Microsoft PowerPoint 2008

SmartArt Formatting Options

Along with animating your SmartArt, PowerPoint allows you to format the SmartArt in your slide show to change and customize it. You can do this by adding text, choosing from different colors, borders, or types of SmartArt, and adjusting the number of shapes your SmartArt uses.

The following sections will show you how to adjust and personalize SmartArt for your slide show.

Adjusting the Number of SmartArt Shapes
Changing SmartArt Style
Changing the SmartArt Type

Adjusting the Number of SmartArt Shapes

As you design the slides and graphics for your slide show, information may need to be added to or removed from SmartArt. PowerPoint lets you add or delete the number of shapes your SmartArt contains.

Depending on the graphic, pressing [Enter], [Delete], and [Tab] in the Text pane will affect the shapes in the graphic differently. These keys generally alter the presentation in the following ways:

[Enter] almost always adds text and a corresponding object at the same level as the currently selected text/object
[Tab] almost always subordinates the currently selected text and corresponding object
[Delete] almost always deletes the currently selected text and corresponding object

Select the SmartArt
If the Text pane is not visible, on the border of the SmartArt canvas, click the TEXT PANE icon
The Text pane appears.
To add a shape,
1. In the Text pane, place your cursor in an existing text box
2. To add a same-level entry (e.g., coworker), press [Enter]
  To add a lower-level entry (e.g., subordinate), press [Enter], then [Tab]
3. Type the text
To delete a shape,
1. In the Text pane, select the text of the entry
2. Press [Delete]
To move a shape,
1. Delete it from its current position (as detailed in step 4)
2. Add it in the new position (as detailed in step 3)

Formatting SmartArt

Color schemes and borders are automatically applied when you choose the slide design you want. One way to change the color and border of your SmartArt is to choose another slide design. However, SmartArt Styles offers additional formatting options for your SmartArt, which do not alter your slide design. You can select a color, select a style, or select a shape.

Selecting a Color for Elements of Smart Art

Select the SmartArt graphic
From the toolbox, select the Formatting Palette
From the Formatting Palette, select the SmartArt Graphic Styles section
The SmartArt Graphic Styles section expands.
From the the SmartArt Graphic Styles section, select the Colors tab
The SmartArt Graphic Styles section displays color options for your SmartArt graphic.
Make the desired color selections

Selecting a Style for Elements of Smart Art

Select the SmartArt graphic
From the toolbox, select the Formatting Palette
From the Formatting Palette, select the SmartArt Graphic Styles section
The SmartArt Graphic Styles section expands.
Select the Styles tab
The SmartArt Graphic Styles section displays style options for your SmartArt graphic.
Make the desired style selections

Selecting a Shape for Elements of Smart Art

Select the SmartArt graphic
From the toolbox, select the Formatting Palette
From the Formatting Palette, select the SmartArt Graphic Styles section
The SmartArt Graphic Styles section expands.
Click the SHAPE icon
The Shape menu appears.
Make desired shape selections

Changing the SmartArt Type

If you find that the SmartArt you have chosen does not fit the information you are trying to convey, PowerPoint gives you the option of changing the type of SmartArt without having to re-enter the information. For example, you can change your SmartArt from Target to Pyramid.

Select the SmartArt
NOTE: Be sure to select the SmartArt canvas, not just one element of the SmartArt.
From the Insert menu, select SmartArt Graphic...
The SmartArt Graphics gallery appears.
From the gallery, select a SmartArt graphic
NOTES:
The display pane at the left contains explanations of the currently selected SmartArt graphic.
For more information about SmartArt and the selection process, refer to Working with SmartArt: An Overview.
Your SmartArt type is changed.