Adding Text Boxes or Arrows

These are useful for explanatory notes, to emphasize key points, etc. However, unlike comments, which are attached to specific cells, text boxes are placed directly on the worksheet. Think of text boxes as an electronic version of a post-it note.

Adding text boxes to a worksheet or chart

• click on the Text Box button on the Drawing Tools Toolbar (you may have to view this toolbar)
  text box button Excel 2001
  text box button Excel 2000 and earlier
• the arrow pointer changes to a cursor, “draw” a text frame on your sheet
• when you release the mouse button, a text box frame will appear as shown
• enter the desired text in the frame (you are now working, in a sense, in word processing mode)
• click off of the frame

To modify/format the text or to format the box:

• click once on the edge of the text box to select it (it will now look like box shown above)
• double-click on the edge of the frame
• use the Format Text Box dialog box (Format Object in Excel 2001) that appears to make your formatting changes
  • use the [Font] tab to change the font, font size, etc.
  • use the [Alignment] tab to adjust the alignment of the text within the box
  • use the [Colors and Lines] tab to select the color, thickness and style of the border, and the fill color and pattern

Moving and Resizing the Text Box

Click once on the edge of the text box to select it. Now:

• To resize the box, “grab” one of the handles and then drag to resize.
• To move the box, “grab” the edge of the box but not a handle and then drag to reposition

Adding arrows to a worksheet or chart

Use this tool to add emphasis (often in conjunction with a text box)

To draw an arrow

• click on the Arrow button on the Drawing Tools Toolbar
• “draw” the arrow by dragging the mouse
• release the mouse button

To reposition an arrow or change the direction of an arrow

• To move the arrow, “grab” the arrow but not a handle and then drag to reposition
• To change the direction of an arrow, “grab” one of the handles and then drag to change the direction (the handle that you do not select will remain anchored allowing you to pivot the arrow on that point).

To modify an arrow

• double-click on the arrow
• modify the arrow (size of head, color, format of line) using the Format Autoshapes Dialog Box that is now displayed

Go Back

Copyright©2003
last updated August 13, 2003