Drawing Objects

Below are several Frequently Asked Questions and answers on the subject of Drawing Objects in Excel.


How do I attach an arrow to my text box?

How can I edit the contents and adjust the size and shape my text box?

How can I edit the contents of my text box?

How do I delete the text box or the arrow attached to my text box?

What is a text box and how do I create one?

What are some of the techniques for controlling the placement of an object on a worksheet?

What are some techniques for drawing an object with precise control?

Where can I find the Drawing toolbar?

 

How do I attach an arrow to my text box?
Keywords: Text Box Attach Arrow
Posted May 17, 1996

If you've drawn a text box on your worksheet using the drawing toolbar, and your text box refers to a specific cell or range of cells on your worksheet, you may want to attach an arrow for added clarity. To attach an arrow:

  1. Click on the Arrow tool on the Drawing toolbar
  2. The mouse pointer changes to a crosshair
  3. Position the crosshair pointer where you want the arrow to start (for a text box, you usually start the arrow at the edge of the box nearest the cell that you want to single out)
  4. Press and hold down the left mouse button
  5. Drag the pointer to where you want the arrow to point. Excel draws a line as you drag the mouse pointer.
  6. Release the mouse button
  7. Excel will add an arrowhead to the line
  8. After drawing your arrow, click on an empty part of the worksheet or press Esc.

Note: To draw more than one arrow, double-click on the tool. When you're finished drawing arrows, you'll need to click on the Arrow tool again to de-activate it (this is true of nearly all the drawing tools).

How can I edit the contents and adjust the size and shape my text box?
Keywords: Edit Contents Adjust Size Shape Text Box
Posted May 17, 1996

Once a text box has been created, you might need to adjust the size, shape, and position of the box to fit into your spreadsheet more effectively. (Text boxes can be created by using the Text box tool on the Drawing toolbar.)

To adjust the size or shape of the text box:

  1. Click on the box and position the mouse pointer over one of the sizing handles
  2. Press and hold down the left mouse button; the pointer changes to a crosshair
  3. Drag the handle to the desired location; as you drag the mouse pointer, Excel displays the new border as a dashed line
  4. Release the mouse button and Excel adjusts the size of the text box

To move a text box:

  1. Click on the box and hold down the left mouse button
  2. Drag the text box to the desired location; the box border changes to a dotted line as you drag the pointer
  3. Release the mouse button; Excel drops the box in the new location

How can I edit the contents of my text box?
Keywords: Edit Contents Text Box
Posted May 17, 1996

Text boxes are like post-it notes floating on top of your worksheet. They can be created by using the Text box tool on the Drawing toolbar. Once a text box has been created, you can easily edit the text in the box.

To edit the contents of a text box:

  1. Select the text box you want to edit
  2. Click inside the box to position the cursor for inserting text
  3. Replace the text as desired
  4. Click outside the box or press the Esc key

Note: If you click only once on the text box and then begin typing, Excel replaces the entire contents of the box with your typing. To remedy this:

How do I delete the text box or the arrow attached to my text box?
Keywords: Delete Text Box Arrow Attach
Posted May 17, 1996

If your worksheet has a text box or an arrow you no longer need, you can delete the object easily. (Creating text boxes and adding arrows to them can be done easily using the Drawing toolbar.)

  1. Click on the text box or arrow; Excel displays the object's sizing handles
  2. From the menu bar choose Edit - Cut or press Delete

If you choose to hide the box or arrow instead of deleting it:

  1. From the menu bar choose Tools - Options and the View tab
  2. In the Objects group, select Hide All

What is a text box and how do I create one?
Keywords: Create Text Box
Posted March 31, 1996

Sometimes it is necessary to add personal comments to the worksheet for emphasis, clarification, or as a reminder. To achieve a more polished appearance, Excel allows you to add text boxes for these notes. A text box is a block of text that sits on the worksheet. The text box is a graphic "object," so you can position, size, edit, and format it independently of the worksheet cells.

To create a text box:

  1. Click on the Text box tool in the Drawing Toolbar
  2. Double-click on the tool to create more than one box; the mouse pointer changes to a crosshair pointer
  3. Hold down the left side of the mouse and drag in your worksheet the box you desire
  4. If creating multiple boxes, the cursor will remain a crosshair pointer

Hint: To make a text box a square, hold down the Shift key while dragging the pointer
To align the box with the gridlines, hold down the Alt key when dragging the pointer To add text to the box:

  1. Click on the first box in which you want to enter text
  2. Type your text in the box; the text will automatically wrap and scroll within the box
  3. To add text to another box, click on the box or Tab over to it with the Tab key
  4. When you are finished, click on an empty area of the worksheet or press the Esc key

This process can also be accomplished using the Sticky Notes Feature on the Baarns Utilities.

What are some of the techniques for controlling the placement of an object on a worksheet?
Keywords: Placement Object Worksheet
Posted February 5, 1996

Most objects, like pictures or buttons, are positioned in or to a specific worksheet cell. When you move or size the worksheet cells, you may or may not want the object to move or size along with that particular cell. The options positioning dialog box will determine how a graphic or an object is affected by cell movement or sizing.

  1. Select the object
  2. Choose Format - Object to display the Format Object dialog box (or you can select the object and right click on it and choose Format Object from the shortcut menu)
  3. Select the Properties tab and activate the placement option you want. The following are your choices:
  4. Choose Format - Object to display the Format Object dialog box (or you can select the object and right click on it and choose Format Object from the shortcut menu)
  5. Select the Properties tab and activate the placement option you want. The following are your choices:

What are some techniques for drawing an object with precise control?
Keywords: Drawing Toolbar Options Control
Posted January 31, 1996

When you want to draw an object like a rectangle or macro button, just click on it and drag it to where you want it to go. However, let's say you have several rectangles to draw, of various sizes, but you want them to match up with data in adjoining cells. If you hold down the Alt Key while you drag the shape, Excel will use the cell borders as a grid, snapping your shape to the edges of this grid for precise control. This is especially useful when you want your spreadsheet to look professional. You can spend a lot of time trying to draw or re-size your drawn objects so that they match just so, but using this technique will make them line up just the way you want. If you move an object around and want to control its size, select it and use the sizing handles while holding down the Alt Key for similar results.

If you're going to need several of the same object and you want them to be exactly the same, don't forget some of the basics. Select one and copy it to the clipboard (Ctrl C), then paste it as many times as you need (Ctrl V).

If you need to draw several objects, say macro buttons, and you want to do it quicker, try double-clicking on some of the drawing tools. This will "enable" the tool and let you draw object after object until you select the tool again to turn it off.

Where can I find the Drawing toolbar?
Keywords: Drawing Toolbar Options Customize
Posted January 31, 1996

There are many features on the drawing toolbar which can help you organize and visually present data on your worksheet. There are several ways to display the drawing toolbar.

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