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MO-300: Insert and format text, shapes, and images

MO-300 · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.

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Insert and format text, shapes, and images

Insert and format text, shapes, and images tests object-level editing: text boxes and placeholders, lists, WordArt, shape formatting and merging, alignment and ordering, picture cropping, background removal, compression, and accessibility text. The exam rewards precision about what each command changes and what it leaves intact.

Core rules

  • Placeholder text inherits layout and master formatting; a text box is an independent object. Autofit can shrink text on overflow or resize the shape to fit text.
  • Bullet levels are controlled in the paragraph, not by manually typing symbols. Line spacing and space before/after are paragraph settings.
  • Format Painter copies character and paragraph formatting, not text content. Double-clicking Format Painter keeps it active for multiple selections.
  • Merge Shapes offers Union, Combine, Fragment, Intersect, and Subtract. The result depends on selection order and which areas overlap.
  • Align and Distribute position multiple objects; Group treats them as one object; Order and the Selection Pane control stacking.
  • Crop changes the visible portion of a picture; resizing changes display size. Crop to Shape masks a picture without deleting pixels. Compress Pictures can discard cropped areas.
  • Alt text supports screen readers and belongs on informative images, shapes, and charts.

Worked example

A circular headshot is needed. Insert the picture, choose Picture Format > Crop > Crop to Shape > Oval, adjust the crop handles, then set Alt Text to the person's name and role. Reasoning: Crop to Shape masks the image rather than distorting it. If the file must be small, use Compress Pictures and confirm that cropped areas can be discarded after the final crop.

Traps

Dragging a picture corner when a crop was intended; assuming Format Painter copies content; using Merge Shapes on non-overlapping objects and expecting a visible union; and omitting alt text on meaningful images.