Ungrouped SmartArt not importing properly

Mar 07, 2014

Carrie Albin
By Carrie Albin

I have reviewed the article about SmartArt and Storyline and tried the step of ungrouping the SmartArt (twice), editing the shapes and then importing the slide into Storyline.  However even when I do these steps it still imports the SmartArt as a graphic rather than editable text.  Is there a step that is missing?  

Here is the article that I used to follow the steps: http://www.articulate.com/support/storyline/powerpoint-smartart-graphics-get-imported-into-storyline-as-images

Thanks for your help!

2 Replies
Ashley Terwilliger-Pollard
10 years ago03/10/14 at 7:39 am (UTC)

Hi Carrie,

So you're following these steps from that article?

If you need to edit or search text in SmartArt Graphics, use one of the following options:

  • http://www.articulate.com/images/misc/red-bullet.png); background-position: 0px 5px; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; outline-style: none; padding-left: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 12px; outline-color: invert; padding-right: 0px; border: 0px;">Rebuild the SmartArt Graphic in Storyline with shapes.
  • http://www.articulate.com/images/misc/red-bullet.png); background-position: 0px 5px; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; outline-style: none; padding-left: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 12px; outline-color: invert; padding-right: 0px; border: 0px;">Or, before importing the presentation into Storyline, ungroup the SmartArt Graphic in this manner:
    1. In PowerPoint, select the SmartArt Graphic, and use the keyboard shortcut CTRL+SHIFT+G to ungroup it.
    2. Press CTRL+SHIFT+G a second time to fully ungroup it.
    3. Select each object that contains text in the ungrouped SmartArt Graphic.  Then go to Format > Edit Shape > Change Shape, and choose a shape that matches—or is similar to—its current shape.  For example, if an object looks like a rounded rectangle, change its shape to a rounded rectangle (or any shape of your choice).  Although this step may seem unusual, it's necessary if you need to edit or search the text in Storyline.  (Note:  For some shapes, like hexagons, you may need to adjust their margins or rotations, so the text looks right.)
    4. Now, when you import the PowerPoint presentation, the text should be editable and searchable in Storyline.

First, can you confirm you're working with local project files, as working on a network or USB drive could cause odd behavior.  
If you're working on a local drive and still having problems, can you share the original Powerpoint file here with us so that we could take a look?

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