Delete Shapes from Existing SmartArt Graphics in PowerPoint 2011 for Mac

SmartArt graphics in PowerPoint are so versatile. Once you insert a SmartArt graphic or convert some bulleted text to SmartArt, you can add more shapes with a click or two. This lets you expand your graphic as needed. You can also go in the opposite direction and delete shapes from any existing SmartArt graphic with the same ease.

Follow these steps to delete shapes from your SmartArt graphics in PowerPoint 2011 for Mac:

1. Select your existing SmartArt graphic, as shown in Figure 1, below. The SmartArt graphic variant that we have selected is the Diverging Radial.
2. 
   Figure 1: Diverging Radial SmartArt graphic selected

SmartArt Ideas

See more SmartArt graphic samples here.
2. Select the shape within your SmartArt graphic that you want to delete. We have selected the top most circle that has the word, Dubai written, as shown in Figure 2, below.
3. 
   Figure 2: Shape to be deleted is selected within the SmartArt graphic

Select Shape, Not Text

To delete a shape that contains text, carefully click the border of the shape to select it. Clicking within the shape will select text rather than the shape.
3. Now, press the Delete key on the keyboard. Alternatively, you can delete the selected shape through the Text Pane. To access the Text Pane, click the Text Pane icon as shown highlighted in red within Figure 2, above. In the resulting Text Pane, make sure that the text representing the shape to be deleted is selected. Then, click the Delete icon (the icon with a red minus sign) as shown highlighted in red within Figure 3, below.
4. 
   Figure 3: Shape to be deleted selected within the Text Pane
4. Either way, you will delete the selected shape from the selected SmartArt graphic. Figure 4, below, shows the Diverging Radial SmartArt graphic that auto-adjusted itself after the selected shape was deleted. Compare Figures 1 and 4 to see the difference.
5. 
   Figure 4: Selected shape deleted from the Diverging Radial SmartArt graphic