XL97: Text Contained in AutoShapes Does Not Rotate

• Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel 97, if you create an AutoShape that contains text, and then rotate the AutoShape, the text does not rotate along with the AutoShape.

WORKAROUND

Microsoft Excel 97 has a limited capacity to rotate text in an AutoShape. You can rotate the text by changing the text orientation. To do this, use the following steps:

1. Select the AutoShape.

2. On the Format menu, click AutoShape.

3. Click the Alignment tab.

4. In the Orientation box, click the desired text orientation for the AutoShape, and click OK.

STATUS

This behavior is by design of Microsoft Excel 97.

MORE INFORMATION

In Microsoft Excel 97, an AutoShape is a drawing shape that you can insert into a worksheet. You can also attach text to an AutoShape. When you attach text to an AutoShape, it is similar to a text box in function.

Unlike text boxes, you can rotate an AutoShape to any angle. If you rotate an AutoShape, text in the AutoShape does not rotate. Instead, text is repositioned with respect to the AutoShape. In some cases, this repositioning causes the text to be positioned outside of the AutoShape, which makes the text appear that it is not part of the AutoShape.

For additional information, please see the following article(s) in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q155375
   TITLE     : XL97: Unable to Rotate AutoShapes While in Edit Mode