Step-by-step instructions for creating a timer bar in PowerPoint.

1. How to Create a Timer Bar in
PowerPoint
Karl M. Kapp
Professor of Instructional Technology

2. Timer: Use
“Animations”
Use “Wipe”
Timer

3. Create two rectangles.
One of the rectangles
you want to have “No
Fill.”

5. Select the other
rectangle and click
on it. Then pull
down the menu
and select “Format
Shape.”

6. Select “Gradient
Fill.” You can then
choose a Pre-set
color. And the
direction.

7. The direction that
seems to work well
is light to dark.

8. Then move the two
rectangles so the shaded
rectangle is within the
original “No Fill” rectangle.

9. Then select the “Animation”
tab. Then select “Add
Animation”
Then Select “More Entrance
Effects…”

10. Then select
the
animation
“Wipe.”

11. Open the “Animation
Pane” and select “Effect”
Choose “From Left”

12. Next, choose “Timing” Change
the “Duration” to the number
of desired seconds. You will
type right over the existing
words.
We chose 30 seconds you
can choose the number of
seconds you’d like to
count down.

13. Now we want to “Trigger” the
timer by clicking on an item
labeled “Timer” to start our
countdown.

14. Timer
Create a shape with
the word “Timer.”

15. Timer
Click on the “Gradient Rectangle” you want
to animate. It needs to be highlighted with
the dots (indicating it was selected)

16. With the “Gradient Rectangle” still
highlighted go to the “Animation” tab.
Click on “Trigger” Choose “On Click
of.” From the pull down menu select
the name of the shape you used for
the Timer (usually it will be the last
shape you added.)

17. The timer should now work
when you click on the
“Timer Button” activated by
the trigger you created.
Timer

18. References
• YouTube Video
– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4t9NrEbmFmI
– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDeRcfhsR2U
– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuB4YrxWvLQ