OmniDocHow to make PPT combination graphics: object combination and horizontal line drawing
Explain clearly how to make combined graphics in PPT: how to select multiple shapes and combine them, how to cancel or modify the graphics in the combination individually, and how to use the Shift key to draw a standard horizontal line, and a checklist after completion is attached.
Key points of this article
- Select the shapes that need to be moved together and perform a combination. They will become an object that can be moved and scaled as a whole to avoid layout clutter.
- When drawing a horizontal line, hold down the Shift key and drag. The line will be locked in the horizontal direction. Then set the height value to 0 to confirm.
- Align before grouping. If you want to change a single graphic after grouping, hold down Ctrl and click on the objects in the group to select them individually.
- When you receive a PDF version of the slides, the combination operation is not applicable, and you need to return to the original PPT file to change the format.
When making PPT, I often draw a row of arrows, several rounded rectangles and text boxes. After dragging them, they fall apart, and the alignment has to be readjusted. Combine these graphics into an object, and then move, scale, and copy them only once. The dividing lines on the page are often drawn crookedly, affecting the overall neatness.
This article is for those who need to organize report pages, flowcharts or layouts. After reading, you will be able to master how to combine PPT graphics, including selecting, combining, ungrouping, and drawing a standard horizontal line. This article talks about the operation of the shape itself, not the chart object.
How to make PPT combination graphics? One sentence conclusion
First select all the graphics that need to be moved together and perform the combination, and they will become a whole; when drawing a horizontal line, hold down the Shift key and drag, the line will be locked in the horizontal direction.
| your situation | Recommended practices | reason |
|---|---|---|
| Several shapes are to be moved or scaled together | Select and combine | After combining, you only need to drag once, and the relative internal positions will not be misaligned. |
| After combining, you still need to change one of the graphics. | Hold down Ctrl and click to select a single object and then modify it | No need to disassemble the combination, the layout structure remains unchanged |
| Layout needs to be reused on multiple pages | Copy after combining, or save the combination as a template page | Reduce the time of repeated alignment |
| Need a dividing line | Line tool and Shift key drag | Shift locks the angle, making it easier to keep it level than manual dragging |
| Both ends of the horizontal line should be aligned with the edge of the title | First use the alignment tool to position, and then decide whether to combine | Alignment before combination, more stable position after combination |
Before you start: Confirm these points first
- confirm object type . Shapes, text boxes, pictures, and lines can usually be combined, but the rules for tables and partially embedded objects are different. Check the object type when it cannot be combined, and then decide whether to take it apart or put it another way. - confirm whether subsequent individual modifications are required . After the combination, the text of a single drawing can still be edited, but you must go inside the group before you can select a single object. If you plan to change frequently, you can put the graphics first and then combine them to reduce repeated splits. - align and then combine . The combination will fix the current relative position, and if you find that the left and right edges are not aligned after the combination, you have to readjust the whole when you modify it, and the operation will be more complicated. - clarify the purpose of the horizontal line . Whether the separator is decorated or aligned to the guide determines its thickness, color, and whether it should be placed in the same combination as other graphics. - pay attention to the purpose and version of the document . The location of different versions of PPT interface is different, this article only focuses on general operations. When you encounter commands that can not be found, you can enter keywords such as combinations, lines and so on in the search or help of the software.
# steps to combine graphics and draw horizontal lines in a slide
- Select the drawing : hold down the Shift key and click the objects you want to combine one by one, or drag the box selection range in the space. When selecting the box, be careful to circle only the target graphics and avoid selecting the text box or background together.
- execute combination : right-click to find the combined command in the pop-up menu. You can also use the shortcut key Ctrl+G (Command+G on Mac). When the assembly is complete, the check box becomes an overall bounding box.
- modify the graphics in the combination separately : hold down Ctrl and click on the combination (Command plus click on Mac), you can select one of the graphics, modify the color or text, and then operate directly, without having to disassemble the whole combination.
- Select Line tool : find the line in the shape library, click the start point on the page, and get ready to start drawing.
- Lock horizontal with Shift : hold down the Shift key and drag from left to right to the finish line and release the mouse. The lines are generated horizontally and do not tilt.
- format lines : adjust the thickness and color of lines in formatting. Check the height value of the line. If 0, it is a standard horizontal line.
- align and merge into the layout : use the alignment tool to align the left and right ends of the horizontal line with the title or graphic edge. If the horizontal line belongs to this layout, then combine it with the relevant graphics to facilitate the overall movement.
# check item by item after completion
| Check item | What do you think? | What if there's a problem? |
|---|---|---|
| Overall movement | Drag the combination to see if all the graphics move together | If any individual graphics are separated, select the combination and reassemble it to ensure the integrity of the box selection. |
| Is the horizontal line horizontal? | Zoom in on the page to see if both ends of the line are equal in height, and view the height value | Press and hold Shift to redraw, or change the height to 0 in formatting |
| Alignment and spacing | Compare the left and right edges and upper and lower spacing of the title or other graphics | After uncombining, use the alignment tool to adjust, and then reassemble |
| Whether the text is editable | Check the text box within the combination and try to modify the text | If it cannot be edited, check to see if it is mistakenly converted to a picture, and reinsert the text box if necessary |
| The effect after changing the equipment | Open it on another computer and check whether the font and position have changed. | When the font is missing, you can embed the font, or change it to a common font and then check it. |
# frequently asked questions (FAQ)
1. Can you change the color of a figure separately after the combination?
Sure. Hold down Ctrl on the combination (Command + click on Mac), select the graphic in the combination first, and then change the color, and other graphics will not be affected.
2. The horizontal line is still a little crooked, what should I do?
Press and hold the Shift key to redraw first, which ensures that the angle is horizontal. If there is still a deviation, change the line height to 0 in the formatting, and then use the alignment tool to adjust the position.
3. How do you take it apart after the combination?
Select the combination and find the ungrouped command in the right-click menu, or you can use the shortcut key Ctrl+Shift+G (Command+Shift+G on Mac). After being taken apart, each drawing reverts to independent objects, which can be adjusted separately.
4. Received is the PDF version of the slide, can you still combine graphics?
The graphics in PDF pages are usually fixed content, and the combination operation of PPT is not applicable to PDF. If you only want to modify the paragraph text, you can rewrite it directly using the PDF editor of the OmniDoc desktop client; to adjust the graphics and layout, you still need to go back to the original PPT file.
# Summary
PPT combination graphics how to do, the core is to first align, then select, and finally combine; draw horizontal lines with the help of the Shift key to ensure the level. Save the common layout combinations, and then modify and reuse them will save a lot of time.
