Displaying the AutoShapes Menu

Summary: How to undock the AutoShapes menu to make it more accessible for placing multiple shapes in an Excel worksheet. (This tip works with Microsoft Excel 97, Excel 2000, Excel 2002, and Excel 2003.)

If you have used Excel for any length of time, chances are pretty good that you are already familiar with AutoShapes and how to add them to your worksheets. If you have quite a few AutoShapes to insert in a document, you may find it handy to work with a floating AutoShapes menu instead of using the AutoShapes option on the Drawing toolbar. There are two ways you can display the floating AutoShapes menu. The first involves the use of the Drawing toolbar to get started:

Display the Drawing toolbar. (Click on the Drawing option on the Standard toolbar.)
Click on the AutoShapes option on the Drawing toolbar. The AutoShapes menu appears.
Position the mouse pointer over the bar at the top of the AutoShapes menu.
Click and drag the AutoShapes menu away from the Drawing toolbar.
Release the mouse button. You now have a floating AutoShapes menu. (Click here to see a related figure.)

The other method of displaying the floating AutoShapes menu is even a bit simpler:

Choose Picture from the Insert menu. Excel displays a submenu.
Choose AutoShapes from the submenu. Excel displays both the Drawing toolbar and the floating AutoShapes menu.

ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (3250) applies to Microsoft Excel versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003

Change Formatting Based On Your Data! Conditional formatting provides a way for you to adjust the appearance of your data based on the data itself. Discover how to put this amazingly powerful feature to work for you, today. This comprehensive volume is available in two editions.

Check out Excel Conditional Formatting today!

Helpful Links

Newest Tips

Subscribe

RSS Feeds

Displaying the AutoShapes Menu