Tutorials

Microsoft PowerPoint Tutorials

Using AutoShapes

The AutoShapes toolbar allows you to draw a number of geometrical shapes, arrows, flow chart elements, stars, and other graphics on a slide. Activate the AutoShapes toolbar by selecting Insert>Picture>AutoShapes or by clicking the AutoShapes menu button from the Drawing toolbar. Click the options on the toolbar to view the various types of shapes that are available.

• Lines - After clicking the Lines button on the AutoShapes toolbar, draw a straight line, arrow, or double-ended arrow from the first row of options by clicking the respective button. Click in the slide where you would like the line to begin and click again where it should end. To draw a curved line or freeform shape, select curved lines from the menu (first and second buttons of second row), click in the slide where the line should appear, and click the mouse every time a curve should begin. End creating the graphic by clicking on the starting end or pressing the ESC key. To scribble, click the last button in the second row, click the mouse in the slide and hold down the left button while you draw the design. Let go of the mouse button to stop drawing.
  
  

• Connectors - Draw these lines to connect flow chart elements.
  

• Basic Shapes - Click the Basic Shapes button on the AutoShapes toolbar to select from many two- and three-dimensional shapes, icons, braces, and brackets. Use the drag-and-drop method to draw the shape in the slide. When the shape has been made, it can be resized using the open box handles and other adjustments specific to each shape can be modified using the yellow diamond handles.
  
  
  
• Block Arrows - Select Block Arrows to choose from many types of two- and three-dimensional arrows. Drag-and-drop the arrow in the slide and use the open box and yellow diamond handles to adjust the arrowheads. Each AutoShape can also be rotated by first clicking the Free Rotate button on the drawing toolbar . Click and drag the green handles around the image to rotate it. The tree image below was created from an arrow rotated 90 degrees.
  
  
  
• Flow Chart - Choose from the flow chart menu to add flow chart elements to the slide and use the line menu to draw connections between the elements.
  

• Stars and Banners - Click the button to select stars, bursts, banners, and scrolls.
  
  

• Call Outs - Select from the speech and thought bubbles, and line call outs. Enter the call out text in the text box that is made.
  
  

• Action Buttons - Select from various VCR type controls to enable users to run macros or start sounds or movies.
  
  

• More AutoShapes - Click the More button to choose from a list of clip art categories.
  

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