Weekly Computer Tip # 377
12 October 2012

Copy shapes in a straight line, on the fly
(PowerPoint 2003-2010)

Have you ever had the need to create, say, three or more rectangles with exactly the same formatting and align them horizontally and/or vertically? Obviously, you can draw your first shape. Then copy it. Then use PowerPoint's align option. But did you know you can do all of this on the fly, using the magic SHIFT key.

Here's how:

1. Insert and format the shape, as normal.
2. Select the shape and while holding down the CTRL and SHIFT key, drag it vertically or horizontally.

Straight lines guaranteed!

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