In this unit, you will gain skills that allow you to control shapes and connection tools which will help make creating diagrams easy.

Selecting Multiple Shapes

There are many ways to select more than one shape at a time.

The Multiple Select tool allows you to click on individual shapes and it will hold the selection.

The other method to achieve this is to hold the shift key down while selecting each shape.

The Lasso and Area Select allow multiple shapes to be selected by one click and drag over the desired shapes.

Connecting Shapes

There are a number of ways to Connect shapes.

§  When you move over a shape on the page a pop up menu allows you to choose a new shape, it will auto connect.

§  Use the connector tool from the Home ribbon and select the Connector tool from the Tools Section.

Aligning Shapes

If the shapes need to be lined up either vertically or horizontally use the Align button in the Arrange Section or Select the Position Button to display the Align Options.

Distributing Shapes

Distribution of shapes controls the spacing between the shapes to ensure the distance between the shapes is the same.

Grouping Shapes

Use Grouping to keep shapes together so they move in relation to each other once in the desired position. You can have multiple groups.

Shapes in groups can still be singled out so you can work with a grouped shape independently.

§  Home Ribbon –Arrange Section -Group

Snap & Glue

Use Snap & Glue to aid in the positioning of shapes.

Rotate or Flip

The Rotate Handle positioned at the top of the shape allows the shape to be turned anywhere from 0 to 360°

You can also use the Rotate or Flip option from the Shape Menu.

§  Home Ribbon –Position –Rotate Shapes from menu

Working with Guides

Use both Horizontal and Vertical Guides to assist with the placing of shapes and lines.

Formatting Shapes allows you to format text, shapes, and connectors and apply Themes.  This will allow creation of a consistent look throughout your drawings.

Using the Shape Tools    

The Shape Styles group allows you to alter the selected Shape’s Corner Rounding, Transparency, Fill Pattern and Shadow Colour.

Using the Fill Dialogue Box    

The Fill section in the Format Shape Side Pane allows you to change the colour and transparency of the selected Shape and its shadow.

Using the Shadow Dialogue Box

The Shadow section in the Format Shape Side Pane is where you set and change the shadows colouring, transparency and size and position.

Formatting Lines and Shape Outlines   

The Line section in the Format Shape Side Pane allows you to change the Line Style which includes Pattern, Weight, Colour, Beginning, Sharpness of the corners etc.

The Corner Rounding in the lower half of the side pane controls the sharpness of both Line and Shape corners.

Adding Text to Shapes 

To add text to a Shape either:

§  Double-click on the Shape and type.

or

§  Select the shape and type.

The window will zoom in to focus only on that shape.

Once you have completed typing then click away from the shape.

The window will zoom back out.

Formatting Text 

The Text Formats are from the Home Ribbon in the Font and paragraph Section. This allows quick access to some of the features found in the Format Text Dialogue Box.

Use the Format Text Dialogue box to format not only Fonts but also Characters, Paragraphs, Text Blocks, Tabs and Bullets.

Using the Format Painter and Duplication

Duplicate is a quick way to create an exact copy of a shape and all its information.

§   Select the Shape

§   Ctrl + D

Use the Format Painter to copy formats from one shape to another.

§   A single click will allow one use.

§   A double click will allow multiple uses.

Resize Shapes     

Either select the corner handle to resize (and keep in proportion) the shape or for more accurate resizing use the Size & Position Window.

§   View Ribbon

§   Show Section

§   Task panes

§   Size & Position

Using Themes   

Themes are a quick and consistent method with which to format drawings.

Use the Design Ribbon, Themes Section and click on the drop menu to view all themes.

The Theme colours and effects are also set using the Themes Task Pane.