Get-Set Size & Position

Master precise control over shape dimensions and placement with Get-Set Size and Position tools.

Get/Set Size

Copy shape dimensions (width and height) from one shape to others.

Get Size

Captures the width and height of the selected shape.

How to Use:

1. Select shape with desired dimensions
2. Click "Get Size"
3. Offgen stores width and height

What's Captured:

• Width (in inches, cm, or pixels depending on PowerPoint settings)
• Height
• Aspect ratio is implicitly preserved

Set Size

Applies stored dimensions to selected shapes.

How to Use:

1. After using Get Size
2. Select shapes to resize
3. Click "Set Size"
4. All selected shapes resize to match

Behavior:

• Maintains shape's top-left corner position
• Changes width and height only
• Works on multiple shapes simultaneously
• Preserves shape type (rectangle stays rectangle, circle stays circle)

Visual Example:

Get Size from:          Set Size on:
┌──────┐               ┌─────┐  →  ┌──────┐
│      │               │     │      │      │
│      │               │     │      │      │
└──────┘               └─────┘      └──────┘
(reference)            (before)     (after - matches reference)

Get/Set Position

Copy shape coordinates from one shape to others.

Get Position

Captures the X and Y coordinates of the selected shape.

How to Use:

1. Select shape at desired position
2. Click "Get Position"
3. Offgen stores X and Y coordinates

What's Captured:

• X coordinate (horizontal position from slide's left edge)
• Y coordinate (vertical position from slide's top edge)
• Position refers to shape's top-left corner

Set Position

Moves selected shapes to the stored coordinates.

How to Use:

1. After using Get Position
2. Select shapes to reposition
3. Click "Set Position"
4. All selected shapes move to match position

Behavior:

• Moves shape's top-left corner to stored coordinates
• Does not change size
• Works on multiple shapes (they stack at same position)
• Maintains shape properties (colors, styles, etc.)

Visual Example:

Get Position from:
┌─────────────┐
│ ▢           │ (shape at position X=100, Y=100)
│             │
└─────────────┘

Set Position on other slide:
┌─────────────┐
│ ▢           │ (shape moved to same X=100, Y=100)
│             │
└─────────────┘

Common Use Cases

Making Shapes Uniform Size

Problem: Icons or buttons have inconsistent sizes

Solution:

1. Resize one shape to perfect size
2. Get Size
3. Select all other shapes
4. Set Size

Result: All shapes match exactly

Creating Consistent Multi-Slide Elements

Problem: Logo or footer in different positions on each slide

Solution:

1. On slide 1: Position element perfectly
2. Get Position
3. On slides 2-10: Select element
4. Set Position

Result: Element in identical position on all slides

Building Aligned Grids

Problem: Need shapes of exact same size for grid

Solution:

1. Create reference shape with desired dimensions
2. Get Size
3. Create grid of shapes
4. Select all
5. Set Size
6. Use Distribute Horizontal + Vertical for spacing

Result: Perfect uniform grid

Copying Layout from Template

Problem: Want to match layout from another slide

Solution:

1. On template slide: Get Size and Get Position from each element
2. On new slide: Create shapes
3. Set Size and Set Position on corresponding shapes

Result: Identical layout

Advanced Techniques

Size Without Position

Sometimes you want to resize but keep position:

1. Get Size from reference
2. Select shapes to resize
3. Set Size (shapes resize but stay in place)

Perfect for standardizing sizes without moving shapes.

Position Without Size

Sometimes you want to move but keep size:

1. Get Position from reference
2. Select shapes to move
3. Set Position (shapes move but keep their size)

Perfect for aligning differently-sized shapes.

Stacking Shapes

Create layered effects:

1. Get Position from base shape
2. Create multiple shapes
3. Set Position on all
4. All shapes stack at same position
5. Use Layer Control to arrange

Result: Perfectly stacked shapes for layering effects

Aspect Ratio Preservation

If you want to resize but maintain aspect ratio:

Workaround:

• Manually resize keeping aspect ratio first
• Or use Get Size on a reference with same aspect ratio

Creating Templates

Build reusable position templates:

1. Create reference slide with perfect layout
2. For each position, create a small marker shape
3. Get Position from each marker
4. Label them ("Header Position", "Logo Position", etc.)
5. Use these as templates for new slides

Combining Get/Set Size & Position

Use both for complete control:

Duplicating Shape Placement

1. Get Size from reference
2. Get Position from reference
3. Create new shape
4. Set Size
5. Set Position

Result: New shape matches both size and position

Creating Offset Copies

1. Get Size and Get Position from shape A
2. Create shape B
3. Set Size on B (matches size)
4. Manually position B with offset
5. Get Position from B
6. Create shapes C, D, E
7. Set Position creates series with same offset

Result: Multiple shapes with consistent offset

Tips & Best Practices

1. Get from References

Keep reference shapes:

- Create a "Reference" slide at end of presentation
- Keep shapes with standard sizes
- Quick access for GET operations

2. Use with Alignment

Powerful combination:

1. Set Size (uniform dimensions)
2. Align Center/Middle (centered alignment)
3. Distribute (even spacing)

3. Test First

Before bulk operations:

1. GET size/position
2. SET on one shape to verify
3. If correct, SET on all others

4. Document Standard Sizes

Keep a reference document:

- Icon size: 64 × 64px
- Button size: 200 × 50px
- Header height: 100px

5. Cross-Slide Consistency

For elements that appear on multiple slides:

1. Perfect first instance
2. GET size and position
3. Apply to all other slides

Common Workflows

Standardizing Button Sizes

1. Design one button with perfect size
2. Get Size
3. Select all other buttons across slides
4. Set Size
Result: All buttons consistent size

Positioning Logos

1. Position logo on slide 1
2. Get Position
3. On each slide: Select logo, Set Position
Result: Logo in same spot on every slide

Creating Icon Grids

1. Create first icon at perfect size
2. Get Size
3. Create 8 more icon shapes
4. Set Size on all (uniform size)
5. Arrange in grid
6. Distribute Horizontal + Vertical
Result: Perfect icon grid

Matching Master Slide Elements

1. On master slide: Get Size and Get Position from placeholders
2. On content slide: Create custom shapes
3. Set Size and Set Position to match placeholders
Result: Custom elements aligned with template

Troubleshooting

Problem: Set Size Distorts Shapes

Cause: Reference shape has different aspect ratio

Solution:

• Choose reference with similar aspect ratio
• Or resize manually maintaining aspect ratio

Problem: Set Position Stacks All Shapes

Cause: That's the expected behavior

Solution:

• If you want offset positions, Set Position on each individually
• Or use Distribute after setting position

Problem: Position Seems Wrong

Cause: Position refers to top-left corner

Solution:

• Remember position is top-left corner, not center
• Different-sized shapes at same position won't align centers

Problem: Can't Get Size/Position

Cause: No shape selected, or wrong shape type

Solution:

• Ensure one shape is selected for GET
• Some special shapes may not support these actions

Measurements

Understanding coordinates:

Position (X, Y)

• X: Distance from left edge of slide
  • X = 0: Left edge
  • Larger X: Further right
• Y: Distance from top edge of slide
  • Y = 0: Top edge
  • Larger Y: Further down

Size (Width, Height)

• Width: Horizontal dimension
• Height: Vertical dimension
• Units depend on PowerPoint settings (inches, cm, pixels)

Example Coordinates

Slide dimensions: 10" × 7.5"

┌───────────────────────────────┐
│ (0,0)                 (10,0)  │
│                               │
│         (5, 3.75)             │  ← Center
│                               │
│ (0,7.5)               (10,7.5)│
└───────────────────────────────┘

What's Next?