tree shape; for technology, use an animated loading bar.

By tailoring the progress indicator to your presentation theme, you enhance its impact and deliver your message more effectively.

Considerations When Incorporating Progress Bars

• Subtle Design for Professionalism: Avoid exaggerated animations or flashy effects that can distract from your content. A minimalist approach often works best, integrating progress bars harmoniously into your slides.

• Align the Progress Bar with Content and Audience: Before incorporating a progress bar, evaluate how it aligns with your message and audience expectations. A clear, meaningful progress bar improves communication and audience engagement.

Conclusion

Test one of the methods described above to visualize project or presentation progress in your next presentation. You’ll find it quicker than you might think!