Adding Shapes to Existing SmartArt Graphics in PowerPoint 2011 for Mac

While many of PowerPoint's SmartArt graphic variants are so usable, there may be times when you want to add an extra shape or two to your SmartArt graphic. At this point of time, we are assuming that you already know how to insert a new SmartArt graphic or convert existing bulleted text to SmartArt. Fortunately, the SmartArt feature allows you to make these additions and edits with just a click or two. You can add one or more shapes to your existing SmartArt graphics either from within the SmartArt graphic itself, or through the Text Pane. Whether you can add a new shape to a SmartArt graphic or not depends entirely on the SmartArt variant that you are using. Some variants offer more options than the others.

Follow these steps to add more shapes to your SmartArt graphics in PowerPoint 2011 for Mac:

1. Select your existing SmartArt graphic, as shown in Figure 1, below. The SmartArt graphic variant that we have selected is the Diverging Radial. Next, select a shape within the SmartArt graphic depending upon where you want to insert a new shape. We selected the rightmost shape, as you can see.
2. 
   Figure 1: Shape selected in Diverging Radial SmartArt

SmartArt Ideas

See more SmartArt graphic samples here.




2. Right-click the selected shape to summon the contextual menu, as shown in Figure 2, below. From the contextual menu, choose the Add Shape option to bring up a sub-menu.
3. 
   Figure 2: Add Shape sub-menu options
4. Add Shape sub-menu options are explained below:

Add Shape After

5. Inserts a shape at the same level after the selected shape.

Add Shape Before

6. Inserts a shape at the same level before the selected shape.

Add Shape Above

7. Inserts a shape one level above the selected shape.

Add Shape Below

8. Inserts a shape one level below the selected shape.

Add Assistant

9. Inserts a shape which is hierarchically lower than the selected shape. Add Assistant is only available for SmartArt graphics from the Hierarchy category, such as an organization chart.

Grayed Out Options

As you can see, the last three options in Figure 2 are grayed out. This is because these options logically don't work with the SmartArt graphic variant being used (Diverging Radial). Each SmartArt graphic variant will allow some options, and gray out the others.
10. You can also add a shape to the selected SmartArt graphic through Text Pane. To access the Text Pane, click the Text Pane icon, as shown highlighted in red within Figure 1, above. In the resultant Text pane, as shown in Figure 3, below, make sure that the line representing your shape in the bulleted list is active. Then, click the Add button, as shown highlighted in red within Figure 3, below. Doing so adds a new shape within your SmartArt graphic and a new line in the bulleted text within the Text Pane. You can also press the Return / Enter key, and you'll see that your SmartArt graphic has a new shape added.
11. 
    Figure 3: Add button in the Text Pane
3. Figure 4, below, shows a new shape has been added within the previously selected Diverging Radial SmartArt. Compare it with Figure 1, as shown previously on this page.
4. 
   Figure 4: New shape added within the SmartArt graphic