Format Text Attributes of SmartArt Graphics in PowerPoint 2011 for Mac

All SmartArt graphic layouts include text boxes. You can click within these text boxes and start typing to add text. In previous tutorials, we have shown you how to insert SmartArt graphics within PowerPoint and how you can convert bulleted text to SmartArt graphics.

Follow these steps to explore the ways to format text within SmartArt graphics in PowerPoint 2011 for Mac:

1. Select your existing SmartArt graphic, and click the Text Pane icon, as shown highlighted in red within Figure 1, below.
2. 
   Figure 1: SmartArt graphic selected
2. Doing so makes the Text Pane visible on the left side of the SmartArt graphic, as shown in Figure 2, below. In the Text Pane, select text which you want to format. In Figure 2, you can see that in the Text Pane, the first bulleted text Charts has been selected, and you can also see the selection being reflected in the SmartArt graphic.
3. 
   Figure 2: Text selected within the Text Pane
3. At this stage, you can proceed with any of the following options to format the selected text:
1. You can use text formatting options within the Formatting Toolbar, as shown highlighted in red within Figure 3, below. To learn more about options within the Formatting Toolbar, read our Formatting Toolbar in PowerPoint 2011 for Mac tutorial.
2. 
   Figure 3: Formatting Toolbar
2. The second option is the Format tab, as shown highlighted in blue within Figure 3, above. If you want to apply some styles and effects to the selected text, click on the Format tab on the Ribbon. Within this tab, locate the Text Styles group, as shown in Figure 4, below. This group includes options to apply some readymade styles and effects to the selected text.
3. 
   Figure 4: Text Styles group within Format tab

Contextual Tabs

The Format tab is a contextual tab. This is a special tab on the Ribbon that is not visible all the time. This tab only makes an appearance when you are working with a particular slide object which can be edited using special options.
4. You can also summon the Format Text dialog box which includes almost all text formatting options. To do so, right-click (or Ctrl + click)the selected text within the Text Pane. From the contextual menu that appears, select the Font option, as shown in Figure 5, below.
5. 
   Figure 5: Font option selected
6. Doing so brings up the Format Text dialog box, as shown in Figure 6, below. This dialog box includes all possible text editing options such as changing the font, style, text fill, text line, effects etc. Select text formatting options as required. Then, click the OK button to apply the changes and get back to the slide.
7. 
   Figure 6: Format Text dialog box
5. Figure 7, below, shows selected text within the SmartArt graphic after some text formatting was applied. Compare with Figure 1 to see the difference.
6. 
   Figure 7: SmartArt text formatted
6. Save your presentation often.