You can use the Shapes feature of PowerPoint to draw a variety of objects, from lines, arrows, and boxes, to scrolls, callouts, and action buttons. When you draw a shape you can enter text in it; however that text will not appear in your presentation outline. If you draw an action button you can then associate an action, such as running another program or playing a sound that activates when you click the button during a slide show. In addition to various shapes, you can draw a text box, which is simply a placeholder where you can enter text; by default a text box has no border so the text appears to float on your page. Text in text boxes will not be reflected in the presentation outline.

Draw a Shape

1. Click the Insert tab.

2. Click the Shapes button.

3. Click on a shape. Your cursor changes to a plus symbol.

4. Click anywhere on your slide and drag to draw the object whatever size you need.

   

5. If you have drawn an action button, a dialog box appears where you can choose to go to another slide or presentation, run a program, run a macro, initiate an action, or play a sound. Establish the settings you need.

6. Click OK to save the settings.

   

Try This!

You can use an action button setting to link to a URL. With your computer connected to the Internet this allows you to display a Web site during your presentation. Use this feature to show your company’s Web site or to bring up an image or data on another site to help support your presentation’s point.

Tip

Note that there are two tabs in the Action Settings dialog box, Mouse Click and Mouse Over. Depending on which tab you use to make settings, the action is initiated by you clicking on the object or by simply passing your mouse over the object during the presentation.

Tip

After you draw a shape on your slide, you can just click on it and begin typing to add text.

Add a Text Box

1. Click the Insert tab.

2. Click the Text Box button. Your cursor changes to a plus symbol.

3. Click and drag on the slide to draw the text box, which remains open for editing.

4. Type text, and then click outside the box to close it.

   

Tip

You can format a text box. Right-click on the text and choose Format Shape. In the Format Shape dialog box that appears, use the various categories of settings to add fill color, an outside border, 3-D and rotation effects, and more. Once you draw a shape, when you select it a Drawing Tools, Format tab becomes available, which you can also use to make formatting changes.

See Also

In addition to adding action buttons on your slides, you can use effects such as animations and transitions to make your presentation more dynamic. See Chapter 11 for more about working with animations and transitions on slides.