Shape Union Command in PowerPoint 2016 for Windows

Union is part of the Merge Shapes commands in PowerPoint 2016 for Windows, this lets you unite two or more shapes with each other. The benefit of the Shape Union option is that you can quickly create complex shapes that may not have been easy to accomplish otherwise within PowerPoint. You can see examples of the Union option in play within Figure 1, below. The three examples on the top area of the slide are separate shapes placed over each other. The shapes that you see at the bottom of the slide are the same shapes with the Union option applied—resulting in a single, unified shape.

Figure 1: Samples showing use of the Union command

Once you finish reading this tutorial, do view the sample presentations embedded on the bottom of this page to see more samples of shapes that use the Union command.

The Union command is one of Merge Shape commands in PowerPoint 2016 for Windows. Follow these steps to learn more:

1. Select any two or more shapes as shown in Figure 2. With these shapes selected, access the Drawing Tools Format tab on the Ribbon (highlighted in red within Figure 2).
2. 
   Figure 2: Drawing Tools Format tab
Note: The Drawing Tools Format tab is a Contextual tab. These tabs are special tabs on 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.
2. Within the Drawing Tools Format tab, click the Merge Shapes button (highlighted in red within Figure 3). This brings up the Merge Shapes drop-down gallery (highlighted in blue within Figure 3).
3. 
   Figure 3: Merge Shapes drop-down gallery
3. Within the Merge Shapes drop-down gallery, hover the cursor over Union option to see a Live Preview of how the shapes will look when united, as shown in Figure 4. Click the Union option to unite the selected shapes.
4. 
   Figure 4: Previously selected shapes are United
4. Save your presentation often.

Do remember these guidelines for any tasks that involve the usage of this command. The Union command:

• Combines all overlapping and non-overlapping areas of shapes
• Subtracts nothing
• Retains formatting of first selected shape

You will see these guidelines in use within the embedded presentations below (scroll down this page).

The sample presentations below show how we used different shapes placed next to and above each other, and then united.

Click below to view this presentation on SlideShare

Click below to view this presentation on YouTube