PowerPoint Tip – Quickly Create Duplicate Shapes

It’s May, we’re still in lock down, but we’re still here, so enjoy this ‘Keep it Simple’ tip.

This month it is a PowerPoint tip that will show you how to quickly (and very cleverly) create duplicate shapes.
You can view the video or follow the step-by-step shown underneath.

Enjoy and remember: Please Stay Safe and Keep it Simple!

Hello there!

  • Today, we’re looking at PowerPoint and I’ve got a fabulous tip to speed up recreating a shape – over and over!

Step 1

  • I’ll start by going to the Drawing Tools on the Home tab – and selecting the right-facing Arrow.

Drawing Tools on the Home tab

  • I’ll draw it out onto the slide – then move it up so that it is positioned at the centre point.

Add Arrow Shape

  • Any formatting that you want to do too the shape – should be done now.
  • I’ll put on an orange colour – and from Shape Effects – I’ll choose Bevel.

  • Also – put in any text.
  • I’ll type: ‘Step 1’

That’s my shape done, and what I want now – is to have another 5 of these – going across the slide – so that it will say: Step 1, Step 2 etc.

Step 2

  • Select the shape.
  • Hold down CTRL on the keyboard and press the letter D – once – to create a Duplicate.

Press CTRL + D to make a duplicate

  • Grab the duplicated shape and position it to the right of the first shape – using the guides on the slide to line it up.

Two arrows lined up side by side

  • Once that is done – the important thing is: Do NOT DE-SELECT the Shape!

Image says: Do NOT de-select

Step 3

  • Press CTRL + Doncetwicethree times – and four times!

CTRL + D creates Duplicates across the slide

  • By NOT de-selecting – it was able to duplicate the shape – AND – its positionAND its spacing!

Wow!

How fab is that!

  • Now, all that remains is to change the step number – in each of the arrows – then the whole row is done!

Different step numbers in each arrow

Easy!

Thank you for watching and I’ll be back with another useful ‘Keep it Simple‘ tip – next month!

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