how can I fill something with color after grouping it?

[Chuck]

I grouped four separate and uneven lines (like a parallelagram) then tried to
fill it but could not? How can I do that?

 

[John Wilson]

You need to use the freeform tool in draw>autoshapes>lines (middle bottom)
To use click a "corner" move to next corner and click etc to close click
at the start point
--

Did that answer the question / help?
_____________________________
John Wilson
Microsoft Certified Office Specialist
http://www.technologytrish.co.uk/ppttipshome.html

 

[Chuck]

That helped form the shape, but after grouping the lines, I was still unable
to fill it...

 

[Echo S]

You need to draw the shape from one continuous freeform line in order to be
able to fill it so it looks like a filled autoshape. (You can fill freeform
lines without closing them, but they sometimes look strange because one side
won't have a line.) You can't just group a bunch of lines and end up with a
fillable autoshape, though.

There's a tutorial for Bezier Curves on my site (URL in signature) that
might help you see what we're saying.

Another option is to draw an autoshape on the slide -- choose one that's
close to what you want. Hit Ctrl+X to cut it, then Edit|Paste Special and
choose to paste as WMF. Then Draw|Ungroup twice. Now you have a fillable
shape you can use Edit Points with and adjust to suit your needs.

 

[John Wilson]

If you didnt quite close the shape use right click close shape - dont group
--

Did that answer the question / help?
_____________________________
John Wilson
Microsoft Certified Office Specialist
http://www.technologytrish.co.uk/ppttipshome.html

 

[Chuck]

Thanks echo - I did try your first solution but I am a fairly picky person
and wasn't real happy with the results - I finally managed a workaround -
thanks also for the innovative second solution - Iwill try that as weell. Now
I know a couple of ways to skin the cat...

You need to draw the shape from one continuous freeform line in order to be
able to fill it so it looks like a filled autoshape. (You can fill freeform
lines without closing them, but they sometimes look strange because one side
won't have a line.) You can't just group a bunch of lines and end up with a
fillable autoshape, though.

There's a tutorial for Bezier Curves on my site (URL in signature) that
might help you see what we're saying.

Another option is to draw an autoshape on the slide -- choose one that's
close to what you want. Hit Ctrl+X to cut it, then Edit|Paste Special and
choose to paste as WMF. Then Draw|Ungroup twice. Now you have a fillable
shape you can use Edit Points with and adjust to suit your needs.

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP] http://www.echosvoice.com
What's new in PPT 2007? http://www.echosvoice.com/2007.htm
Fixing PowerPoint Annoyances http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/powerpointannoy/

That helped form the shape, but after grouping the lines, I was still
unable
to fill it...