Auto-fix text problems

[kesbos]

Hi, I have just got my first apple (macbook pro) and also got office
2004 student edition. When I use powerpoint, I can not for the life of
me get the text to shrink in order to stay in the text box (which it
has done for every other edition of powerpoint I have ever used). When
I type the text just stays the same size and either the box enlarges
with the text or just runs outside the box. I first went into
preferences>edit and checked that "auto fit text to text place holder"
was on, and also tried turning it off which changed nothing. I have
tried going into format>autoshape>text box and then turning on and off
"word wrap text" and "resize autoshape to fit text" but no luck. I have
tried re-installing the program, and have downloaded the most recent
upgrades. If someone could please help me I would be soooo appreciative
(this thing has killed a lot of hours in my life and is generally
bloody anoying). Thanks very much

 

[Jim Gordon MVP]

Hi,

There are several different kinds of text boxes in PowerPoint, but the
two main types are "placeholder" text boxes and for a lack of a specific
term: all other text boxes.

Placeholder text boxes are the boxes that are available from the Slide
Layout options on the SlideShow menu and the Formatting Palette. The
setting "Autofit text to text placeholder" you found in preferences
affects only this kind of text box.

All other text boxes are controlled by the Format settings for the text
box or autoshape.

One way to control the text size is to select the text you wish to
control (drag over it and highlight the text). Use the Font size
setting on the Formatting Palette to adjust the size to your liking.

To control the properties of all the text within a box and also the box
itself, double-click on the shaded frame of the box. Or use Edit>Select
all to select all of the text within a text box and use the Formatting
Palette to adjust the settings.

The formatting palette is context sensitive. It displays the things you
can change and control based upon what you have selected.

-Jim Gordon
Mac MVP