This document provides steps for creating a digital menu board using PowerPoint. It explains how to: 1. Create a new PowerPoint presentation with a blank slide and color the background. Add transparent boxes to hold menu items using shapes. 2. Insert images of menu items and text boxes for descriptions and pricing. Videos can also be embedded. 3. Connect the presentation to an Excel spreadsheet or other data source using plugins, allowing the menu board to automatically update across locations when the underlying data is changed. 4. Individual text boxes, images and other elements can be linked to columns in the data source so all content is dynamically populated. This provides an easy way to remotely manage menu content and pricing.

1. How To Create
Digital Menu Boards
with PowerPoint
By PresentationPoint.com

2. 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

3. 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

4. Step 1: Create a New Slideshow
1. 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]

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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:

9. Special of the Week
Product Name
Placeholder
Product 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 Name
Product This could be a menu description4
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 Week Lorem 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.

10. Special of the Week
Product Name
Placeholder
Product 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 Name
Product This could be a menu description4
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 Week Lorem 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. Example Data Source – Excel Spreadsheet

14. To Add a Data Connection
Click on DataPoint, then List icon

15. 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

16. Next: Add Query
1. 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

17. Review Data Preview
Your data from your spreadsheet
should show now. Click OK

18. Connecting a Text Box to Data
1. Click on the text box you
want to connect
2. Click on DataPoint, then
Text Box

19. Choose Data
For Text Box
1. Choose the Column
and row
2. Preview will show
what will be added
3. Click OK.

21. Single Burger Double Burger
1 2
$3.99 $4.99
1/4 lb. All Beef
Patty, Fresh
Toppings
Connect Images
to 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 Burger
3
$3.99
Grilled Chicken
Breast, Fresh
Toppings
Single Burger Combo
4
$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

22. For More Menu Board
Help and Tips
Visit PresentationPoint.com
We are proud that our plugins are used by
these fine companies and many others