Using Text Boxes

A text box is a special kind of graphics object that is nothing but a box that can contain text. You can place any text in them you desire, using the same techniques you use to add text to a cell. The way in which you add a text box depends on the version of Excel you are using.

If you are using a version of Excel up through Excel 2003, you create a text box in the following manner:

1. Make sure the Drawing toolbar is displayed. (You can display it by clicking on the Drawing tool on the Standard toolbar, or by choosing View | Toolbars | Drawing.)
2. Click on the Text Box tool on the Drawing toolbar. The mouse cursor becomes a small plus sign.
3. Click at a corner of where you want the text box to appear and, while holding down the mouse button, drag to the opposite corner.
4. Release the mouse button.
5. Start typing the text you want in the text box.

If you are using Excel 2007, then the steps are a little different:

1. Make sure the Insert tab of the ribbon is selected.
2. Click on the Text Box tool in the Text group. When you move the mouse cursor into the worksheet area, you'll notice that it has changed to a different type of insertion pointer.
3. Click at a corner of where you want the text box to appear and, while holding down the mouse button, drag to the opposite corner.
4. Release the mouse button.
5. Start typing the text you want in the text box.

Once you create the text box and start typing, the text box remains selected. When you want to work with other parts of your worksheet, simply use the mouse to select those parts.