Keys for working with shapes, text boxes, and WordArt

Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2003

  1. Press ALT+U to choose AutoShape on the Drawing toolbar.
  2. Use the arrow keys to move through the categories of AutoShapes, and select the AutoShape you want.
  3. Press CTRL+ENTER.

Note  To edit the AutoShape, select the AutoShape, and then use the keyboard to choose AutoShape on the Format menu. Select the options you want on the available tabs.

ShowInsert a text box

  1. Use the keyboard to choose Text Box on the Insert menu.
  2. Press CTRL+ENTER.
  3. Type the text you want in the text box.
  4. When you are finished typing and want to switch back to editing text in your slide, press SHIFT+F10, choose Exit Edit Text on the shortcut menu, and then press ESC.

Note  To format the text box (to add a fill color or change the size, for example) select the text box, choose Text Box on the Format menu, and then select the options you want on the available tabs.

ShowInsert WordArt

  1. Use the keyboard to choose WordArt on the Insert menu, Picture submenu.
  2. Use the arrow keys to select the WordArt style you want, and then press ENTER.
  3. Type the text you want, and then use the TAB key to select other options in the dialog box.
  4. Press ENTER to insert the WordArt.

Note  To edit the WordArt, select the object, choose WordArt on the Format menu, and then select the options you want on the available tabs.

ShowSelect a shape

Note  If your insertion point is within text, press ESC.

Do one of the following:

  • Select a single shape

    To select a single shape, press the TAB key to cycle forward (or SHIFT+TAB to cycle backward) through the objects until sizing handles appear on the object you want to select.

  • Select more than one shape
    1. If it is not on your Drawing toolbar, add the Select Multiple Objects button.

      ShowHow?

      1. Press ALT+F , and then press CTRL+TAB until you select the Drawing toolbar.
      2. Press the RIGHT ARROW key until you reach the More Buttons arrow.
      3. Press the DOWN ARROW key. The Add or Remove Buttons menu will appear.
      4. Press the DOWN ARROW key, press the RIGHT ARROW key, and then press TAB until you reach the Select Multiple Objects button, and then press ENTER.
    2. On the Drawing toolbar, click Select Multiple Objects Button image.
    3. Select the checkbox next to the object or objects you want, and then tab to OK and press ENTER.

ShowGroup or ungroup shapes, pictures, WordArt objects

  • To group AutoShape, picture, or WordArt objects, select the items you want to group and then press CTRL+SHIFT+G.
  • To ungroup a group, select the group, and then press CTRL+SHIFT+H.

ShowRotate a shape, picture, or WordArt

  1. Select the AutoShape, picture, or WordArt you want to rotate.
  2. On the Format menu, use the keyboard to choose the command for the type of object you selected— for example, AutoShape or Text Box— and then select the Size tab.
  3. Under Size and rotate, use the TAB key to select Rotation, and then type the amount of rotation you want.
  4. To preview the rotation, choose Preview.

    You might have to move the dialog box in order to preview.

ShowShow or hide a grid or guides

SHIFT+F9

Show or hide the grid

ALT+F9

Show or hide guides

CTRL+G

Change grid or guide settings

ShowChange the position of a shape, picture, or WordArt on a slide

  1. Select the AutoShape, picture, or WordArt you want to change.
  2. On the Format menu, use the keyboard to choose the command for the type of object you selected— for example, AutoShape or Text Box— and then select the Position tab.
  3. Under Position on slide, select the options you want.
  4. To preview the change, choose Preview.

    You might have to move the dialog box in order to preview.

ShowChange the size of a shape, picture, or WordArt

  1. Select the AutoShape, picture, or WordArt you want to change.
  2. On the Format menu, use the keyboard to choose the command for the type of object you selected— for example, AutoShape or Text Box— and then select the Size tab.
  3. Select the options you want.
  4. To preview the changes, choose Preview.

    You might have to move the dialog box in order to preview the drawing object.

ShowCopy the attributes of a shape

  1. Select the AutoShape with the attributes you want to copy.

    If you select an AutoShape with attached text, you copy the look and style of the text as well as the attributes of the AutoShape.

  2. Press CTRL+SHIFT+C to copy the object attributes.
  3. Press the TAB key or SHIFT+TAB to select the object you want to copy the attributes to.
  4. Press CTRL+SHIFT+V.