Change SmartArt Graphic Layouts in PowerPoint 2010 for Windows

Inserting a SmartArt graphic within PowerPoint 2010 or even converting some bulleted text to SmartArt is easy, as you can choose from various SmartArt graphics variations available within PowerPoint. In this tutorial we'll show you how to change any existing SmartArt graphic to any other layout (type).

Follow these steps to explore how you can change SmartArt graphic layouts in PowerPoint 2010 for Windows:

1. Select your existing SmartArt graphic, as you can see in Figure 1, below. The SmartArt graphic variant that we have selected is the Diverging Radial.
2. 
   Figure 1: Diverging Radial SmartArt graphic
2. When the SmartArt graphic is selected, you'll find two contextual tabs activated on the Ribbon. These are the SmartArt Tools Design and the SmartArt Tools Format tabs, as shown highlighted in red within Figure 2, below. Select the SmartArt Tools Design tab.
3. 
   Figure 2: SmartArt Tools Design tab selected

Contextual Tabs

The SmartArt Tool Design and SmartArt Tool Format tabs are contextual tabs. These tabs are special tabs in the Ribbon that are not visible all the time. They only make an appearance when you are working with a particular slide object which can be edited using special options.
3. Within the SmartArt Tools Design tab, locate the Layouts group. Then, click the downward pointing arrow, as shown highlighted in red within Figure 3, below.
4. 
   Figure 3: Layouts group
4. Doing so brings up the SmartArt graphics Layouts drop-down gallery, as shown in Figure 4, below.
5. 
   Figure 4: SmartArt graphic Layout's drop-down gallery
5. Now, hover the cursor over any of the Layout's previews in the gallery. As you move over different previews, the selected SmartArt graphic shows you a Live Preview of the layout applied, as shown in Figure 5, below. Click on the preview thumbnail in the gallery to apply the layout to the selected SmartArt graphic.
6. 
   Figure 5: SmartArt graphic showing live preview of the layout selected

Don't Cover the Preview Area

Place your SmartArt graphic in an area that is not covered by the SmartArt Layouts drop-down gallery, so you can see the Live Preview.
6. To access additional SmartArt graphic layouts, click the More Layouts... option within the SmartArt Layouts gallery, as shown in Figure 6, below.
7. 
   Figure 6: More Layouts option selected
7. Doing so opens the Choose a SmartArt Graphic dialog box, as shown in Figure 7, below. Select any of the SmartArt graphic variants you want to change to, and click the OK button.
8. 
   Figure 7: Choose a SmartArt Graphic dialog box
8. Alternatively, you can even right-click on the SmartArt Graphic and from the contextual menu, choose the Change Layout option, as shown in Figure 8, below. Doing so will open the Choose a SmartArt Graphic dialog box, as shown in Figure 7, above.
9. 
   Figure 8: Change Layout option selected

Cleanup After Changing SmartArt Graphic Layouts

After changing your SmartArt graphic to another type, you may have to rearrange elements in your diagram and modify text attributes.