Objective 2.4 Order and group objects

  • 2.4.1 PowerPoint alignment tools
  • 2.4.2 Align objects
  • 2.4.3 Stack and reorder objects
  • 2.4.4 Order and group objects

2.4 Contents

2.4.3 Stack and reorder objects

When multiple objects exist on the same space on a slide, the stacking order of the objects determines which objects obscure others.

Regardless of whether graphics and other slide elements actually overlap each other, all the elements on an individual slide are stacked in a specific order.

  • The default stacking order is determined by the order in which elements are inserted.
  • Opaque elements (such as graphics, filled shapes, and filled text boxes) that are later in the stacking order can hide elements that are earlier in the stacking order.

You can change the stacking order by moving objects forward and backward or by specifying the order in the Selection pane.

The Selection pane provides a convenient way of selecting and ordering objects

Tip: If you can’t select an object on a slide because it is covered by another, select and reorder the object from within the Selection pane. PowerPoint assigns names to objects on the slide; you can change the default names to more descriptive names.

To display the Selection pane

  • On the Home tab, in the Editing group, click Select, and then click Selection Pane.
  • On the Format tool tab, in the Arrange group, click Selection Pane.

To change the stacking order of objects from within the Selection pane

  1. On the slide or in the Selection pane, select the object that you want to move in the stacking order.
  2. In the Selection pane, do any of the following:
    • To move the object one position forward, click the Bring Forward button (the up arrow).
    • To move the object one position backward, click the Send Backward button (the down arrow).
    • Drag the selected object to any position in the order.

To change the stacking order of objects from the ribbon

  • On the Format tool tab, in the Arrange group, do any of the following:
    • To move the object one position forward, click the Bring Forward button.
    • To move the object to the front, click the Bring Forward arrow, and then click Bring to Front.
    • To move the object one position backward, click the Send Backward button.
    • To move the object to the back, click the Send Backward arrow, and then click Send to Back.

To change the stacking order of objects from the slide

  • Right-click the selected object, and then do any of the following:
    • To move the object one position forward, point to Bring to Front, and then click Bring Forward.
    • To move the object to the front, click Bring to Front.
    • To move the object one position backward, point to Send to Back, and then click the Send Backward button.
    • To move the object to the back, click Send to Back.