Working with text boxes is an essential skill when creating PowerPoint presentations. The ability to accurately position, format, and connect text boxes gives you more control and design flexibility over the content on your slides. This article will provide tips on the key features for formatting text boxes in PowerPoint 2007.
Inserting and Positioning Text Boxes
To insert a text box in PowerPoint 2007:
- On the Insert tab, click Text Box
- Click and drag on the slide to draw the text box
- Type or paste text into the box
Once inserted, text boxes can be moved by clicking inside the box and dragging it to the desired location. For more precise positioning, use the Size and Position dialog box under the Format tab. This allows you to set exact measurements for the distance from the edge of the slide.
Text boxes can also be rotated by clicking and dragging the green circle above the box.
Formatting Text in Boxes
The text inside a text box can be formatted just like normal text on a slide. With text selected, options like font, size, color and alignment are available under the Home tab.
Some additional unique formatting options include:
- Text direction – Make text horizontal, rotated, or vertical
- Text spacing – Adjust spacing between letters or lines
- Text fill – Add color, gradients, textures or pictures to text
- Text effects – Shadow, reflection, glow and 3-D effects
Connecting Text Boxes into Columns
Text boxes can be connected together so text flows from one box to another automatically. This is great for creating columns and text of varying widths.
To connect text boxes:
- Click inside the first text box
- Go to the Format tab and click Text Box
- Under Text Box, click Create Link
- Click inside the second text box
Now text will flow from the first box into the second when it reaches the end. Formatting carries over too.
Working with the Text Box Tools Format Tab
When clicking inside a text box, a Format tab appears with additional options specific to text boxes. Here are some key tools:
- Text Box Styles – Preset styles including colors and effects
- Shape Styles – Quick formatting for the text box container
- WordArt Styles – Transform text into formatted WordArt
- Text Box – Settings for margins, columns, vertical alignment and more
- Shape Format – For fill, line and effects formatting
Setting Default Text Box Properties
If you want new text boxes inserted to have certain default formatting set, this can be done through:
- Adding a new text box
- Formatting it as desired
- Right-clicking the text box outline
- Choosing Set As Default Text Box
Now any new text boxes will have those same properties.
Tips for Working with Text Boxes
- Use alignment guides and gridlines under the View tab for easy positioning
- Right-click the edge of a text box to access common formatting options quickly
- Double click the edge of the text box to automatically resize it to fit the text
- Hold the Shift key when rotating a text box to constrain it to 15 degree increments
- Use the Selection Pane under the Home tab to quickly select individual text boxes
Using text boxes effectively gives you full creative control when adding text in PowerPoint. Mastering text box formatting takes your PowerPoint skills to the next level.
Common Text Box Issues in PowerPoint 2007
While text boxes provide flexibility, there are a few common formatting issues to look out for:
Text Doesn’t Update With Template Changes
If text was added via text boxes instead of placeholders, it will not update when slide master styles change. To fix this, copy the text and paste it into a placeholder box or edit it manually to match the template.
No Set As Default Option for Text Boxes
Only manually inserted text boxes have the set as default option. Placeholder text boxes follow the slide master by default. To change defaults for placeholders, edit the slide master instead.
Text Boxes Not Changing on Slide Master
Again, this issues arises when text boxes are used instead of placeholders linked to the slide master. Delete the text boxes and use placeholders for text that needs to dynamically change.
Line Breaks in Text Boxes When Editing
Text box content can shift when edits are made. To fix, check the text box margins in the Size and Position dialog box and adjust as needed.
By understanding how to work with text boxes and these common pitfalls, you can take full advantage of this useful text formatting feature in PowerPoint 2007.