More Tools
There are many that will make drawing objects and lines a little easier. In the Drawing Toolbar, click on the word DRAW. A dialog box with commands will appear. The following describes these commands.
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Group, Ungroup, Regroup
  Grouping objects combines them so you can work with them as if they were a single object. You can then flip, rotate, and resize or scale objects in a group as a single unit. You can also change the attributes of objects in a group at one time. For example, you might change the fill color or add a shadow to all objects in the group. You can also create groups within groups to help you build complex drawings. Ungroup a set of objects by selecting the group and choosing Ungroup.
Order
  This command allows you to prioritize your objects: such as put one object in front of or behind another object. As you add objects to your page, they are put into a new layer, one on top of each other. Using the commands Bring to Front or Send to Back, you can change what layer the object is on by only one layer at a time. The Bring Forward command brings the selected object completely to the front-most layer. The Send Backward command sends the selected object to the bottom most layer, but never behind the template background.
Snap
 

This command will force your object to snap to the nearest grid line or to the nearest shape. This is useful in aligning objects or text boxes with each other. (If you would prefer to not have things snap to the grid line or nearest shape, turn this feature off by selecting it again in this toolbar command. The snap feature is a toggle switch...meaning it is either on or off. Turn it on or off in this toolbar.)

The Snap feature in PPT 2002 is located in the Grid and Guides dialog box.

Nudge
  This command allows you to move an object in small increments. When an object is almost in place but needs a nudge, click the object, and then press an arrow key on the keyboard in the direction you want to nudge the object. Or click on the object and then in the Drawing toolbar, click Draw, point to Nudge, and then click the direction you want to nudge the object. Pressing ALT while moving an object will also allow more subtle adjustments.
Align or Distribute
  You can align objects with other objects, such as when you align the sides, middles, or top or bottom edges of objects. You can align them in relation to the entire slide, for example, at the top or left edge of a slide. You can also align objects by using guides to align them visually, or by using the grid to align them with a corner on the grid as you draw or move the objects.
You can arrange (or distribute) objects so they are equal distances from each other either vertically or horizontally, or in relation to the entire slide.
Rotate or flip
 

You can rotate an object 90 degrees to the left or right or to any other angle. You can also flip an object horizontally or vertically. You can flip or rotate one object, a set of objects, or a group of objects. If you rotate or flip an AutoShape that has attached text, the text rotates or flips with the shape.
Some pictures, graphs, and organizational charts that you import can't be rotated or flipped because they weren't created in PowerPoint. If you can ungroup an imported object and then regroup its components, you might be able to flip or rotate it. You won't be able to flip or rotate bitmaps, however.

To rotate an object to any angle (Free Rotate), first select the object you want to rotate. On the Drawing toolbar, click Free Rotate. Drag a corner of the object in the direction you want to rotate it. Click outside the object to set the rotation.
To constrain the rotation of the object to 15-degree angles: hold down the SHIFT key while you use the Free Rotate tool.
To rotate the object around the handle opposite the handle you're using: click CTRL while you use the Free Rotate tool.
Creating Mirror Images
 

To create a mirror image of an object, select the object you want to mirror. On the Edit menu, click Duplicate. On the Drawing toolbar, click Draw, point to Rotate or Flip, and then click Flip Horizontal or Flip Vertical. Drag and position the duplicate object so that it mirrors the original object.

To create a mirror image of clip art, you must first convert the clip art to a PowerPoint object. Insert the clip art, select it, and then click Draw on the Drawing toolbar. Click Ungroup, then group it back together by clicking Group, and then follow the preceding steps.
Reroute connectors
  When you draw a flow chart or diagram, route connectors lines can be used to connect the objects in the diagram. If you choose to change the way the objects are connected, you can easily do so using the Reroute Connectors command. When Reroute Connectors is selected, connector lines will automatically be adjusted to map the most direct route between your objects and to keep connectors from crossing objects (at least according to Microsoft PowerPoint 97).
If you select an object and then click Reroute Connectors when one or more connector lines are connected to the same object, all lines will move so they connect over the shortest distance. If you don't want to reroute all the lines, select only the ones you want to reroute, and then click Reroute Connectors.
Edit Points
  This command allows you to edit points on a freeform object or curve. Select the freeform object or curve you want to change. On the Drawing toolbar, click Draw, and then click Edit Points. To reshape the freeform, click and drag one of the points that form its outline.
To add a point to the freeform, click where you want to add.
To delete a point, press CTRL and click the point you want to delete.
For greater control over the shape of a curve, after you click Edit Points, right-click on a vertex. A shortcut menu appears with options for other types of vertexes you can use to refine the shape of the curve.
Change Autoshapes
  This command will change a selected autoshape to another. Simply select the autoshape you want changed and then select the one you want from this menu. When you click on the new one, the old one will be replaced.
Set Autoshape Defaults
  Save an object style as the default by selecting the object that has the attributes you want to use as the default. On the Drawing toolbar, click Draw, and then click Set AutoShape Defaults.
If you have text in an object, you can save the text style as a default. Select the text, click Font on the Format menu, and then select the Default for new objects check box.
Free Rotate Icon on Drawing Toolbar
  This is another button for the Free Rotate Tool. It is also found in the pop-up box of the Drawing commands.
Make copies of text or an object and quickly reposition it (97/98/2000)
  Want to create a copy of an object, image, or block of text and position it in a new location at the same time? Select the item you want to copy, hold down the [Ctrl] key ([option] key on the Mac) and drag to create a duplicate of the selected object.
Aligning elements relative to the slide in PowerPoint 97/98/2000/2002
  PowerPoint aligns text and graphics based on their location. One element is used as a guide to line up the other element. If you select two elements and choose Align Left, the element that is farther to the right will move and align with the element that is farther left. In this case, the left element is used as the guide. Choose Align or Distribute from the Draw menu and select the Relative to Slide option to line the element up in accordance to its position on the slide rather than with another element.

PowerPoint Lessons Table of Contents

Last updated January 2002. These courses are copyrighted by the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Communications and Information Technology. Contact Lana Johnson at ljohnson1@unl.edu