Video: Group shapes or pictures

Group shapes when you have multiple shapes that you want to treat as a unit.

For example, this rectangle with text inside looks like one unit, but these are actually two shapes.

The rectangle is one shape— when I click it, we see it selected— and the text is contained in a second shape, a text box.

So, if I move the rectangle — I’ll point and drag the four-pointed cursor to do so — the text, in its text box, is left behind.

To move the two shapes together, I need to first select them both.

I’ll click to select the rectangle, then press and hold Ctrl while I click to select the text box.

With both shapes selected, I can move them as a unit.

But I’ll always have to select both shapes to do so.

To avoid that, I’ll group the shapes.

With the shapes selected, I’ll point to them and right-click the four-pointed cursor, point to Group, and click Group. That groups them into a unit.

Now, they have just a single selection box around them, and they move together.

I have added two more rectangles with text, and I have grouped each rectangle with its text box.

So, each shape and its text move as a unit.

Next, I want to work with all the shapes as a unit.

First, I’ll select them — this time, to select, I am going to drag a big box around the shapes.

Then, I’ll right-click one of the selected shapes, point to Group, and click Group.

The shapes are grouped. The selection box now encompasses all of them, and they move as one unit.

A nice advantage to grouping shapes is that I can change them as a unit.

For example, to make them bigger, I point to a corner and drag the two-pointed cursor down diagonally.

I can format all the shapes at once, too.

With the group selected, I’ll click the DRAWING TOOLS FORMAT tab,and click Shape Effects.

Then I’ll point to Shadow, and choose a shadow effect.

It applies to the group.

Grouping also lets me position the shapes as a unit.

Keeping the group selected, I’ll click Align Objects on the FORMAT tab.

Then I’ll click Align Center to center the group horizontally on the slide.

Next, I’ll click Align Objects again, and click Align Middle to center the group vertically.

Up next: Group and format pictures.