Line Wrap in PowerPoint Slide Footer: Using Sizing Handles to Control Text Flow

In the course of revising a nine year old PowerPoint presentation that
accompanies an article that I just updated and published, I was reminded why
PowerPoint is so easy to use, and is a good example of well-designed,
well-implemented software.

Along the lower edge of the slide master are three text boxes, intended to
hold a date stamp, a slide number, and a footer that can contain anything,
such as a copyright notice. On this slide master, the footer reads as
follows: "C 2015 David A. Gray, MBA. All rights reserved." When I copied
this text from the title slide, it wrapped between the words "all" and
"rights," and looked sloppy. As I was about to set the presentation aside
and start the next task, a light bulb in my head switched on. The
inspirational light bulb cast its bright light on the sizing handle at the
right edge of the text box. I wondered what would happen if I dragged it to
the left a tad. Watching the text as I dragged the selection handle about
1/2 centimeter, I was delighted that the text re-flowed, wrapping exactly
where I wanted. Tapping the F5 key to start a slide show, I noted with
complete satisfaction that the change had the desired effect on the way the
copyright notice displayed on all but the title slide, from which it was
intentionally omitted.

In far too many cases, I have found that text boxes were a PITA to be
avoided at almost any cost. Nevertheless, as is the case with many
infrequently used features of general purpose software such as PowerPoint,
Excel, and Word, text boxes are there for a reason, though the reason
frequently isn't immediately apparent. It may take just the right
circumstances to reveal to you why you need it. Moreover, you and I may
discover completely unrelated applications for the same feature.

The next time your document contains text that doesn't flow the way you
want, if it's in a text box, look for sizing handles, and use them to
control the way it flows. If your text isn't in a text box, consider
embedding it in one, and using its sizing handles to control the way it
flows.