Ampler swaps the positions of two selected shapes (or groups) in one click, so you can reorder elements on a slide without dragging them and re-aligning by hand.
Quick answer: Select two shapes — or group each set with Ctrl+G first — then click Swap places on the Ampler ribbon to exchange their positions exactly.
How to use it
Group each set, select both, then Swap places.
- Click and drag to select the shapes.
- Group each set with Group (Ctrl+G) — or ungroup with Ctrl+Shift+G — if you want to swap multi-shape blocks.
- Select both shapes or groups and click Swap places.
The two elements exchange positions precisely, so nothing has to be dragged back into alignment.
Keyboard shortcut
Swap places has no default shortcut (Group/Ungroup use PowerPoint’s own Ctrl+G / Ctrl+Shift+G). To assign one to Swap places, open the Settings dropdown on the Ampler ribbon, choose Shortcuts, click Set shortcut on the function, and press your key combination.
Why use it
Reordering two elements by hand means dragging one aside, moving the other, then nudging both back onto their guides — slow and rarely pixel-exact. Swap places exchanges their positions in one step, so the layout stays aligned while the content order changes.
How consultants use it
Consulting slides are reordered constantly as the storyline firms up, and elements rarely stay where they first landed. Being able to exchange two blocks cleanly keeps that iteration fast and precise. Three habits apply:
- Restructure without breaking alignment: positions are exchanged exactly, so nothing drifts off the grid.
- Iterate layout quickly: testing a different order is a one-click move, not a manual reshuffle.
- Group first for clean swaps: multi-shape blocks are grouped so they move as one coherent unit.
Swap places makes reordering a controlled, exact operation.
Tips & best practices
- Group multi-shape blocks with Ctrl+G before swapping so each moves as a unit.
- Use it to test a different reading order without disturbing alignment.
- Follow with Scan & Fix to confirm the slide stays consistent.
Availability
Included in Ampler for PowerPoint and the Ampler Suite, on Windows desktop PowerPoint.
Frequently asked questions
How do you swap the positions of two shapes in PowerPoint?
Select the two shapes (grouping each set with Ctrl+G if needed) and click Swap places on the Ampler ribbon. They exchange positions exactly, with no manual dragging.
How do you reorder slide elements without losing alignment?
Ampler’s Swap places exchanges two elements’ positions precisely, so the layout stays on its guides while the order changes.
Can you swap two groups of shapes at once?
Yes. Group each set with Ctrl+G, select both groups, and Swap places exchanges them as whole blocks.
How do you swap two objects’ positions in PowerPoint without an add-in?
PowerPoint has no swap command — you drag each object to the other’s place and realign by eye, or read off both positions and type them back by hand. Ampler’s Swap places exchanges the two selected shapes’ positions exactly, in one click.
Can you swap two shapes of different sizes or types?
Yes — Swap places exchanges the objects’ positions, not their sizes, so shapes of different sizes or types swap cleanly. To swap sets of shapes, group each set with Ctrl+G first.