# MS Powerpoint - default settings on autoshapes question

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-powerpoint-default-settings-on-autoshapes-question/237553>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 31, 2004, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-powerpoint-default-settings-on-autoshapes-question/237553 "2004-03-31T16:39:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![rexnervous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e9c0ed/32.png) [@rexnervous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rexnervous)\
**Post date:** [March 31, 2004, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-powerpoint-default-settings-on-autoshapes-question/237553/1 "2004-03-31T16:39:27Z")

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Can’t figure out how to do the following (and am now reasonably certain it can’t be done).

Basically, I want the following - a rectangle/box with an outline and text, where the text is defaulted to top, left-justified and word-wrap is on.

If I use the autoshape-rectangle tool and then add text, it automatically adds it middle/center-justified with word-wrap off. Even if I do change the settings to what I want (top, left, word-wrap on) and then go Set Autoshape Defaults, it never remembers the text portion of the settings.

Alternatively, I use the text box tool, which defaults to top, left-justified but with word-wrap off (and it automatically sizes the text box to the amount of text, which I do not want). Again, I go in and change the settings (add an outline to the text box, set word-wrap, etc) and then go Set Autoshape Defaults. But it still doesn’t remember these settings.

Driving me effing nuts. You’d think that something as simple as text settings could be remembered.

Am I missing something?

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**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\
**Post date:** [March 31, 2004, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-powerpoint-default-settings-on-autoshapes-question/237553/2 "2004-03-31T16:46:53Z")

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Forgive the hijack but it is my mission [Powerpoint is evil](http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/11.09/ppt2.html). I hate it with a passion. It is an intelligence vampire so I have to warn mankind.

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**Author:** ![rexnervous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e9c0ed/32.png) [@rexnervous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rexnervous)\
**Post date:** [March 31, 2004, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-powerpoint-default-settings-on-autoshapes-question/237553/3 "2004-03-31T16:55:00Z")

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> [@don't ask](#):
>
> Forgive the hijack but it is my mission [Powerpoint is evil](http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/11.09/ppt2.html). I hate it with a passion. It is an intelligence vampire so I have to warn mankind.

Thanks for the advice. But as I’m not using Powerpoint as a presentation tool, it really doesn’t apply to me, and I’d really have preferred an actual response to the question.