ABC's of PowerPoint 2007

05. Aligning Objects: Method 2
PPT 2007  |  PPT 2003

This feature is great for aligning pictures or subtitles across slides.

Ever wanted to align objects across several slides? Guides offer an alternative way to method 1. Since guides remain in the same place from slide to slide and are saved with the file one can align several object along a vertical and/or horizonatal axis on a slide or across multiple slides. Additionally by turning on the "Snap to Grid" feature your images will act like magnets jumping to your guide.

Let's go through this step by step.

Turning Your Guides On
While in "Normal Mode", select the objects you wish to align, and go to "Format" on the ribbon. Towards the right, there are six "Arrange" tools. Click the "Align" tool, and a drop down menu will open. Click "Grid Settings" on the bottom of the menu. This will open the "Grid and Guides" window. Check off "Display Drawing Guides on Screen" on the bottom of the window.

Turning "Snap to Grid" On
In the "Grid and Guides" window, check off "Snap Objects to Grid". Click "OK". You should now see two dotted lines, one vertical and one horizontal.

Moving the Guides
With your selection tool (arrow). Simply click and drag on the line to move.

Hint: Try to grab the line in an area without a picture behind it, because the default will be to grab the picture.

More Lines?
Would you like more lines? Hold the "Ctrl" button while click and dragging to create additional lines.

Helpful Hint:
If you are aligning images on the left side of the page consider aligning them left; on the right side consider aligning them right. This will help keep the audience's focus on the slides center.

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