Learn how you can get more SmartArt graphic variants.
Author: Geetesh Bajaj
Product/Version: Microsoft PowerPoint (all versions)
When Microsoft introduced SmartArt as part of Office 2007, it essentially created one of the most welcomed and used features in all of Microsoft Office programs. People loved this feature, and you will still find that so many users are amazed by the fact that you can convert some bulleted text on a PowerPoint slide into a graphic with one click!
In addition to creating SmartArt, and including a bunch of some great variants out of the box, Microsoft also created a way for individuals and developers to create their own custom SmartArt Layout files. These new SmartArt Layouts with the file extension, GLOX could drop into a designated folder, and this simple action would result in additional SmartArt graphics being available.
Unfortunately there was no rush of customized SmartArt graphics, and also, there was no clamor for more and more SmartArt graphics! Why did this happen?
This happened because creating SmartArt graphics on your own was not as simple as you may think. Very few additional SmartArt graphics have been created by third-party vendors yet, and that explains why most users are not aware that extra SmartArt graphics are an available option!
We started looking for online sources for GLOX files, and it seems that the offerings are very thin indeed. One site that did
have some GLOX files was the
Loki3 Diagrams site (see
Figure 1, below), which has provided all their GLOX content under the
Creative Commons license.
Figure 1: Download some SmartArt GLOX files
Thereafter, follow these steps:
Microsoft and the Office logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.