You can delete a shape from within the Text pane or from within the SmartArt graphic.In this article

Overview of deleting shapes

If you delete a line of Level 1 text when any Level 2 text exists, then the first line of Level 2 text is promoted to Level 1 (the top shape). In the following illustration, shapes One, Two, and Three all have Level 2 text that is composed of bullets and alphabetic characters.

vertical chevron list layout showing two levels of text

When you delete Level 1 text from shape Two, the Level 2 text, C, is promoted to Level 1.

vertical chevron list layout showing level 2 text moved up

It is not possible to delete a shape if it is part of a larger shape. For example, in the Bending Picture Accent List layout in the List type in the following illustration, you cannot delete just the small circular shape in any of the three larger shapes. You must select all of the associated shapes together, and then you can delete the larger shape. (Associated shapes are the shapes that together make up a larger shape). In the example below, the associated shapes are selected.

bending picture accent list layout showing selected associated shapes

It is also not possible to delete background shapes, such as the arrow shapes or the divisor bar in the Counterbalance Arrows layout (Relationship type).

Delete a shape from within the Text pane

  1. Select the line of text representing the shape that you want to delete.
  2. Press DELETE twice.

Note If you have a top level shape that has both other shapes and an Assistant shape under it, displaying as such in the Text pane, and then delete the top level shape, the Assistant shape is automatically promoted to the top of the hierarchy.

Delete a shape from within a SmartArt graphic

  1. Click the border of the shape that you want to delete.
  2. Press DELETE.

Notes:

See also: