Inserting SmartArt in PowerPoint 2007 for Windows

SmartArt is a visual option in PowerPoint and some other Microsoft Office programs that allows you to create diagrams easily. Not only can you create SmartArt content from scratch, but did you know that you can convert your conventional bullet points into a SmartArt diagram? Clearly, there is so much to learn about SmartArt.

In this tutorial, you'll learn how to insert SmartArt graphics within PowerPoint. If you are new to SmartArt, do also take a look at the What is SmartArt? and SmartArt Samples pages.

Follow these steps to insert a new SmartArt graphic in PowerPoint 2007 for Windows:

1. Create a new presentation, or open an existing presentation in PowerPoint.
2. When you insert a new slide in PowerPoint, it uses the default Title Slide layout.

New Slides and Slide Layouts

Learn how to insert a new slide and how to change the slide layout in PowerPoint 2007.
3. Click the Layout button in the Home tab of the Ribbon to bring up the Layout gallery, as shown in Figure 1, below. Select any of the layouts that include a Content placeholder, the small palette like collection of multicolored buttons visible on some of the slide layouts, as shown in Figure 1.
4. 
   Figure 1: Choose a slide layout that includes a content placeholder
3. Either way, you'll end up with a new slide that includes a content placeholder. Click the Insert SmartArt Graphic button among the six buttons in the content placeholder that you can see in the slide within Figure 2, below.
4. 
   Figure 2: Content Placeholder
5. Alternatively, if you want to insert a SmartArt graphic in an existing slide that has no content placeholder, just select the Insert tab of the Ribbon, and click the SmartArt button, as shown in Figure 3, below.
6. 
   Figure 3: Insert SmartArt Graphic button
4. Either of these options opens the Choose a SmartArt Graphic dialog box, as shown in Figure 4, below.
5. 
   Figure 4: Choose a SmartArt graphic
6. The left pane lists the types of SmartArt graphics available.
7. The middle area displays SmartArt graphic variants within the selected type.
8. Finally, the area towards the right shows a preview of the selected SmartArt graphic along with a brief description.
5. Select any of the SmartArt graphic variants you want to insert, and click the OK button.
6. Doing so places the selected SmartArt graphic on the slide, as shown in Figure 5, below.
7. 
   Figure 5: Inserted SmartArt graphic
7. When the SmartArt graphic is placed on the slide, click the arrows located on the left side, as shown highlighted in red within Figure 5, above, to open the Text Pane, as shown in Figure 6, below.
8. 
   Figure 6: SmartArt graphic Text Pane
8. Any text content added or edited within the Text Pane shows up within the SmartArt graphic as well.
9. Save your presentation often.