Semi-Circles Again in PowerPoint 2003 for Windows

Geetesh Bajaj

September 10, 2009

Learn how to create a semi-circle using an alternate approach in PowerPoint 2003 for Windows. This technique is based on the structure provided by Echo Swinford.

Since there is no easy, intuitive way to create semi-circles in PowerPoint 2003, we already showed you three ways to create them! And now here's one more way to do just that but this might be the easiest of them all. Thanks to PowerPoint MVP Echo Swinford who provided the structure based on which we created these steps. Echo has authored one of the best PowerPoint books ever written. It's called Fixing PowerPoint Annoyances, and it was written for PowerPoint 2003 and earlier versions—snap a copy as soon as you can!

OK, here's the actual process:

Get started with a blank slide. Now, access the Drawing toolbar, and choose AutoShapes | More AutoShapes, as shown in Figure 1, below.
Figure 1: More AutoShapes
Doing so brings up the Clip Art task pane with lots of extra shapes. Scroll down this pane until you find the Chord shape, as shown in Figure 2, below. Drag it to your slide.
Figure 2: Chord shape
Once it is in your slide, you'll notice that the semi-circle placed here has a shadow, as shown in Figure 3, below.
Figure 3: Semi-circle

To get rid of that shadow, you can click the Shadow icon in the Drawing toolbar, and click the No Shadow option in the resultant menu as shown in Figure 4, below.
Figure 4: No Shadow
Now, you have a semi-circle without a shadow, as shown in Figure 5, below. Notice the green rotation handle on the top of the shape. You can use that to rotate your semi-circle as required.
Figure 5: Semi-circle