using powerpoint tables I want lock a shape into a field

[Mark]

 

[Sonia]

You'll have to give us a bit more information. What version of PowerPoint are
you using? By "field" do you mean a "cell" of the table? What does lock mean
to you? Does it mean that you don't want it to be deleted, or you don't want it
to be moved?

 

[Mark]

I'm using PowerPoint 2002. I do mean cell of a table and I do not want the
shape to move as I adjust the table rows and/or columns.

 

[Sonia]

Maybe I don't understand what you mean by "shape" then. If I add a drawing
object to the table, say a rectangle, it is really not part of the table. If I
adjust the row height or the column width it doesn't move. If I "send it to
back" the table's presence will prevent me from even accidentally moving it.
What type of shape do you mean?

 

[Mark]

Your getting to the root of my issue (which I do not think is a feature of
tables). I need the rectangle to be part of the table so that the shapes
stay stationary in the cell it is inserted into as the rows and columns are
adjusted. Just like text stays in a cell in need the shape in a cell. Does
this make sense now?

 

[Sonia]

Well, you could create an image (in a graphics program) and then insert it as a
Fill Effect for the cell. That's the only way I can think of to make the shape
a part of the cell and still retain the table and be able to do table
"operations" on it. The other approach would be to ungroup the table and insert
the rectangle and then regroup everything, but when you do that you lose the
"table features" and end up with just a bunch of rectangles grouped together.

 

[Mark]

Can you give me more info on the fill effect? I know how to create an image
but not sure how to use the fill effect. This could be the answer I'm
looking for. Yes, I do need to retain the table operations. Thanks, Mark

 

[Sonia]

Put your cursor in the cell and on the Tables and Borders toolbar click on the
arrowhead on paint bucket and select Fill Effects and then click on the Picture
tab.