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.

Text Boxes

Arrows

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 X
- text box button Excel XP
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

The Text Box 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 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
- use the [Size] tab to adjust the size of the text box (see also next section below)
- use the [Margins] tab to adjust the margins of the text relative to the box itself

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

the Format Text Box Dialog Box
Excel XP (Excel X is essentially the same)

Adding arrows to a worksheet or chart

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

To draw an arrow - Windows

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

To draw and arrow - Macintosh

click on the Line button on the Drawing Tools Toolbar
“draw” the arrow by dragging the mouse
release the mouse button (the line should still be selected)
choose the Arrow Style submenu of the Draw buttonon the Drawing Tools Toolbar to set the style of your arrow (size and shape of arrow head, etc.)

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

the Format AutoShape Dialog Box
Excel XP (Excel X is essentially the same)
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 AutoShape Dialog Box that is now displayed