Adding Text

Be sure you're in Drawing view, in the correct view (Slide or Background), and the correct layer, if you're using layers . (You can use text in Handout and Notes views, as well, but not to add to the slide contents.)

You'll need to set text editing options, then add a text frame if necessary, and finally the text itself.

Text Editing Options

To know how the text tools will work, you need to set your text editing options first. Use the text icons in the object bar below the work area to set text options. An option is on when it's dimmed and looks indented.

In our experience working with Impress and Draw, we concluded that it's most convenient to choose only the Double-click Text to Edit option.

Allow Quick Editing

Choose this option if you want to be able to just click in text once and start adding to it or editing it. This option can be a little annoyingit makes it difficult to click on text in order to select the text frame. We recommend that you choose Double-click Text to Edit instead.

Select Text Area Only

This option means that you can't click on the text in order to select the whole text frame, and move it, delete it or perform other actions. In order to select the text frame, you need to get into text edit mode first by clicking or double-clicking text. We recommend that you not use it, unless you don't think you'll be frequently selecting text frames .

Double-click Text to Edit

This option lets you quickly, but not accidentally , get into text edit mode for any text you double-click. We recommend using this option.

Adding a Standard Preset Text Frame to Your Slide

To add an Impress preset text frame to a blank slide, see Selecting a Slide Layout for a New or Existing Slide on page 673. This is the best way to create the structure within which you'll add text.

Using the Text Icons to Create Text Frames

You can create two types of text framesthe area defining where and how text is positioned in your presentation, as well as callout text frames, which include a line extending from the text box to an object.

To activate vertical text, choose Tools > Options > Language Settings > Languages. Under Asian Languages, select Enabled.

Use the tools available from the Text icon in the toolbar at the left side of the work area to create text.

You also can double-click any object, such as a rectangle you've drawn, and type inside it.

Don't Make Your Own Text Frames for Presentations

We recommend that, for the main text of your presentations, you choose a slide layout that has a text frame in it already instead of using a blank slide layout and adding your own text frames using the text tool. Using a slide layout with text frames in it is the fastest , easiest , least frustrating way to make a professional-looking presentation, for the following reasons:

• The slide layouts provide a lot of preset formatting that takes a lot of time to re-create on your own.

• Formatting, especially involving tabs, that you add in your own text frames sometimes just up and disappears.

• You can see the text frames of the preset slide layouts when they're not selected and when there's no text in them, which is not possible with the text frames you make with the text icons.

• You can't use the Presentation styles to apply style formatting with text in text-tool frames. You can only use the Character and other formatting windows , which takes longer because you can only apply a few characteristics at a time.

If you don't like the formatting for text in the preset slide layouts, you can change it much more easily than you can the text in your own text frames. See Creating and Modifying Styles on page 693.

Horizontal or Vertical Text Icon: Drawing a Text Frame With a Specific Size

This tool is best if you want to control how the text wraps: if you want to write a paragraph that is exactly four inches wide, for instance. Use this tool for most of the text in your presentation.

1. Click the icon.

2. Draw the text frame in the work area.

   Note

   This is important: if you don't define a width for the text by drawing the text frame and you just start typing, the text won't wrap.

3. Type the text you want.

4. Click the Arrow icon when you're done, or you'll keep accidentally creating more text frames each time you click in the work area.

To set text frame options, see Setting Text and Text Frame Options on page 683.

Horizontal or Vertical Fit Text to Size Icon: Sizing the Text to the Frame

This tool is best for short pieces of text, or if you want to quickly but roughly set the size of the text in the frame. The text will be approximately the same height as the frame you draw. (That's approximately ; the font shrinks somewhat when you deselect the text frame.) In addition, the text won't wrap; it will begin in the center of the text frame and, as you type, extend to the right and left, potentially completely out of the work area. (We generally found this frame annoying.)

1. Click the icon.

2. If you just click in the work area and start typing, the text will have the default font attributes shown in the object bar.

   If you draw a text frame, the text will be as large as necessary to fit the text from top to bottom. If you resize the text frame later, the text will be adjusted to fit the new size.

   

To set text frame options, see Setting Text and Text Frame Options on page 683.

Horizontal or Vertical Callouts Icon

This tool draws a line and text frame.

1. Click the icon.

2. Click the mouse where you want the callout line to begin, and drag it to where you want the text to be.

   

3. Resize the text frame.

4. To enter text, double-click in the frame and start typing.

   By default, the text frame will grow as you type; the text won't wrap. To make the text wrap, right-click the text frame and choose Text, then deselect the Fit width to text option in the Text window.

5. Apply line and fill attributes to the callout line and box.

To set additional text frame options, see Setting Text and Text Frame Options.

Setting Text and Text Frame Options

Use these options for text in any text frame, including the ones provided in slide layouts, and the text frames. The options also apply to objects you've typed text in by double-clicking in the object.

1. Switch to Drawing view.

2. Select a text frame or object.

3. Choose Format > Text to display the Text window (Figure 26-10). If Text is dimmed, right-click the frame and choose Text.

   Figure 26-10. Options controlling text in objects and in text frames

   

4. Make the appropriate changes to the text frame or object.

Adding Your Text Content to a Presentation

The most important part, of course, is getting what you want to say into the slide. Again, Impress offers a variety of ways to do this.

Typing

Click or double-click in the text frame, depending on the setup options you chose, and add your presentation's contents.

Inserting a File

See Inserting Text and HTML Files on page 696.

Pasting

Don't overlook simply pasting in text from other documents. Unless it's from another presentation file, pasting in generally works better than importing or inserting a file. Position the cursor in the text frame before pasting. If you don't position the cursor in a text frame before pasting, a new Text icon type text frame is created for the pasted text.

Writing Text Inside an Object

Double-click in the document and start typing. The text will expand out of the box, so keep an eye on font size. Or right-click and choose Text, then select Fit to Frame to make the text size and width match the size of the object.

Moving the box around once it's got text inside can be a little tricky; the program thinks it's text and just wants to sit there happily typing away. Just move the mouse until the text pointer turns to a crosshairs, as shown at right, and you'll be able to move it around easily.

Getting Into Text Editing Mode

Even with the correct options selected, getting into text editing mode in Impress can be a little tricky. We've found a couple tricks that help:

• Be sure your text editing options are set up correctly (see page 679).

• Click in another text frame, such as the title frame, then click back in the subpoint frame.

• Be sure to click in an area of the text frame where there's text.

• Just keep clicking in ityou'll get in eventually (not a clever workaround, but one we found did work consistently, if slowly).

To format your text, refer to Formatting Text on page 685. That section contains a few key tips that will keep your frustration level down.