Styles for Lines, Dashes, and Arrows

Excel allows you to place many different types of graphics objects within your worksheets. One common type of graphic object is a line or arrow. When you first insert lines or arrows into your worksheet, Excel places them using a thin line. You may want to change the width of the line used, as well as the style of line or arrow. Versions of Excel prior to Excel 2007 allow you to do this using three tools on the Drawing toolbar.

• The Line Style tool allows you to select a line width and style.
• The Dash Style tool is used to specify a non-solid style for the line
• The Arrow Style tool is used to indicate how you want the arrowheads to appear.

To use the tools, make sure you select the line you want changed before you click on a tool. You can change the line styles for any drawing composed of lines, but not for AutoShapes, rectangles, or ovals.

If you are using Excel 2007, there is no Drawing toolbar. Instead, you can use the tools available on the Format tab of the ribbon. (This tab is visible only after you select the line you previously placed in the worksheet.) Click the Shape Outline option in the Shape Styles group. You'll see a palette that includes the following options:

• Weight. Use this option to specify a line width.
• Dashes. Use this option to specify a non-solid style for the line
• Arrows. Use this option to indicate how you want the arrowheads to appear.