
- #Microsoft office draw how to
- #Microsoft office draw windows 10
Insert a line to connect the two by choosing one of the connector options and then positioning between the two shapes, as shown in Figure D.Īt this point, the shapes aren’t connected.Hover the mouse over them and you’ll see them defined as connectors, for example, Connector: Curved. To connect them, use a line in the Shapes dropdown.
Insert a couple of shapes as you normally would. Not only do they “stick,” they stretch and bend as you move the connected shapes. In the drawing layer, connectors stay connected. Using Word Online, you can use lines and group them, but even then they can be a bit difficult to work with. True connectors aren’t available in the document layer. #Microsoft office draw how to
Now that you know how to use the drawing canvas, let’s look at connectors.
In the Main Tabs list to the right, check the Draw tab option, and then click OK. In the left pane, choose Customize Ribbon. Click the Quick Access Toolbar’s dropdown arrow and choose More Commands. Most likely, if you do a lot of drawing in Word you’ll want to add the Draw tab as follows: Also, I mentioned you could use the Insert tab (in 365 desktop) if you don’t have the Draw tab. When you drag it through the content, Word treats everything in the drawing layer as a single object.Įach drawing uses its own canvas, which means you can create multiple drawings in the same document. Once the drawing is inserted, use formats as you normally would. (If the drawing is too large, use the selection handles to reduce its size.) While you work on the drawing, nothing happens at the text level. As you can see in Figure C, the drawing is now part of the document. The pieces in Figure B are mere silliness, but don’t let the lack of my design skills distract you from this feature. To insert the drawing into the document, click Save and Close. Microsoft 365 desktop also lets you insert graphic files into the drawing layer. Once you have a canvas, you can insert text, shapes, or write using one of the many pen options. At the bottom of the resulting list, click New Drawing Layer. In the illustrations group, click the Shapes dropdown. If you don’t have the Draw tab in 365 desktop, click the Insert tab. Doing so displays a new canvas, as shown in Figure A. Then, click the Insert tab and then click Drawing. To insert a drawing using the drawing layer, position the cursor where you want the drawing. SEE: Office 365: A guide for tech and business leaders (free PDF) (TechRepublic) You’re not required to use the drawing layer though if your “drawing” has only a couple of pieces, the drawing layer might be overkill. You can insert more pieces and move them around without impacting the content flow in the document layer. It’s kind of a corral for shapes, pictures, text, and so on. You could do so at the document level, but you might find it easier in the drawing layer, at least while you’re working on it. For instance, you might insert a picture and then annotate it with ink. About the drawing layerįor the most part, the drawing layer is an organizational tool. There’s no demonstration file you won’t need one. I’m using Word Online because not everyone has upgraded to 365, and this feature is available only to Word Online and 365 subscribers. SEE: 83 Excel tips every user should master (TechRepublic) In this article, I’ll show you how to corral drawings in the drawing layer.
Now we have another option: The drawing canvas is a new organization tool for inserting complex drawings with lots of parts. Eventually, Word allowed us to insert graphics and shapes in the actual document and set wrapping options to determine how the graphics and text mingle. It was awkward to work with and created confusion for users who weren’t aware it was there. Years ago, Word added an extra layer when you inserted shapes and graphics.
#Microsoft office draw windows 10
How to reset your Windows 10 password when you forget it Image: justplay1412/Shutterstock Must-read Windows coverageĭefend your network with Microsoft outside-in security services Microsoft Word's drawing layer helps you keep pieces of a complex drawing together on a single canvas. How to quickly add drawings and real connectors using the drawing canvas in Word