How to Overlap Text in PowerPoint 2007

PowerPoint 2007 contains added functions in the main toolbar for common tasks. Overlapping text boxes consist of duplicate text boxes placed on top of each other to create customized build effects for a slide during a slide show. Users can insert text descriptions with graphics such as pictures, clip art, shapes and diagrams to enhance the visual content. PowerPoint 2007 organizes functions and options through a main toolbar and ribbon to facilitate formatting and animating any component on a slide to produce a professional-looking slide show.

Instructions

Animation

1. Launch PowerPoint and open the desired presentation by selecting "Open" under the Office ribbon, selecting the file and clicking the "Open" button.

2. Navigate to the desired slide.

3. Click the outside of the desired text box (i.e., the border) and click and hold the "Paste" button under the "Home" tab in the top toolbar.

4. Select "Duplicate."

5. Press the "Up" arrow key twice and the "Left" arrow key twice to align the duplicated text box with the original one.

6. Highlight the text in the box and type the replacement content.

7. Click the outside border of the text box and press the "Tab" key to select the original text box.

8. Click the "Animation" tab in the top toolbar and select the "Custom Animation" option.

9. Click and hold the "Add Effect" button in the right-hand frame and choose "Exit." Select the exit effect for the original text box (e.g., "Dissolve" or "Fly Out").

10. Click the "Tab" key until the new text box is selected.

11. Click and hold the "Add Effect" button on the right-hand Custom Animation frame and choose "Entrance." Select the entrance effect for the new text box to appear.

12. Click the "Play" button at the bottom of the right-hand frame (Custom Animation) to preview the animation between the two text boxes.

Graphic

1. Launch PowerPoint and open the desired presentation by selecting "Open" under the Office ribbon, selecting the file and clicking the "Open" button.

2. Navigate to the desired slide or create a new blank slide by clicking the "New Slide" button under the "Home" tab in the top toolbar.

3. Add the desired graphic (e.g., picture, clip art or shape) by clicking the button under the "Insert" tab in the top toolbar, if desired.

4. Click the "Text Box" button under the "Insert" tab in the top toolbar.

5. Place your cursor at the desired starting point and click and hod down the mouse button to draw a rectangle or square.

6. Release the mouse button, click the middle of the text box and type your desired description or label.

7. Click the border of the text box and change the text properties by clicking an option under the "Home" tab in the top toolbar. For example, change the color of the text so that it stands out from the image by clicking and holding the "Font color" button and selecting a color from the drop down palette (such as white or yellow).

Tips & Warnings

• Consider grouping the graphic with the overlapping text as one unit by selecting the text box and the graphic and clicking the "Group" button under the "Format" tab in the top toolbar.

• Consider changing the orientation of the overlapping text so that one is horizontal and another is vertical by clicking the outside border of a text box and clicking the "Text Direction" option under the "Home" tab in the top toolbar.

References

• Dummies.com: How to Choose How Objects Overlap on Your PowerPoint 2007 Slides
• Microsoft: Add Text to a Slide