Edit Points on a line

Hi.

I want to use a tool that I have used in previous
versions of Word and draw programs, but I can't
find it among the tools in Word 2007 (with Windows Vista). It
looks like a pushed-in rectangle with 6 edit
points. It gives you a series of connected
straight lines. Every time you click, it lets you
change the direction of the line. It does *not*
turn your shape into curves like the freeform tool
- otherwise it is very similar. I just want to make an angular line.

Thanks.

Chris
--
ACR


"Mary Sauer" wrote:

> If you use the freeform tool in the line menu the edit points become active.
>
> --
> Mary Sauer MSFT MVP
> http://office.microsoft.com/
> http://msauer.mvps.org/
> news://msnews.microsoft.com
>
> "R. Wolfe" <R. Wolfe.RemoveThis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:7079AFBF-5CC1-4FEC-BC46-46D63B8C8811@microsoft.com...
> > In Word 2003 I was able to right click on a line and choose 'edit points'.
> > This would allow me to add and edit multiple straight and/or curved points to
> > the line in order to change it's shape so that I could mimic a less than
> > straight line in a picture.
> >
> > In 2007 I've figured out that I can insert a shape and edit its points, but
> > it won't let me do the same for a straight or curved line. This is creating
> > more work for me, as it is difficult to edit the points from a shape into a
> > line.
> >
> > In 2007, is there a way to edit the points of just a line?
> >
>
>
>

What you are describing is the action of the Freeform line tool (which is
different from the Curve tool). On the Insert tab, in the Illustrations
group, select Shapes. In the Lines palette, Freeform is the next-to-last (a
funny shape that it took me a while to recognize as a line tool). You click
to begin a line segment, click again to end it, then go off in another
direction and click again, double-clicking to complete the shape when you've
drawn all the segments. Once you've done this, the shape you've created will
be selected and the Drawing Tools: Format contextual tab will be displayed.
In the Insert Shapes group, the Edit Points button (which you described) is
at the top right. When it's enabled you can drag the nodes, add more, or
delete unneeded ones.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA

"ACR" <ACR RemoveThis @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:4342399A-92AA-46F1-ABD5-E2F449F306A0@microsoft.com...
> Hi.
>
> I want to use a tool that I have used in previous
> versions of Word and draw programs, but I can't
> find it among the tools in Word 2007 (with Windows Vista). It
> looks like a pushed-in rectangle with 6 edit
> points. It gives you a series of connected
> straight lines. Every time you click, it lets you
> change the direction of the line. It does *not*
> turn your shape into curves like the freeform tool
> - otherwise it is very similar. I just want to make an angular line.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Chris
> --
> ACR
>
>
> "Mary Sauer" wrote:
>
>> If you use the freeform tool in the line menu the edit points become
>> active.
>>
>> --
>> Mary Sauer MSFT MVP
>> http://office.microsoft.com/
>> http://msauer.mvps.org/
>> news://msnews.microsoft.com
>>
>> "R. Wolfe" <R. Wolfe RemoveThis @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:7079AFBF-5CC1-4FEC-BC46-46D63B8C8811@microsoft.com...
>> > In Word 2003 I was able to right click on a line and choose 'edit
>> > points'.
>> > This would allow me to add and edit multiple straight and/or curved
>> > points to
>> > the line in order to change it's shape so that I could mimic a less
>> > than
>> > straight line in a picture.
>> >
>> > In 2007 I've figured out that I can insert a shape and edit its points,
>> > but
>> > it won't let me do the same for a straight or curved line. This is
>> > creating
>> > more work for me, as it is difficult to edit the points from a shape
>> > into a
>> > line.
>> >
>> > In 2007, is there a way to edit the points of just a line?
>> >
>>
>>
>>