Microsoft PowerPoint X
Working with Text
PowerPoint features many text options which help to increase the visual appeal of your presentation. You can add text anywhere on your slide as well as change its size, style, and color. Your formatted text can then be saved in such a way that you will be able to give your presentation on a different computer even if that computer does not offer the same text options. This document contains information on the following topics:
Adding Text
There are two ways to add text to slides in Normal view: the placeholder and the Drawing toolbar. Placeholders are text boxes that already exist with the slide format. If you want to create your own text box, you can use the Drawing toolbar.
Adding Text: Placeholders
PowerPoint offers numerous pre-defined slide formats. Each of these slide formats contains text placeholders in which you can enter your titles, text, tables, and other objects.
-
To activate the area, click in one of the pre-defined text placeholders
-
Type your text
Your text will replace the pre-existing text (e.g., "Click to add title") within the dotted line. -
To deactivate the text box, click outside of the box when you are finished
Adding Text: The Drawing Toolbar
If the pre-existing slide formats do not offer a text-placement design you like, you can create and place your own text box using the Drawing toolbar.
To display the Drawing toolbar:
-
If the Drawing toolbar is not displayed, from the View menu, select Drawing toolbar
NOTE: When the Drawing toolbar is displayed, there will be a check mark next to it in the View menu.
To add text with the Drawing toolbar:
-
On the Drawing toolbar, click TEXT BOX
Your cursor will change shape signifying you are going to draw a text box. -
To draw the text box, click and drag with your cursor
An outline of the text box appears. -
Release the mouse button
-
Begin typing inside the new text box
-
To deactivate the text box, click outside of it
Deleting a Text Box
-
Select the text box
-
On the keyboard, press [Delete]
Formatting Text
PowerPoint offers many options for formatting your text. You can change its size, style, and/or color by using the Font dialog box or the Formatting Palette.
Formatting Text: The Font Dialog Box
You can make several different changes to your text at once, including Font, Size, Style (e.g., bold, italics), and Color, by using the Font dialog box.
-
Select the text you want to change
-
From the Format menu, select Font...
The Font dialog box appears.
-
Select the text features you want to apply to your selected text
-
Click OK
Formatting: The Formatting Palette
If you are making simple changes, you can use the Formatting toolbar. For more information about this tool, see The Formatting Palette.
-
If the Formatting Palette is not displayed, from the View menu, select Formatting Palette
NOTE: When the Formatting Palette is displayed, there will be a check mark next to it in the View menu. -
Select the text you want to format
-
On the Formatting palette, in the Font section, click the appropriate button(s) to apply the various formatting features to your selected text
