Where are the SmartArt tools?

SmartArt graphics and tools are available in Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.

You can find all the tools for SmartArt graphics on the SmartArt toolbar. To activate the SmartArt toolbar, click on a SmartArt graphic. If your document doesn't already contain a graphic, create one by following the instructions in Create a SmartArt graphic.

You can find SmartArt tools on two tabs: the Format tab and the Design tab:

• The Design tab helps you change your SmartArt graphic's layout, to change the style, or to change the colors used in your SmartArt graphic.

• The Format tab helps you change the shapes in your SmartArt graphic, their style, and their colors. Here you'll also find tools to help you apply effects and text styles, and to change the size of your SmartArt graphic. With the tools in the Arrange group, you can edit the position and orientation of pictures and shapes, and alter the layout of text in your SmartArt graphic.

Quick access to the SmartArt tools

You can quickly edit your SmartArt graphic or the shapes in it by right-clicking on the SmartArt graphic or on a shape in your SmartArt graphic.

• To change a shape or shapes in your SmartArt graphic quickly, right-click on the shape to call up the shortcut menu. To edit more than one shape at the same time, hold down CTRL while clicking on each of the shapes to select them, and then right-click the selected shapes.

• To change a shape, for example from a circle to any other shape including arrows or stars, right-click the shape, click Change Shape, and select a shape from the list.

• To change the style or color or to add effects to a shape, right-click the shape, click Format Shape, and then choose the style, color, and effects that you want.

You can try many combinations to create your perfect SmartArt graphic. To change a shape in your SmartArt graphic back to its default settings, right-click the shape, and then click Reset Shape.