controlling word art "font size"

[Je...@nospam.invalid]

I've used word art for some headings. To keep things consistent I copy
the entire word art box from one slide to another. However, when I
change the words used the font size changes to fit the available text
area so that it is not longer consistent with the word ard size on the
other slides.

How can I keep the text size consistent even when the number of letters
change?

Thank you

[Steve Rindsberg]

Which version of PPT do you use? In 2003, I see something different.
There the font stays the same (ie if you start with 36 point and add more
text, it stays 36 point) but the text gets squashed into the available
space (horizontally).

The width of the wordart doesn't change, nor does the height of the text
in the word art.

In PPT 2010, the text stays the same size, the width of the shape changes
to accommodate changes in the text.

You're seeing something different, obviously. What version of PPT do you
have and how exactly are you inserting the word art?

[Je...@nospam.invalid]

Actually I misspoke. I am using 2002 and 2007.
I see exactly what you describe so much better: the text gets squashed.
I can lengthen the box and eyeball it to the way it originally was but
that is not very exact. I would like the text to not get squashed -
similar to what you describe as 2010 behavior - without needing to
upgrade again.

[Steve Rindsberg]

> Actually I misspoke. I am using 2002 and 2007.
> I see exactly what you describe so much better: the text gets squashed.
> I can lengthen the box and eyeball it to the way it originally was but
> that is not very exact. I would like the text to not get squashed -
> similar to what you describe as 2010 behavior - without needing to
> upgrade again.

After some more playing with it in 2003 (which shouldn't be all that
different from 2002), I realized that I'm seeing two different behaviors.

If I add Word Art and type whatever text I want, the shape expands to
accommodate the text w/o squashing the fonts. However if I go back and edit
the text (changing the amount of text) then the font is squashed or
stretched.

So it seems that you may have to enter these things one at a time and set the
parameters as needed.

Here's a little macro you can run to insert consistently formatted word art
with different text each time. Edit the font, text effect and other specs as
needed:

Sub MakeConsistentWordArtText()

Dim sText As String

' Parameters are
' Text effect
' Text
' Font
' Font size
' Bold (true or false)
' Italic (true or false)
' Left position (in points)
' Top (ditto)

sText = InputBox("Word art text", "Text please")
If Len(sText) = 0 Then
Exit Sub
End If

Call ActiveWindow.Selection.SlideRange(1).Shapes.AddTextEffect
(msoTextEffect1, _
sText, _
"Arial", _
36, _
False, _
False, _
100, _
100)

End Sub

[Je...@nospam.invalid]

What you describe is exactly my experience.
Thanks.