Adding Text to an AutoShape

Summary: You can add text to all sorts of drawing shapes, not just text boxes. Here's how easy it is. (This tip works with Microsoft Excel 97, Excel 2000, Excel 2002, Excel 2003, and Excel 2007.)

Most people know that you can add textboxes to your worksheet, but don't realize that you can actually add text to any AutoShape. Just follow these steps:

Add your AutoShape as you normally would.
Right-click the new AutoShape. Excel displays a Context menu.
Choose Add Text from the Context menu. (In Excel 2007 choose Edit Text from the Context menu.) An insertion point appears within the body of the AutoShape.
Type your desired text.
Click somewhere outside the boundaries of the AutoShape, such as within a cell of the worksheet.

If you later resize your AutoShape, then the text within it is reformatted to fit the new dimensions of the shape. (This behavior is the same that occurs if you resize a textbox that contains text.)

ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (2389) applies to Microsoft Excel versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003 | 2007

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Adding Text to an AutoShape