Posts
Make a point when you connect graphics
You can connect graphics to help illustrate timelines
and relationships. Connectors are straight or curved
lines or arrows that connect two or more drawing
objects, such as shapes, images, or other graphics.
Connectors automatically anchor themselves to the
midpoint of a side of an object, saving you time
because you no longer have to painstakingly click
and drag lines so that they meet exactly at an
object’s edge.
For example, in a diagram that contains six boxes
that illustrate key concepts, you can demonstrate
relationships by drawing an arrow from one box to
the next. Similarly, in a flowchart diagram, you can
use connector lines to illustrate the movement
between tasks, tests, and other components of the
flowchart.
Adding connector lines takes only a few mouse clicks,
and the connector is automatically anchored to the
midpoints on each object with perfectly straight lines
connecting them. Even better, if you move one of the
objects, the lines stay connected, making editing
diagrams easier than ever.
1 Display the slide containing the
two objects you want to
connect.
Note: You can connect shapes,
text boxes, WordArt, clip art,
pictures, and more.
2 Click the Insert tab.
3 Click Shapes.
The Shapes gallery appears.
4 In the Lines section, click the
connector style you want to
apply.
5 Position the mouse pointer over
the first item.
* Red connector handles surround
the object.
6 Click the handle you want to use
as the anchor point.
PowerPoint establishes the
handle you click as the first
anchor point.
* PowerPoint adds the
basic connector shape
to the slide.
7 Drag the round end of
the connector over the
object to which you
want to connect.
A dashed line trails your
connector line as you
drag to the other object
on the slide.
* Red connector handles
surround the object.
8 Click the handle you
want to use as the
second anchor point.
* PowerPoint draws a connector line
between the two objects.
You can apply formatting to the
connector line using the drawing tools.
9 Repeat Steps 2 to 8 to add other
connector lines to the slide.
Did You Know?
There are three types of connectors. Straight
connectors use a straight line, Elbow connectors
use straight lines and right angles, and Curved
connectors use curved lines.
Change It!
You can easily move a connector from one object
to another. Click the end of the connector you want
to move and drag it to another drawing object.
Change It!
If you rearrange drawing objects, and the
connectors now connect objects in a path
that could be shortened, you can use Reroute
connectors to fix the problem. Right-click
a connector you want to reroute and click
Reroute connectors. The connector changes
to take the shortest route between the
connected objects.