The foundation of text in PowerPoint 2010 is simple: just click where you want your
text, and type. If you make a mistake like I did, that's okay - you can use Backspace
or Delete to fix it.
There may be a time when you need to work with the text that's already in your presentation,
maybe to copy and paste it, or to move it to a different location. The first thing you
need to know is how to select text.
The text I'd like to select is the title I just typed, "Question 1." Just click, hold,
and drag your mouse over the text, then let go. See how it's highlighted blue? That means
the text is selected. And this little box is the hover toolbar, which gives you access
to formatting options like Bold, Italic, Font, and more. The same formatting options can
found in the Font group on the Home tab.
I was planning to use this title on the next slide too, where we reveal the answer to Question
1. Why don't we just copy and paste the text now that we have it selected? Start by clicking
the Copy command in the Clipboard group. Now choose where you want the text to go - in
my case, the title placeholder on the next slide - then click Paste.
You can also get to these commands by right-clicking in your presentation. For example, to cut
and paste, select your text; now right-click, then choose Cut. The original text will disappear,
and you'll be able to paste it anywhere you want by right-clicking again. The Paste Options
determine how it's going to look. Just hover over the icon to see a preview before you
choose. I think I'm going to keep the source formatting, so the text stays bulleted.
If you want to move a selection of text from one place to another, you can use the drag
and drop technique. First select the text; now click, hold, and drag it where you want
it to go. You might need to make some corrections with your keyboard. There, that looks great.
I think that does it for the text on my question and answer slides. Now you know the very basics,
including inserting and deleting text; cut, copy, and paste; and drag and drop - everything
you need to work with text in PowerPoint 2010.