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Smart & Easy Software Tips, Tricks & Techniques
March 2005 - Issue 5, Volume 2
Publisher: Dawn Bjork Buzbee mailto:Dawn@SoftwarePro.com
The Software Pro (tm), Microsoft Certified Office Expert
http://www.SoftwarePro.com
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IN THIS ISSUE
Microsoft PowerPoint: Working With Shapes & Other Objects-Part 1
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One way to customize PowerPoint slides is to add shapes,
autoshapes, text boxes, and other objects. Try these tricks to
more easily create and work with objects in PowerPoint.
1. Creating the Perfect Circle, Square, Star, and More
2. Quickly Copy a Shape
3. Limit Your Lines
4. Selecting Multiple Objects
5. Selecting "Hidden" Objects
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1. Creating the Perfect Circle, Square, Star, and More
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If you have even tried to draw a circle or square on a slide,
you might have noticed that the tool is actually called ellipse
or rectangle which does not automatically give you a perfectly
proportional shape.
The next time that you want an evenly proportioned shape,
select the toolbar or AutoShape option that you want, press and
hold down [Shift] and then draw the object. Release the mouse
before letting go of the [Shift] key and you will have a
perfect circle (or square). Hold [Shift] again if you need to
re-size the shape.
This trick can also be used for drawing other shapes including
stars, octagons, triangles, and more.
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2. Quickly Copy a Shape
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Do you want more copies of your perfect shape? Here's an easy
way to make a copy:
1) Click once on the shape to select, 2) Press and hold down
[Ctrl] and drag the object to create a copy in a new location.
Easy Alignment:
If you want the original and the copy to be evenly aligned
either horizontally or vertically, follow the steps above but
also add the [Shift] key which will "constrain" or limit your
movement to be only across or up and down.
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3. Limit Your Lines
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Most shapes will look more professional onscreen without an
outside line or border. To remove the line: 1) Select the
object, 2) Click on the drop-down arrow next to the Paintbrush
tool in the Drawing toolbar (at the bottom of the screen) or
double-click on the object to change the Line to No Line.
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4. Selecting Multiple Objects
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To select or highlight more than one object, press and hold
down the [Shift] key and click on each object. Click again if
you want to de-select an object. All highlighted objects can
then be moved, copied, formatted and modified together. Click
away from the selected items to un-select them all.
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5. Selecting "Hidden" Objects
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With more complex slides, a shape, text box, or other object
that you want to work with may be hidden or tucked behind other
objects making it difficult to click and select the correct
one. To select slide objects in sequence, press [Tab]
repeatedly. Each object, including titles and subtitles, will
be individually highlighted each time you press [Tab]. Stop on
the one you want to work with. Go backwards by pressing [Shift]
+ [Tab].
Next, format, delete, copy, move, or re-size the selected object.
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Try these tips and tricks to upgrade your shapes and other
objects in Microsoft PowerPoint.
In upcoming issues, find out how to perfectly align objects,
group them together, customize your PowerPoint workspace, and
more.
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Please pass this along to others who may appreciate it!
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Dawn Bjork Buzbee
The Software Pro (tm)
Post Office Box 5319
Englewood, CO 80155-5319 USA
(303) 699-6868, Fax (303) 766-0886
mailto:Dawn@SoftwarePro.com
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