Working with Shapes 931
Working with Shapes
Publisher provides tools for creating several types of shapes, including lines, arrows,
ovals, rectangles, stars, banners, and many more. With a little imagination, you will
discover countless ways to create drawings by combining shapes.
When you create a shape in Publisher, you drag the pointer across the page to define
the size of the shape. After you draw the shape, it is surrounded by a set of handles,
indicating that it is selected. (You can select a shape at any time by simply clicking it.)
When a shape is selected, the Drawing Tools Format contextual tab appears on the
ribbon. Using the commands on this tab, you can change an existing shape, add text
to the shape, apply a preformatted visual style, fill the shape with color, give the shape
a three-dimensional appearance, and apply other formatting options.
You can easily insert text within a shape. Simply select the shape by clicking it, and then
start typing. Publisher treats the text area of the shape as a text box. (A separate text box
is not created.) You can then format the text by selecting it and using the commands in
the Font group of the Text Box Tools Format contextual tab that appears.Manipulating Shapes.
You move and copy shapes just as you do other page elements. To move a shape from
one location to another on the same page, you simply point to the shape, and when
the pointer becomes a four-headed arrow, drag the shape to its new location, using the
coordinates shown on the status bar to position it precisely. (You can create a copy of a
selected shape by dragging it while holding down the Ctrl key.) You can also reposition
a shape by changing settings on the Layout page of the Format AutoShape dialog box.
Keyboard Shortcut Hold down the Shift key while moving a shape to restrict the position
change to a horizontal or vertical movement.
The handles around a selected shape serve the same sizing and rotating purposes as
those around any other object. You can use the dimensions shown on the status bar to
adjust the size precisely, or you can set the size of the shape in the Size group on the
Drawing Tools Format tab or on the Size page of the Format AutoShape dialog box.
You can rotate it by using the Rotate Or Flip command on the Arrange menu.
After drawing a shape, you can fill it with color, change the color and width of the border,
or apply a Shape Style by using the commands in the Shape Styles group on the Drawing
Tools Format tab.