Ungroup Tables in PowerPoint 2003
Author: Geetesh Bajaj
Product/Version: Microsoft PowerPoint 2003
OS: Microsoft Windows XP / Vista
Date Created: September 8th 2009
Last Updated: September 8th 2009
Excerpt/Capsule: Learn how to ungroup tables in PowerPoint.
Tables can be animated within PowerPoint -- but either the entire table can be animated -- or nothing! Yes, that's a case of extremes -- either you have it all or don't have it. To get over this problem, the workaround is to ungroup the table so that your table gets converted to a collection of shapes -- and then you can animate every individual shape as you want.
Be aware that ungrouping will also get you lots of line segments that are extras -- so do some housekeeping before and after ungrouping your table.
If you are using PowerPoint 2007 or a later version, look at our Ungroup Tables in PowerPoint 2007 tutorial. If you are using PowerPoint 2003 or a previous version, follow these steps:
- We will work with a simple table as shown in Figure 1. It's a good idea to save the presentation to a new name and work with a copy of the presentation or slides.
Figure 1: Table in PowerPoint 2003
- Select the entire table. This will show you the Tables and Borders toolbar that you can see in Figure 2 -- if you still cannot find this toolbar, choose View | Toolbars | Tables and Borders.
Figure 2: Tables and Borders toolbar
- With the table still selected, click the small arrow next to the Borders icon to bring up the pull-down menu in the Tables and Borders toolbar, and choose the No Border option as shown in Figure 3.
Figure 3: No Border
- Now with the table still selected, click the Fill icon on the same toolbar and choose a solid color fill as shown in Figure 4.
Figure 4: Solid fill
- Your table will now have no borders, and a solid fill so that it looks like what you can see in Figure 5.
Figure 5: Table with no border
- Now right-click the table carefully, and choose the Ungroup option in the resultant menu as shown in Figure 6.
Figure 6: Ungroup
- PowerPoint will warn you that the table will convert to individual shapes (see Figure 7). Click Yes to proceed.
Figure 7: Convert table to individual shapes
- You'll see that all your individual table cells are now shapes with text (see Figure 8). Click anywhere outside the table area to deselect these shapes.
Figure 8: Cells converted to shapes
- Now carefully select only the shapes you want, and cut and paste them onto another slide. Go back to your older slide and press Ctrl+A -- then deselect individual slide objects like the slide title. You'll find many other extra shapes and line segments as shown in Figure 9. Delete them.
Figure 9: Extra shapes
At this point of time, you can format these individual shapes with fills, lines, and effects -- and also animate them individually or in groups as required.
Related Link: Learn how to do more with AutoShapes in this free excerpt from my book: Cutting Edge PowerPoint For Dummies -- read a free chapter called AutoShape Magic here...
Carmine Gallo is a communications coach for the world’s most admired brands. His client list includes Intel, Chase, Barclays, IBM, Nokia, and many others. 
