BBP ToolBox FAQ [jump to Free Edition FAQ]
General questions
Why did you discontinue BBP ToolBox?
What are the BBP ToolBox bonus Templates?
What is the Beyond Bullet Points (BBP) methodology?
Software questions
What are the requirements to use BBP ToolBox?
What are the requirements to install BBP ToolBox?
Does BBP ToolBox work with Office:Mac?
Does BBP ToolBox work with Open Office?
Which Microsoft Office versions does BBP ToolBox work with?
Do all products you propose have installers that get installed into Microsoft Office?
Are there full instructions on how to use your products provided with them?
Bonus Templates questions
Can I use the BBP ToolBox bonus Templates for commercial purpose?
Can I adapt the BBP ToolBox bonus Templates to suit my needs?
Can I distribute the BBP ToolBox bonus Templates to someone else?
How can I set a template as the default template to use?
Can I combine photo and icon/chart optimized templates within the same presentation?
Purchase questions
What happens if I'm not satisfied?
I own an European business, can I be charged excluding VAT?
Usage issues
How can I access the BBP ToolBox User Guide or the Bonus Templates Usage Guide?
Installation issues
After downloading BBP ToolBox, the ZIP file is corrupted or cannot be opened. What can I do?
After installing BBP ToolBox, the Free Edition menu disappeared from Microsoft Word. What can I do?
My question is not mentioned here, what can I do?
Why did you discontinue BBP ToolBox?[top]
Over the past years (as of 2017,) we've seen a huge decline in the interest of the tool.
Is this linked to the decline of the (still fantastic) Beyond Bullet Points method, the multiplication of books about slide design and public speaking, or something else? We don't know.
But because of this, it became difficult to keep up the pace to update the tool for newer Microsoft Office versions.
Since the creation of the tool, it has been a wonderful experience delighting guests and helping the Beyond Bullet Points method to spread.
To thank our loyal customers and to try to continue, even just a bit, to spread the good words, we've decided to give away the latest versions of the tool for free.
What is BBP ToolBox? [top]
BBP ToolBox is a Microsoft PowerPoint Add-In that allows you to stay focused on your presentation when you're designing it following the BBP method.
BBP ToolBox automates such tasks as:
- Importing and formatting a story template into Microsoft PowerPoint,
- Switching from slide masters for sketching activities to slide masters for live presenting,
- Tailoring your presentation to the available time you have (5 minutes, 15 minutes or 45 minutes)
BBP ToolBox takes care of the BBP process by proposing you next actions you can perform after using BBP ToolBox.
You can watch BBP ToolBox in action and learn more about its features here.
How does BBP ToolBox work? [top]
BBP ToolBox is a easy-to-use set of tools that are fully integrated within Microsoft PowerPoint.
You can perform each action of BBP ToolBox simply by clicking on a button. BBP ToolBox will do the rest. If BBP ToolBox encounters a problem, it will propose you actions to automatically resolve it; you will only have to choose one option to continue.
You can see how it is easy to use BBP ToolBox by watching these videos.
What are the BBP ToolBox bonus Templates? [top]
We know it is hard to find presentation templates that comply with BBP principles. We also know it is tough to create such templates from scratch.
That's why we wanted to offer you 20 (twenty) BBP-compliant templates to give you the choice when designing your presentations.
You can see all these templates in action here.
What is the Beyond Bullet Points (BBP) methodology? [top]
The Beyond Bullet Points (BBP) methodology is an innovative way to efficently build a presentation (not just make pretty slides).
Following this method allows you to build presentations that inspire, inform and motivate.
You can learn more about the BBP methodology here.
Beyond Bullet Points is copyrighted to Cliff Atkinson.
What are the requirements to use BBP ToolBox? [top]
BBP ToolBox is a Microsoft PowerPoint Add-In. So basically, if you can run Microsoft PowerPoint in good conditions, you can run BBP ToolBox too!
BBP ToolBox works only with Microsoft PowerPoint 2003, Microsoft PowerPoint 2007 and Microsoft PowerPoint 2010.
You will also need to have Microsoft Word (the same version as Microsoft PowerPoint) and the Microsoft .NET Framework (at least the version 2) installed on your computer. Note that the .NET Framework can be installed through the Microsoft Windows Update program.
If you're using Microsoft Word 2010 and Microsoft PowerPoint 2010, you need to have installed the .Net Programmability Support feature for both programs. (These are installed by default for Microsoft Office 2010, so if you didn't customized Office 2010 installation, you should be OK.)
BBP ToolBox has been successfully tested with 2003, 2007 and 2010 versions of Microsoft PowerPoint and Microsoft Word on each of the following platforms:
- Microsoft Windows XP,
- Microsoft Windows XP SP1,
- Microsoft Windows XP SP2,
- Microsoft Windows XP SP3,
- Microsoft Windows Vista,
- Microsoft Windows Vista SP1 and
- Microsoft Windows 7.
We suppose BBP ToolBox works on other Microsoft Windows platforms but, as we have run no other tests, we cannot guarantee it to you.
If you've successfully tried BBP ToolBox on other platforms, please tell us and we will update the list above.
What are the requirements to install BBP ToolBox? [top]
You need administrative rights to install BBP ToolBox on your computer.
You will need such rights only when installating or un-installing BBP ToolBox. To use BBP ToolBox, you will need user rights (which are the basis privileges).
You also need the Microsoft .NET Framework (at least the version 2) to be installed on your computer. If you do not have it installed, you can install it through the Microsoft Windows Update program.
If you're using Microsoft Word 2010 and Microsoft PowerPoint 2010, you need to have installed the .Net Programmability Support feature for both programs. (These are installed by default for Microsoft Office 2010, so if you didn't customized Office 2010 installation, you should be OK.)
Does BBP ToolBox work with office:mac? [top]
Unfortunately, technologies used to build BBP ToolBox (and most of Microsoft Office Add-Ins by the way) work only on Microsoft Windows platforms.
BBP ToolBox then, works only on Microsoft Windows platforms.
You can tell us how much you want an office:mac version of BBP ToolBox, however! If there are many people requesting such a version, we probably make it real!
You can ask us for an office:mac version by filling in the form located here.
Does BBP ToolBox work with Open Office? [top]
Unfortunately, technologies used to build BBP ToolBox (and most of Microsoft Office Add-Ins by the way) work only with Microsoft Office softwares.
BBP ToolBox then, works only with Microsoft Office softwares, that are Microsoft PowerPoint and Microsoft Word.
You can tell us how much you want an Open Office version of BBP ToolBox, however! If there are many people requesting such a version, we probably make it real!
You can ask us for an Open Office version by filling in the form located here.
Which Microsoft Office versions does BBP ToolBox work with? [top]
BBP ToolBox has successfully been tested with 2003, 2007 and 2010 versions of Microsoft PowerPoint and Microsoft Word.
With Office 2003, you can access BBP ToolBox through a dedicated toolbar. With Office 2007 and Office 2010, you will see a ribbon tab dedicated to BBP ToolBox (as you can see in the videos located here).
If you have several versions of Microsoft PowerPoint installed on the same computer, you will have to choose exactly one BBP ToolBox version. Here are some information to help you in that choice:
- BBP ToolBox for Office 2003 version will work in Microsoft PowerPoint 2007 and 2010 (thanks to backward compatibility system),
- If BBP ToolBox for Office 2003 is used in Microsoft PowerPoint 2007 or 2010, specific features of Microsoft PowerPoint 2007 or 2010 will be unavailable to BBP ToolBox; some examples of such features are:
- Slide masters' custom layouts,
- Color themes,
- Microsoft Word 2007 and 2010 documents format (docx extension)
We suppose BBP ToolBox works with other Microsoft Office versions but, as we have run no other tests, we cannot guarantee it to you.
If you've successfully tried BBP ToolBox with other versions, please tell us and we will update the list above.
Do all products you propose have installers that get installed into Microsoft Office? [top]
All our products (BBP ToolBox, BBP ToolBox Free Edition, BBP ToolBox Templates) are provided with specific installers:
- Installer for BBP ToolBox installs the tool and automatically configure Microsoft PowerPoint to work with BBP ToolBox,
- Installer for BBP ToolBox Templates installs the templates in the Microsoft PowerPoint default templates directory (so that BBP ToolBox Templates are available from the New / My Templates menu in Microsoft PowerPoint),
- Installer for BBP ToolBox Free Edition installs the tool and automatically configure Microsoft Word to work with BBP ToolBox Free Edition.
All of these installers are friendly and easy to use.
Are there full instructions on how to use your products provided with them? [top]
Our BBP ToolBox and BBP ToolBox Templates products are both provided with specific usage instructions:
- BBP ToolBox User Guide describes:
- What is BBP ToolBox,
- How to configure BBP ToolBox with your presentation templates,
- How to import a BBP Story with BBP toolBox,
- How to automatically switch from sketch to final designs,
- How to automatically scale your presentation,
- How to resolve BBP ToolBox errors and issues,
- BBP ToolBox Templates Usage Guide describes
- How BBP ToolBox Templates are designed,
- How to configure BBP ToolBox templates with BBP ToolBox.
You can access both guides from the Windows Start Menu.
Our BBP ToolBox Free Edition product usage guide is located here. You can also access this usage guide by clicking on the "Help" button from the BBP ToolBox Free Edition menu in Microsoft Word.
You can also use the demo videos located here (for BBP ToolBox) and here (for BBP ToolBox Free Edition) as guides.
Can I use the BBP ToolBox bonus Templates for commercial purpose? [top]
Yes, you can.
Please read the usage rights that come with the Templates for further details. The usage rights are displayed at installation time and you can review them in the Templates Usage Guide (in Appendix section).
Can I adapt the BBP ToolBox bonus Templates to suit my needs? [top]
Yes, you can.
Please read the usage rights that come with the Templates for further details. The usage rights are displayed at installation time and you can review them in the Templates Usage Guide (in Appendix section).
Can I distribute the BBP ToolBox bonus Templates to someone else? [top]
No, you cannot.
You can distribute any document produced with the templates (such as your presentations or hand outs) but you are forbidden to distribute the Templates to someone else.
To use the BBP ToolBox Templates, you have to get a license.
Please read the usage rights that come with the Templates for further details. The usage rights are displayed at installation time and you can review them in the Templates Usage Guide (in Appendix section).
How can I set a template as the default template to use? [top]
You can set any presentation template as your default presentation template.
All you have to do is to rename such a template with the name "blank" and save it in the Microsoft PowerPoint default directory.
You can find more information about this procedure from the Microsoft PowerPoint help (search with "default template" keywords).
Can I combine photo and icon/chart optimized templates within the same presentation? [top]
Slide masters within a specific BBP ToolBox Template are all optimized the same way: all are optimized for photos or all are optimized for icons/charts.
If you want to combine slide masters optimized for photos with slide masters optimized for icons/charts in the same presentation, you will have to do it by hand (by copying slide masters from one presentation to another for instance).
This separation of slide masters has been chosen regarding an advice from Cliff Atkinson; He recommends to keep slide masters consistent within a presentation in order to avoid to perturb the audience. By seeing the same slide master again and again, the audience will get the level of importance without thinking about it.
Do you offer a guarantee? [top]
Yes, we do.
After buying BBP ToolBox, you automatically benefit from our 110% guarantee.
Basically, you will have 30 days to ask for a 100% refund. If you do, we will only ask you for a reason of your request (in order to improve ourselves).
You will have to completely uninstall BBP ToolBox and to remove the BBP ToolBox installer.
You will be able to keep the bonus Templates, however! These are the 10% extra we want to give you as a compensation.
Please review our refund policy to learn more about the guarantee we provide you.
What happen if I'm not satisfied? [top]
If you are not satisfied with BBP ToolBox, you will be able to request us for a 100% refund.
You will have to remove BBP ToolBox from your computer but you will be able to keep the bonus Templates as a compensation.
Please review our refund policy to learn more about the 110% guarantee we provide you.
I own an European business, can I be charged excluding VAT? [top]
We understand you prefer not to pay Belgium VAT on BBP ToolBox. We understand you do not want to claim back VAT from Belgium either.
But at this moment, BBP ToolBox is only sold to individuals (as you may have noticed, no VAT id can be entered through the payment process).
However, due to a specific Belgian law, the actual VAT rate used when selling BBP ToolBox is 0%. If you click on the PayPal "Buy Now" button and display payment details, you will see no VAT will be charged to the buyer.
How can I access the BBP ToolBox User Guide or the Bonus Templates Usage Guide? [top]
You can access both BBP ToolBox User Guide and BBP ToolBox Templates Usage Guide from the Windows Start Menu.
If your version of BBP ToolBox is v2.07 or above, you can also access the BBP ToolBox User Guide from Microsoft PowerPoint by clicking the "Help" button in the BBP ToolBox tab.
After downloading BBP ToolBox, the ZIP file is corrupted or cannot be opened. What can I do? [top]
After downloading BBP ToolBox, the ZIP file containing the tool cannot be opened because it is considered as corrupted or invalid by Windows or other compression software (WinZip, WinRAR, 7-Zip ...).
This is often due to a download error or a download maximum size restriction (especially if you're downloading from within an enterprise network).
You can check if a download error occured by checking the file size of the ZIP file you've downloaded:
- If you've downloaded BBP ToolBox for Office 2010, the ZIP file size should be about 3.4 Mb (exact size is 3.558.115 bytes),
- If you've downloaded BBP ToolBox for Office 2007, the ZIP file size should be about 8.7 Mb (exact size is 9.191.767 bytes),
- If you've downloaded BBP ToolBox for Office 2003, the ZIP file size should be about 7.1 Mb (exact size is 7.406.497 bytes).
If the file size of your ZIP file is incorrect, please try to download the tool another time. You can also "test" your download capabilities by trying to download the Free Edition here
If your ZIP file's size is correct and you still cannot open it, please contact us and we will get back in touch as soon as possible.
After installing BBP ToolBox, the Free Edition menu disappeared from Microsoft Word. What can I do? [top]
During BBP ToolBox installation, you may be asked to remove BBP ToolBox Free Edition from your computer (as you are installing the full featured version)
If you answer yes to this question, BBP ToolBox Free Edition will be removed from your computer. It is then normal not to see again the BBP ToolBox Free Edition in Microsoft Word as the full featured version of BBP ToolBox shows up only in Microsoft PowerPoint.
To learn more about the differences between BBP ToolBox and BBP toolBox Free Edition, you can read Cliff Atkinson's blog post about BBP ToolBox here.
You can watch demo videos located here and here to notice the differences.
My question is not mentioned here, what can I do? [top]
If you cannot find the answer to your question in the above list, please contact us and we will get back in touch as soon as possible.
BBP ToolBox Free Edition FAQ [jump to BBP ToolBox FAQ]
General questions
What are the differences between BBP ToolBox Free Edition and BBP ToolBox?
How does BBP ToolBox Free Edition work?
What are the requirements to use BBP ToolBox Free Edition?
Does BBP ToolBox Free Edition work with Office:Mac?
Does BBP ToolBox Free Edition work with Open Office?
Usage questions
An error occured, what can I do?
How to uninstall BBP ToolBox Free Edition?
My question is not mentioned here, what can I do?
What are the differences between BBP ToolBox Free Edition and BBP ToolBox? [top]
Beyond the cost difference between the two editions, the main difference is the way they help you to stay focused on your presentation.
With BBP ToolBox (full edition), you will need 1 (one) click to import and format a story template into Microsoft PowerPoint (see the video here).
BBP ToolBox Free Edition will only help you formatting your story template (also in 1 (one) click, see the video here). You will have to import that formatted story template and format the imported slides into Microsoft PowerPoint, however.
The full edition of BBP ToolBox also offers you other features unavailable in BBP ToolBox Free Edition. with the full edition of BBP ToolBox, you can automatically:
- Tailor your presentation to the available time you have (according to BBP principles),
- Change the design of your presentation,
- Prepare your presentation for sketching (on screen or on paper) or for writing narration.
In other words, BBP ToolBox Free Edition consists in the first step done by the full edition of BBP ToolBox.
How does BBP ToolBox Free Edition work? [top]
BBP ToolBox Free Edition is a Microsoft Word Add-In that allows you to format a story template in 1 (one) click.
Such formatted story template can then be imported into Microsoft PowerPoint to start building your slides (as described in the BBP book).
You can see how it is easy to use BBP ToolBox Free Edition by watching this video.
What are the requirements to use BBP ToolBox Free Edition? [top]
BBP ToolBox Free Edition is a Microsoft Word Add-In. So basically, if you can run Microsoft Word in good conditions, you can run BBP ToolBox Free Edition too!
BBP ToolBox Free Edition has been successfully tested with Microsoft Word 2003, Microsoft Word 2007 and Microsoft Word 2010.
As BBP ToolBox Free Edition uses Microsoft Word technologies, BBP ToolBox Free Edition can run on any platform supported by Microsoft Word 2003, Microsoft Word 2007 or Microsoft Word 2010.
We suppose BBP ToolBox Free Edition works with other Microsoft Word versions but, as we have run no other tests, we cannot guarantee it to you.
If you've successfully tried BBP ToolBox Free Edition with other versions, please tell us and we will update our list.
Does BBP ToolBox Free Edition work with office:mac? [top]
Unfortunately, technologies used to build BBP ToolBox Free Edition (and most of Microsoft Office Add-Ins by the way) work only on Microsoft Windows platforms.
BBP ToolBox Free Edition then, works only on Microsoft Windows platforms.
You can tell us how much you want an office:mac version of BBP ToolBox Free Edition, however! If there are many people requesting such a version, we probably make it real!
You can ask us for an office:mac version by filling in the form located here.
Does BBP ToolBox Free Edition work with Open Office? [top]
Unfortunately, technologies used to build BBP ToolBox Free Edition (and most of Microsoft Office Add-Ins by the way) work only with Microsoft Office softwares.
BBP ToolBox Free Edition then, works only with Microsoft Office softwares, that are Microsoft PowerPoint and Microsoft Word.
You can tell us how much you want an Open Office version of BBP ToolBox Free Edition, however! If there are many people requesting such a version, we probably make it real!
You can ask us for an Open Office version by filling in the form located here.
An error occured, what can I do? [top]
If you encountered an error while using BBP ToolBox Free Edition, please check if the document on which you launch BBP ToolBox Free Edition is a correct story template as defined in the BBP book companion CD or as available on the BBP website.
How to uninstall BBP ToolBox Free Edition? [top]
To uninstall BBP ToolBox Free Edition, you simply have to delete one file:
- On Windows XP, delete the file located in C:\Documents and Settings\<your username>\Application Data\Microsoft\Word\STARTUP
- On Windows Vista and Windows 7, delete the file located in C:\Users\<your username>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Word\STARTUP
Replace <your username> in the path above with your Windows username.
If you cannot see one of the folder mentioned above, this is a hidden folder. Just type the folder name (or better, copy-paste it) in the address bar and you will have access to it.
You will have to close Microsoft Word prior doing the above actions.
My question is not mentioned here, what can I do? [top]
If you cannot find the answer to your question in the above list, please contact us and we will get back in touch as soon as possible.