Create and format

Smart Selection

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Use Smart Selection to tidy, space, and resize multiple objects faster

Smart Selection enhances native PowerPoint multi-select behavior with layout controls directly on the slide.

#Turn Smart Selection on

Enable Smart Selection from the Grunt ribbon before using the features on this page.

Smart Selection can be toggled in the Grunt ribbon
Smart Selection can be toggled in the Grunt ribbon

When it is active:

  • Pink markers show the current reference object
  • Pink handles appear between or around selected objects
  • Tidy-up previews appear when you hover supported controls

#Use Tidy Up

Use Tidy Up when objects should line up as a cleaner group.

Tidy Up adjusts spacing according to the selection:

  • Grid-like selections are adjusted in both horizontal and vertical directions
  • Depending on the start position, spacing can become equal or remain intentionally distinct

Hover the pink Tidy Up button at the bottom-right of the selection to preview the result, then click to apply it.

The pink Tidy Up button aligns and distributes a selection
The pink Tidy Up button aligns and distributes a selection

#Use Smart Spacing

Smart Spacing lets you drag the distance between objects instead of calculating it manually.

  1. Select the objects.
  2. Drag the pink handle that appears between them.
  3. Release the mouse when the spacing looks right.

While dragging:

  • Hover a handle to see the spacing in pixels
  • Hold Ctrl while dragging to space objects symmetrically from the center
Pink spacing handles adjust equal gaps between objects
Pink spacing handles adjust equal gaps between objects

#Use Smart Resizing

Smart Resizing keeps spacing relationships while you resize multiple objects together.

  1. Select the objects.
  2. Drag one side or corner.
  3. Release to apply the resize.

Modifier keys:

  • Hold Ctrl to resize symmetrically from the center
  • Hold Shift to preserve aspect ratio

#Temporarily turn it off

If Smart Selection gets in the way for a specific action:

  • Press Esc to disable it for the current selection only
  • Toggle the ribbon control off to disable it globally

#Compatibility with ThinkCell

Smart Selection does not work when ThinkCell is installed and active. ThinkCell overrides PowerPoint's selection mechanism, which Grunt's Smart Selection depends on.

If you need Smart Selection, disable ThinkCell temporarily from the COM Add-ins menu.

For the wider set of workflow tools, continue to Tools and shortcuts.