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If the layout that you use for your SmartArt graphic can contain only a limited number of shapes, and you exceed the maximum number of shapes, the message "Anything above marked with a red X will not appear in this SmartArt graphic and will not be saved" appears at the bottom of the Text pane in your SmartArt graphic.

If you switch to a different layout that is not limited to a maximum number of shapes, the information below the red X will reappear in your SmartArt graphic.

If you save your SmartArt graphic without switching to another layout and then close your file, the information (including picture fills) that is marked with a red X is not saved, to protect your privacy.

Important: If you switch to a different layout so that you can see all of your information, make sure that the new layout is not limited to a maximum number of shapes — otherwise, the red X will not disappear. After you switch layouts and before you save your document, make sure that all of your information appears and that a red X does not appear.

You may receive the message for the following reasons:

  • You switched from a layout with an unlimited number of shapes to a layout with a fixed number of shapes.

    Note: Some layouts, such as Basic Radial, have only one top-level shape.

  • You exceeded the maximum number of shapes for the layout that you chose.

  • You converted to a SmartArt graphic, a Target diagram, or Venn diagram, that was created by using a previous version of Microsoft Office. Target or Venn diagrams created with a previous version of Microsoft Office do not have a maximum number of shapes. However, the corresponding layouts for SmartArt graphics have a limit of five top-level shapes for Target diagrams and seven top-level shapes for Venn diagrams.

  • In PowerPoint, you converted a bulleted list to a SmartArt graphic and chose a layout for your SmartArt graphic that cannot display all of the bullets in the converted list.

To make sure that you can display and save your information, switch to a different layout that displays all of your information.

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