Microsoft Office SmartArt

Choose

Add a new blank slide in a PowerPoint presentation.

For this example, choose a Labeled Hierarchy diagram from the Hierarchy category.

1. Select the Hierarchy category
2. Select the Labeled Hierarchy option
3. Confirm the preview
4. Click the OK button

Text Pane

Resist the temptation to work in the diagram shapes themselves; use the Text Pane to create the diagram and the options on the SmartArt Design ribbon to manipulate it.

Below is a hierarchy that should make the Biology students feel at home. You can copy the text below and paste it into the Text Pane:

Organism
Archaea
Bacteria
Eukaryote
Protista
Plantae
Fungi
Animalia
Life
Domain
Kingdom

1. Activate the SmartArt Design menu
2. Expand (or collapse) the Text Pane using this button
3. Or activate the Text Pane using the Text Pane command button
4. The expanded Text Pane
5. Paste (or type) the bullet points in the Text Pane
6. The corresponding shape in the diagram contains the text from the bullet points

Promote/Demote

Use the Promote & Demote command buttons on the SmartArt Design ribbon to correct the hierarchical order. The slideshow below details the steps:

1. Select the Archaea bullet point (click anywhere in or next to the text)
2. Click the Demote command button
3. The Archaea bullet point is indented
4. The related shape in the diagram is moved
5. Select multiple items and Demote them simultaneously
6. Demoted items in the diagram
7. Select multiple items and Demote them multiple times simultaneously
8. Demoted items in the diagram

Move Up/Move Down

Use the Move up & Move Down command buttons in the SmartArt Design ribbon to reorder the kingdoms in alphabetical order:

1. Click in the Animalia bullet point in the Text Pane
2. Click repeatedly on the Move up command button until Animalia appears above Protista
3. The Animalia bullet point is now at the top of the list in the Text Pane
4. The Animalia shape has moved accordingly in the diagram

Use the Move Up and Move Down command buttons to order the remaining bullet points under Eukaryote.