Types of Connectors in PowerPoint 2010 for Windows

In a previous tutorial, you learnt what Smart connectors are. In this tutorial, you'll learn more about the types of connectors. In a subsequent tutorial, you will learn how you can draw these connectors in PowerPoint 2010 for Windows.

PowerPoint 2010 for Windows provides three types of connectors. You can read more about them on this page, and scroll down the page to see an online presentation showing their examples.

Straight Connectors

These are straight lines that connect one shape to another, as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1: Straight connector, connecting two shapes

Straight connectors can have arrowheads on one or both ends. You thus end up with three variants of straight connectors, that you can choose from the Shapes gallery, as shown in Figure 2:

1. Straight connector with no arrowheads, or
2. Straight connector with an arrowhead on any one end, or
3. Straight connector with arrowheads on both ends
4. 
   Figure 2: Straight connector variants found in the Shapes gallery

Elbow Connectors

These are segmented lines that connect one shape to another, as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3: Elbow connector, connecting two shapes

Elbow connectors can also have arrowheads on one or both ends. You thus end up with three variants of elbow connectors, that you can choose from the Shapes gallery, as shown in Figure 4:

1. Elbow connector with no arrowheads, or
2. Elbow connector with an arrowhead on any one end, or
3. Elbow connector with arrowheads on both ends
4. 
   Figure 4: Elbow connector variants found in the Shapes gallery

Curved Connectors

These are curves that connect one shape to another, as shown in Figure 5.

Figure 5: Curved connector, connecting two shapes

Like straight and elbow connectors, curved connectors can also have arrowheads on one or both ends. You thus end up with three variants of curved connectors, that you can choose from the Shapes gallery, as shown in Figure 6:

1. Curved connector with no arrowheads, or
2. Curved connector with an arrowhead any on one end, or
3. Curved connector with arrowheads on both ends
4. 
   Figure 6: Curved connector variants found in the Shapes gallery

In subsequent tutorials, you will learn how to draw, format, move, and change these connectors.

Sample Presentation of Types of Connectors in PowerPoint:

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