Draw an AutoShape
The AutoShapes menu on the Drawing toolbar gives you access to a number of useful shapes, including lines, arrows, stars, banners, and shapes for creating flowcharts. After you draw an AutoShape you can add text to it.
To draw an AutoShape
- Click the AutoShapes button on the Drawing toolbar to display the AutoShapes menu
- Select a category of AutoShape
AutoShapes menu
- Click the AutoShape you want
- Move the mouse pointer to where you want the object to start
The pointer turns into a crosshair + when you move it onto the page.
- Click-and-drag the mouse pointer to draw the object
- Release the mouse button where you want the object to end
OR
- Click to draw the object at a preset size
| TIP:Click More AutoShapes... to select shapes from the Insert Clip Art task pane. |
To adjust an AutoShape
Many AutoShapes have adjustment handles you can use to adjust a unique aspect of the object. The adjustment handles are yellow diamond shapes and they are only visible when an object is selected.
Selected AutoShape
- Click on the adjustment handle with the adjustment pointer and drag to resize
To change an object to a different shape
Most types of shape can be changed to a different AutoShape.
- Select the shape then on the Drawing toolbar, click the Draw button and select Change AutoShape
The AutoShapes submenu is displayed.
- Select a category then the shape to use
Add Text to an Object
Rectangles, circles, triangles, and other closed shapes drawn with the AutoShapes tool can have text attached to the shape.
To add text to an AutoShape
- In PowerPoint or Excel, select the shape to which you want to add text then simply begin typing
- In Word, right-click the shape and select Add Text then type the text
The text is added to the object. You can format the text using the normal tools.
| TIP:When you type in a shape, text is treated as part of the shape. When you move the shape, the text moves with it. |
| TIP:To insert a text box quickly, on the Drawing toolbar, click Text Box then draw out the box as normal. |
To adjust text boundaries and alignment in an AutoShape
- Select the shape
- From the Format menu, select AutoShape.... then click the Text Box tab
Format AutoShape - Text Box tab
- Use the Internal margin boxes to set the distance between text and the edges of the shape
- Set the vertical alignment of text in the shape using the Text anchor point: list box (make sure the Resize AutoShape to fit text option is de-selected for this to have any effect)
- Click the Word wrap text in AutoShape check box to constrain text within the shape
- Click the Rotate text within AutoShape by 90degrees check box to turn the text on its side
- Click OK
