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You are here: Home / Design / Charts, tables & diagrams / Compare options with the Balance SmartArt layout

Compare options with the Balance SmartArt layout

August 18, 2013 by Ellen Finkelstein 1 Comment

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Have you ever looked for a way to show advantages and disadvantages of 2 options? One way to compare options is with the Balance SmartArt layout. It looks like a scale. What’s so cool about it is that it tilts based on the number of items on each side, creating a very visual way to show which option is best.

Here’s an example slide that compares webinars with teleseminars.

powerpoint-tips-compare-options-smartart-1

Unfortunately, you cannot place more than 4 items on a side. However, you can ungroup the SmartArt once you have the angle that you want and add more shapes. I explain how to ungroup SmartArt in my post, “Easily create flexible diagrams that look professional.”

To create this SmartArt, I recommend the following steps:

  1. Use a Title & Content layout.powerpoint-tips-compare-options-smartart-2
  2. Click the Insert a SmartArt Graphic icon in the Content area.
  3. In the dialog box’s left-hand pane, choose Relationship. Then choose the Balance layout. Click OK.
  4. The Text box opens on the left side of the SmartArt diagram. Enter the 2 headings next to the 2 bullet points that are not indented.
  5. Enter up to 4 items for the indented bullets.

Can you think of a use for the Balance SmartArt layout?

Take a look at some of the other layouts in the Relationship category. Some of them are quite nice.

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READ LATER - DOWNLOAD THIS POST AS PDF >> CLICK HERE <<

Related posts:

  1. Shortcut to complex shapes with SmartArt in PowerPoint 2007 and 2010
  2. Easily create flexible diagrams that look professional
  3. Create quick, professional diagrams with SmartArt in PowerPoint
  4. Create a custom layout

Filed Under: Charts, tables & diagrams, Content

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Holly Genser

Hi Ellen,

I’ve been using PowerPoint SmartArt for years, yet I didn’t notice the balance diagram. Thanks!

Holly

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9 years ago
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