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Delete Shapes from an Existing SmartArt Graphic in PowerPoint 2011 for Mac

Author: Geetesh Bajaj

Product/Version: Microsoft PowerPoint 2011
OS: Mac OS X

Date Created: September 23rd 2011
Last Updated: September 23rd 2011

Excerpt/Capsule: Learn how to delete shapes from an existing SmartArt graphic in PowerPoint 2011 for Mac.

SmartArt graphics in PowerPoint are so versatile -- once you insert a SmartArt graphic (or convert some bulleted text to SmartArt), you can add more shapes with just a click or two. This lets you expand your graphic as required. You can also go in the opposite direction and delete shapes from any existing SmartArt graphic with the same ease. Follow these steps to delete shapes from your SmartArt graphics in PowerPoint 2011 for Mac:

1. Select your existing SmartArt graphic, as shown in Figure 1. The SmartArt graphic variant that we are using (and have selected) is the Diverging Radial.
   
   
   Figure 1: Diverging Radial SmartArt graphic selected
   
   
   Related Link: See more SmartArt graphic samples here.
   
   
   
2. Select the shape within your SmartArt graphic which you want to delete (see Figure 2). We have selected the top most circle with Dubai written inside it (refer to Figure 2 again).
   
   
   Figure 2: Shape to be deleted is selected within the SmartArt graphic
   
   
   Note: To delete a shape with text written within it, carefully click the border of the shape to select it. Clicking within the shape will select the text rather than the shape.
   
   
   
3. Now, just press the Delete key on the keyboard. Alternatively, you can delete the selected shape through the Text Pane. To access the Text Pane, click the Text Pane icon that you can see highlighted in red in Figure 2, above. In the resulting Text Pane, make sure that the text representing the shape to be deleted is selected, and click the Delete icon (the icon with a red minus sign) that you can see highlighted in red in Figure 3.
   
   
   Figure 3: Shape to be deleted selected within the Text Pane
   
   
4. Either way, you will delete the selected shape from the selected SmartArt graphic. Figure 4 shows the Diverging Radial SmartArt graphic that auto-adjusted itself after the selected shape was deleted. Compare Figures 1 and 4 to see the difference.
   
   
   Figure 4: Selected shape deleted from the Diverging Radial SmartArt graphic
   
   

See Also:

Delete Shapes from an Existing SmartArt Graphic in PowerPoint 2016 for Windows
Delete Shapes from an Existing SmartArt Graphic in PowerPoint 2013 for Windows
Delete Shapes from an Existing SmartArt Graphic in PowerPoint 2010 for Windows