Manipulate callout boxes in PowerPoint 2007

J

j.stammer

Can someone help me understand how to manipulate the callout boxes in
PowerPoint 2007?

In previous versions, I create the callout box and ppt would
automatically move the connector line to whatever side made the most
sense. It seems now that it does not do that and it makes it difficult
to move the line around and maintain a consistent location.

Also, these lines do not seem to be connector lines like they were in
previous versions.

I've searched around and haven't found any information about changes
made to callout boxes or how to manipulate them. It seems to have gone
backward and they worked better before.

Any help you can provide would be much appreciated!

Jodi
 
J

j.stammer

Yes, the callouts with lines. Although, I might be mistaken by
thinking they used to be connectors that snapped to shape.

However, they still do not work the same way. In the past version,
when you move the line to where you want it, the line would
autmatically move to the other side of the box if that made more
sense. Now in order to do that, I have to rotate/flip the box. I think
what they've done is tried to provide more flexibility in moving the
lines and segments of the line, but it's too much to the point the
line no longer looks connected to the box.

Normally, I despise when PPT is allowed to make decisions for me and I
don't have the control I need. However, in this case, the "detached"
line segments make it very difficult to manipulate the callouts the
way I want them and also stay consistent.

If it's still not clear what I'm talking about, let me know. Maybe I
can provide an example.
 
P

PPTMagician

Hi,

I checked out what you're talking about and you're correct in your
assessment. In PPT 2003, if you stretch the callout line to the other side
of the callout box, it will automatically "jump" to the other side as well as
offset the callout box by one full shape size. In 2007, this behavior is
corrected. I say corrected because, judging by the presence of the edit
points, the expected behavior would be for both edit points to be custom set
by the user and not jumped on their own nor automatically moved the callout
shape.
 
J

j.stammer

I wouldn't say "corrected" because these new callouts are not as easy
to use as they were before. Again, I will stress that I normally
despise things that are made "easy" that don't allow me any control,
but these callouts are messy, time consuming, and hard to use in an
environment that was changed drastically to make things "simpler."

Messy and time consuming, because:
* I can move the yellow point/line to the other side, but I cannot
easily keep the point/line a consistant distance from the box.
* If I move one line, I have to move them all.
* I can't even constrain the lines to stay horizontal or vertical so
they look as neat as they do when you first insert the callout. I
think in the old version, only the last line segment was allowed to
move freely

Am I using the callouts wrong or is there something more I should be
doing when manipulating them?

I'm not sure I understand what you're saying about the previous
"expected behavior." I would "expect" these work at least similar to
before and if more control is needed you'd use the ALT or CTRL key or
"edit points."

Jodi
 
E

Echo S

What I don't like in 2007 is that the line itself -- the part connected to
the rectangle -- doesn't stay put.

In 2003, if I inserted a callout and then clicked the edge of the
rectangular part and dragged the object, the entire object moved, but the
line endpoint stayed put -- the end of the line/connector part acted kind of
like a connector. That is, if I moved the end to point to something and then
moved the rectangle part, the end stayed put and the line/connector
increased or decreased size as I moved the rectangle around. I generally
liked this behavior.

(For the record, I was thinking that in 2003, you had to move the endpoint
of the line before it stayed "connected." That is, if you didn't touch the
end of the line and just clicked and dragged the rectangular part, the whole
thing would move -- rather like it works now in 2007. I actually got that to
happen once a few minutes ago, but I can't seem to repro it! Shoot.)

I suspect the difference in 2007 stems from that lack of "connectedness." If
that end stayed "connected" to whatever you pointed it at, the line would
flip sides as you'd move the shape around the way it does in 2003.

I confess that this behavior sometimes drove me nuts in 2003, though,
especially with the various line callouts. I don't recall it being a problem
with the rectanglular, oval, and cloud callouts. Since the lines on the
callouts are easier to manipulate in 2007, I'd like to see them work like
connectors -- but I'd think the setting would have to be user-specified
because I can see it being a problem, too....

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP] http://www.echosvoice.com
What's new in PowerPoint 2007? http://www.echosvoice.com/2007.htm
(New!) The PowerPoint 2007 Complete Makeover Kit http://tinyurl.com/2qzlpl
Fixing PowerPoint Annoyances
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/powerpointannoy/index.html
 
J

j.stammer

Yes, that speaks to one of the problems I wrote in my original post.
But I couldn't remember exactly how it worked and thought maybe I was
mistaken about the connector thing. I don't have access to v2003 today
so I couldn't compare.

But yes, in addition to my other points, the lack of connectedness is
a real pain. It seems like a mistake. I'm not sure what the usefulness
of the callout shape is anymore. It is faster, easier, and neater for
me to draw a shape and a connector line and manipulate those than to
use the line callout shapes.

So, as a PPT MVP, do you have superpowers to get it fixed? :)

Jodi
 
E

Echo S

j.stammer said:
Yes, that speaks to one of the problems I wrote in my original post.
But I couldn't remember exactly how it worked and thought maybe I was
mistaken about the connector thing. I don't have access to v2003 today
so I couldn't compare.

But yes, in addition to my other points, the lack of connectedness is
a real pain. It seems like a mistake. I'm not sure what the usefulness
of the callout shape is anymore. It is faster, easier, and neater for
me to draw a shape and a connector line and manipulate those than to
use the line callout shapes.

So, as a PPT MVP, do you have superpowers to get it fixed? :)
Click to expand...

Nope, sorry. Sure wish I did.

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP] http://www.echosvoice.com
What's new in PowerPoint 2007? http://www.echosvoice.com/2007.htm
(New!) The PowerPoint 2007 Complete Makeover Kit http://tinyurl.com/2qzlpl
Fixing PowerPoint Annoyances
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/powerpointannoy/index.html
 

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