Step 1: Select Outline Text

To edit text in the Outline pane, select the placeholder text you want to replace. You can select text in PowerPoint just as you do in Word or Excel: Click your mouse at the beginning of the text, hold down the left mouse button, and drag to select the text. 

 

 

 

 

Step 2: Enter Text in Outline View

Type in your new text. Use the Delete key to delete characters to the right of the insertion point, or use the Backspace key to delete characters to the left. 

 

 

 

 

Step 3: Use the Outline Pane

Your presentation is organized in an outline format in the Outline pane. A numbered slide icon represents each slide to the left of the slide title. Each slide's contents are subordinate to the slide title. Some have multiple levels of subordination. 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 4: Change Outline Levels

To change the level at any time, select the text and press the Demote button on the Formatting toolbar to demote a level or the Promote button to promote a level. PowerPoint immediately changes the status of the text to the appropriate level. You can keep clicking the Demote or Promote buttons as needed to place the text in the level you want. 

 

Step 5: Select Slide Text 

You can also enter and edit text directly on the slide. Click the text box you want to edit, and selection handles surround the box. 

 

 

 

 

Step 6: Enter New Slide Text

Select the placeholder text you want to replace and type in the new text. The placeholder text disappears. Use the Delete key to delete characters to the right of the insertion point, or use the Backspace key to delete characters to the left.