How can you see a preview of the slide show before presenting?

Viewing a preview of the slide show before presenting is essential to ensure that the presentation flows as intended. The best way to accomplish this is by navigating to the Slide Show tab and selecting the option to start the show from the current slide. This feature allows the presenter to see exactly how the slides will appear to the audience, including any transitions or animations that have been applied.

The other methods mentioned do not effectively provide a slide show preview. The Preview button, often found in different contexts, does not typically exist as a direct option for presenting slides in PowerPoint. Opening the presentation in read-only mode restricts editing but does not necessarily facilitate an actual preview of the slide show itself. Lastly, using Edit mode focuses on modifying the content rather than presenting it, which does not allow for a realistic view of how transitions will appear during the actual presentation. Thus, starting the slide show from the current slide is the most effective way to see a true preview.