Text behaviour in a shape - PPT 2019-2021

When you draw a shape and add text to it, it appears by default in the middle of the shape with a size of 18 pt. By default, the behaviour of the text in the shape is set to Do not AutoFit.

Do Not Autofit means the formatting of the text in the shape is not automatically updated.

So, if you adjust the size of the shape, it may happen that the text no longer fits the shape. 

See the video below:

There are two other settings.

The second option Shrink text on overflow shrinks or enlarges the text when you shrink or enlarge the shape.

See the video below:

With the third option Resize shape to fit text, when you adjust the font size or the size of the shape, the shape is adjusted to the text

See the video below:

Resize several shapes/pictures to the same size in one go in PPT 2019

Ever had to cope with shapes or pictures that slightly differ in size and have to be resized. 

When you select the shapes you will see that the height and width boxes are empty. That is logical as at least one shape/picture has a divergent size. When all the shapes have the same size the boxes will show the value.

Select all the shapes that have to be resized, click the Format tab under Drawing tools, in the size group the height and width boxes are empty, click in the height box and type the desired size, press the tab key, type the width and press enter.

While you are at it if you want to convert different shapes to the same shape, you can change the shapes by going to Drawing tools, Format tab, Insert shapes group and click on the Edit shape button and choose the Change shape option. Now select the new shape.

Auto align shapes in PPT for the web

PowerPoint for the web doesn't all the functionality of the desktop version. From time to time new functions are introduced that do not appear in the desktop version. Autofix is one of them.

Autofix lets you align non overlapping object automatically. In the future that could change according to Microsoft. If you want to use the auto fix function you need to save your presentation on OneDrive.

Open your presentation in PowerPoint for the web. Select at least two shapes you want to align.

Right click a selected shape (when you click make sure the four way arrows are active). From the quick menu choose Auto fix.

Or click the Arrange button on the Home tab in the drawing group and choose Auto Fix.

Or click on the Shape/Picture tab on the ribbon and click Auto Fix.

This is the result:

Here's another example with two pictures and a shape:

When the shapes are grouped or when they overlap or when there is a SmartArt envolved the function will not work and you will receive a warning message.

Create half a circle shape in PPT 2013-2019

There is no half circle shape in PPT 2013. Actually there is a three quarter circle shape, which can be adapted using the adjustment handle.

Unfortunately the shape still has its former dimensions if you select it. So, it is not really a demi circle. For example, when you add text to it - that is centered (default) or aligned at the top - the text does not follow the shape.

To avoid this, you can make your own shape.

To do this you have to draw two shapes a circle and a rectangle. Position them above each other and then use the merge shapes tool to make one shape.

Click on the rectangle first then select the circle using shift+click.

Under Drawing Tools, click the Format tab, in the Insert Shapes group click the Merge Shapes button. Choose Intersect now you have a perfect demi circle. Any text you type in the shape will be positioned correctly.