How To Create Digital Menu Boards

with PowerPointBy PresentationPoint.com

What is a Digital Menu Board?

• Menu displayed on computer monitors or TV screens

• Commonly used in coffee shops and restaurants

• Pictures and prices of menu items

• Easy to update

• Can be connected to databases to automatically update across all your locations

What Will You Learn

• Exact steps used to create a menu board like the one below

• How to add pictures, pricing and videos

• How to connect to a central database

Step 1: Create a New Slideshow1. Open Powerpoint and create a new blank presentation

2. Create a new slide

3. Right click anywhere on the slide, choose [layout] and then [blank slide]

Color the Background:

1. In the top menu, select the DESIGN tab.

2. Click the Format Background icon.

3. Select Solid Fill or Gradient fill.

4. Open the Color submenu and choose a color.

5. If you’re using Gradient fill, you will have to choose a color for each of the Gradient stops. Click a stop to select it.

Add Menu Boxes:

Next, place boxes:1. In the top menu, select the INSERT tab.2. Click the Shapes icon, choose a rectangle shape.3. Click and drag to place a rectangle.4. Place as many rectangles as you need.

Turn on the grid (Hold shift, press F9).

Snap objects to grid:1. From top menu, click on View, then in the

Gridlines box, click on the small object at the right side of the box

2. Put a check beside Snap objects to grid.3. Click OK.

How to make a rectangle transparent:1. Right click a rectangle then click Format Shape.2. In the right menu, look under the SHAPE OPTIONS

tab, drag the Transparency slider to 100%.

Color the Boxes:

How to change rectangle colors:1. Right click a rectangle, click Format/2. Choose the colour you want.

How to insert an image:1. In the top menu, select the INSERT tab,

click the Pictures icon.2. Find your picture, click Insert.

How to copy an image:While holding CTRL, click and drag your image.

Add Images:

Special of the WeekProduct Name

PlaceholderProduct Name1 2

$4.99 $5.99

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet,

consectetur adipisicing elit

Add Text:

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet,

consectetur adipisicing elit

$7.99

Menu NameProduct This could be a menu description 4

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed

do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit

Special Burger WeekLorem ipsum

dolor sit amet, consectetur

adipisicing

How to add a text box:1. In the top menu, select the INSERT tab.2. Click the Text Box icon.3. Click and drag to place a text box.4. Place as many text boxes as needed.

How to change text size and color:1. Select your text, right click on the selection.2. Use the Font Size and Font Color icons.

Special of the WeekProduct Name

PlaceholderProduct Name1 2

$4.99 $5.99

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet,

consectetur adipisicing elit

Add Video:

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet,

consectetur adipisicing elit

$7.99

Menu NameProduct This could be a menu description 4

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed

do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit

Special Burger WeekLorem ipsum

dolor sit amet, consectetur

adipisicing

How to add a video:1. In the top menu, select the INSERT tab.2. Click the Video icon. Choose Online Video or

Video on My PC.3. Hold click the video and drag it to where you’d

like to place it.Add your video here

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit

Menu Name

Connecting to a Data Source

Connecting to a data source lets you edit a data file to change all the menu items to all your locations via the Internet

You will need the DataPoint™ PowerPoint plugin to connect your menu board to a database. You can download this plugin at PresentationPoint.com.

Another useful plugin for multiple locations is iPoint ™ – also from PresentationPoint.com

Create a Data Source

Create the data source. Your data source can be held in :

• Excel Spreadsheet• Microsoft Access database• XML file• RSS feed• Oracle• MySQL

Example Data Source – Excel Spreadsheet

To Add a Data Connection

Click on DataPoint, then List icon

Next Add Connection

1. Choose the type of connection(Excel in this case)

2. Click on Add Connection

3. Browse to the data file you created and click OK

Next: Add Query1. Click on Add Query – now it will

show the data within the spreadsheet

2. Tick the box if the first row contains field names

3. Set how often you want the data to refresh on the menu board

Review Data Preview

Your data from your spreadsheetshould show now. Click OK

Connecting a Text Box to Data

1. Click on the text box you want to connect

2. Click on DataPoint, then Text Box

Choose DataFor Text Box1. Choose the Column

and row

2. Preview will showwhat will be added

3. Click OK.

Single Burger Double Burger1 2

$3.99 $4.99

1/4 lb. All Beef Patty, Fresh

Toppings

Connect Imagesto Data Source

1/2 lb. All Beef Patties, Fresh

Toppings

Special Burger Week

With iPoint™, restaurant companies with multiple locations can update a central file on their head office computer and all their locations will update within minutes.

You can even set up custom local menus with regional favourites.

Chicken Burger3

$3.99

Grilled Chicken Breast, Fresh

Toppings

Single Burger Combo4

$7.99

Single Burger with Fries and

Fountain Drink

With DataPoint™, now you can change your data source with text, pricing and images and it will all automatically update on the menu board

For More Menu BoardHelp and Tips

Visit PresentationPoint.comWe are proud that our plugins are used by

these fine companies and many others