Ampler arranges selected shapes into a clean grid with the rows, columns, and spacing you set — so a set of elements sits on a defined structure instead of being placed by eye.
Quick answer: Select the shapes and click Align shapes in grid on the Ampler ribbon, then set the number of rows and columns, the spacing, and the unit — Ampler lays them out on that grid.
How to use it
Select the shapes, then set rows, columns, and spacing.
- Hold Shift and left-click to select the shapes.
- Click Align shapes in grid on the Ampler ribbon.
- Set the number of rows and columns, the row and column spacing, and the unit (centimetre, inch, or point).
The blue check marks let you fix the grid’s top-left and bottom-right corners, so the layout fills the exact area you want.
Keyboard shortcut
Align shapes in grid has no default shortcut. To assign one, open the Settings dropdown on the Ampler ribbon, choose Shortcuts, click Set shortcut on the function, and press your key combination.
Why use it
Placing a set of shapes into a tidy grid by hand — equal columns, equal rows, aligned edges — is slow and rarely exact. Align in grid does it from a few parameters, so a matrix of boxes, a set of logos, or a card layout snaps onto a defined structure in one step.
How consultants use it
The grid is the hidden structure behind a professional slide: consultants lay elements on a consistent grid so the exhibit reads as composed rather than assembled. McKinsey, BCG, and Bain all work from strict visual templates where alignment is a quality gate. Three conventions apply:
- Everything on a defined grid: elements sit on set rows and columns, not wherever they were dropped.
- Consistent rows, columns, and spacing: the structure is explicit and repeatable.
- Composed, not placed by eye: a grid layout reads as deliberate, which is part of why the content is trusted.
Align in grid builds that structure from a few parameters instead of manual placement.
Tips & best practices
- Use the corner check marks to fit the grid to an exact area of the slide.
- Pick the unit (cm, inch, or point) that matches your template’s measurements.
- Reuse the same grid settings on parallel slides so matrices match.
Availability
Included in Ampler for PowerPoint and the Ampler Suite, on Windows desktop PowerPoint.
Frequently asked questions
How do you arrange shapes in a grid in PowerPoint?
Select the shapes and click Align shapes in grid on the Ampler ribbon, then set the rows, columns, spacing, and unit. Ampler lays them out on that grid.
How do you make a matrix of boxes line up in PowerPoint?
Use Ampler’s Align in grid: it places the selected shapes on defined rows and columns with equal spacing, so the matrix is aligned exactly.
Can you control the spacing of the grid?
Yes. You set the row and column spacing and the measurement unit, and can fix the grid’s corners to a specific area of the slide.