Working with Text

Adding

You can add text in two ways depending on whether you are using a slide layout or not. If you are using a slide layout then you click where the slide says Click to add text. When you do, a cursor appears and you can begin typing. Note with slide layout the text is already formatted for you, however you can always reformat it if you like.

You can also add text by clicking on the  toolbar button (if you don’t see this button you need to click on the View Menu, Toolbars, Drawing). You can also go to the Insert Menu and choose Text Box. Once you have chosen the text box you can either click on your slide to get a cursor and start typing or you can click and drag on your slide to get both a box and cursor and then start to type. The difference is if you just click and start typing the text will not wrap. However, if you click and then drag to get a box, the text will wrap within the box size.

Note even if you are using a slide layout, you can always add your own text or clip art etc. Slide layouts are flexible.

Highlighting

Below is a chart taken from the PP Help File that summarizes how to select.

To select text, you can click on the text you are interested in formatting. When you click on the text a cursor appears. You can then click and drag on top of the letters or words you are interested in reformatting so that they are highlighted.

Formatting

Once you have highlighted your text, you can then use the toolbar buttons to change the text. Remember the toolbar buttons below:

• Font Color
•   Font Size
• Font
• Bold
• Italic
• Underline
• Alignment

Removing

To remove text, highlight the text and hit the DELETE key on the keyboard. Note: to highlight the entire text box click on the border that appears around a selected object. You should not see a cursor.

Moving

To move text from one part of the slide to another you click the text. A box should appear around the text. Move your mouse to one of the four sides of the box, your mouse should turn into a four-sided arrow. Once that has happened you can click and drag to move the text box.

Resizing

To resize text refer to the formatting section. If you want to resize the text box around your text you first need to click on the text to display the box. Next move your mouse to any of the eight tiny squares on the box and your mouse should turn into a double-sided arrow. Once that has happened you can click and drag to resize the box. The text automatically will wrap so the text stays within the box.
 

Word Art

Word art is really a fun way to type text and is part of each Office ’97 program. Click on the Word art toolbar button. When you do a dialog box appears showing you a variety of different styles of writing. Words are often slanted, bent, or even wavy. The text is already colored and shadowed for you. Click on top of the type of text you are interested in creating and choose OK. Next you will be asked to type your word or message. When you are done, click on OK and Office will create the Word Art for you. You can then move and resize the word art anyway you would like by using the above click and drag skills.

If you want to change the font, font size, bold, or italics features for your word art, then double click it and a window appears where you can make those changes. You can also retype the message. You can change the word art colors, shadows, and more options if you use the toolbar buttons on the Drawing toolbar.

Reformatting Bullets

When using a bulleted list in Power Point you can easily change the size, color, or symbol of the bullet marker. Select the entire bulleted list and go to the Format Menu and choose Bullet. A dialog box appears displaying a color drop down list and a size box. To select a different symbol you can click on the Bullets from drop down list. As you select different names from this list the symbols that appear below, change. To select one of the symbols you click on    the symbol (it will appear larger for you) and then choose OK.
 
 

To remove bullets, select the entire bulleted list and click on in the toolbar.

Back to PowerPoint Syllabus