Position text in a shape or text box in Excel 2007

Text boxes and most shapes (except for lines, connectors, and freeform shapes) can include text that attaches to the shape or text box and can be positioned or wrapped. You can also change the margins of text boxes and shapes for optimal spacing, resize shapes for a better text fit, or change the direction of the text.

What do you want to do?

Position text at the top, bottom, or middle of a shape or text box

Change the margins between text and the edge of a shape or text box

Resize a shape to fit text

Specify text direction in a shape or text box

Position text at the top, bottom, or middle of a shape or text box

You can specify the vertical alignment of text in a shape or text box.

1. Right-click the border of the shape or text box.

2. On the shortcut menu, click Format Shape, and then click Text Box in the left pane.

   

3. Under Text layout, select the option that you want in the Vertical alignmentlist.

Note: You can also set the vertical alignment of a shape or text box in the Alignment group on the Home tab.

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Change the margins between text and the edge of a shape or text box

The internal margin is the changeable distance between text and the outer border of a shape or text box.

1. Right-click the border of the shape or text box for which you want to adjust the margin.

2. On the shortcut menu, click Format Shape, and then click Text Box in the left pane.

   

3. Under Internal margin, do one or more of the following:

   • To specify the distance between the left border of a shape and the text, enter the new margin number in the Left box.

   • To specify the distance between the right border of a shape and the text, enter the new margin number in the Right box.

   • To specify the distance between the top border of a shape and the text, enter the new margin number in the Top box.

   • To specify the distance between the bottom border of a shape and the text, enter the new margin number in the Bottom box.

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Resize a shape to fit text

You can automatically increase the size of a shape or text box vertically so that text fits inside it.

1. Right-click the border of the shape or text box that you want to resize.

2. On the shortcut menu, click Format Shape, and then click Text box in the left pane.

   

3. Under Autofit, select the Resize shape to fit text check box.

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Specify text direction in a shape or text box

1. Right-click the border of the shape or text box that contains the text.

2. On the shortcut menu, click Format Shape, and then click Text Box in the left pane.

   

3. Under Text layout, select the option that you want in the Text direction list.

   Notes: 

   • If you want to rotate an entire shape or text box, instead of rotating only the text inside the shape or text box, see Rotate or flip a picture, shape, text box, or WordArt in Excel 2007.

   • For additional information about the options in the Text Box pane of the Format Shape dialog box, click Help at the top of the dialog box.

   • You can also set the text direction for a shape or text box in the Alignment group on the Home tab. Click Orientation , and then choose the direction that you want.

     

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