Editing Text

Moving and Copying Text

You move and copy text like you do in Microsoft Word.

To move text using the Clipboard:

1. Select the text
2. Choose Edit > Cut (or choose Cut on the toolbar or press Ctrl/Cmd+X).
3. Place the cursor where you want the text to go.
4. Choose Edit > Paste (or choose Paste on the toolbar or press Ctrl/Cmd + V).

To copy text using the Clipboard:

1. Select the text
2. Choose Edit > Copy (or choose Copy on the toolbar or press Ctrl/Cmd+C).
3. Place the cursor where you want the text to go.
4. Choose Edit > Paste (or choose Paste on the toolbar or press Ctrl/Cmd + V).

Moving and copying text using drag-n-drop:

1. Select the text. (Then release the mouse button.)
2. Point to the text with the cursor.
3. Click and drag to the new location
4. To copy press Ctrl (PC)/Option (Mac) as you drag.

Editing Text in Text Placeholders

Editing text in a text placeholder is just like editing text anywhere else. However, sometimes you will find that you can't immediately select the text; instead, the entire placeholder moves. In that case, first select the placeholder and then drag across the text to select it.

Also, you can edit text in placeholders using the Outline pane/view. This is the best option is you want to edit text throughout your presentation. Note: Text in text boxes and WordArt do not appear on the outline.

Checking Spelling and Grammar

PowerPoint underlines misspelled words in red. To correct an error:

1. Move the mouse cursor over the error.
2. Right-click (PC)/press Ctrl and click (Mac).
3. Choose from the menu suggestions to correct the error. To ignore the error, choose Ignore All. To add the word to the custom dictionary, click Add. Add commonly used proper names to the custom dictionary so they don't appear as misspelled any more.

PowerPoint 2000 also checks certain style rules for you, such as headings in Title case and punctuation rules. In all cases, to specify spelling settings choose Tools > Options (PC) or Tools > Preferences (Mac). Click the Spelling tab, change any settings you want, and click OK.

Finding and Replacing Text

To find text, choose Edit > Find. Type the text you want to find in the Find What text box and click Find Next. Continue to click Find Next if necessary until you find what you want or reach the end of the presentation.

To replace text, choose Edit > Replace. Type the text you want to replace in the Find What text box and the new text you want to insert in the Replace With text box. Click Find Next. When you find an instance that you want to replace, click Replace. To replace all instances, click Replace All.

Caution: Be careful about using Replace All. For example, replacing "mac" with "PC" will also put "PC" in words like "smack" or "emaciate" resulting in sPCk and "ePCiate"!