Excel will allow you to add text boxes. Text boxes provide a separate area in which you can write texts, and you can also move the position of the text box if you need to. Aligning text boxes is important if you insert multiple text boxes. The focus of this article is to explain how to align text boxes in Excel.
How to Align Text Boxes in Excel: 3 Suitable Examples
To explain this article, I have taken the following dataset. It contains the Steps of Making Biscuits. I will use this dataset to show how you can insert and align text boxes in Excel. Here, I will make a flowchart using text boxes for the Steps of Making Biscuits. I will explain 3 different examples of how to align text boxes in Excel.
Example-01: Align Excel Text Boxes in Horizontal Row
In this example, I will show you how you can align text boxes in a horizontal row in Excel. Here, I will make a horizontal flowchart with the dataset and then align the text boxes to give them a better look. Let’s see the steps.
Step-01: Insert Text Boxes
In this step, I will insert text boxes.
- In the beginning, go to the Insert tab.
- Next, select Text.
- Then, select the Text Box.
- After that, click and drag your mouse cursor where you want the text box.
- Finally, you will see that you have inserted a text box into your Excel sheet.
- Now, to add text in the text box, select it.
- Then, in the formula box, write the following formula.
=$C$6Â 
- After that, press Enter and you will get the text in cell C6 in the text box you selected.
Step-02: Color Text Box
- Next, I will add a fill color to the text box to give it a better look.
- Select the text box.
- Further, go to the Shape Format tab.
- Afterward, select Shape Fill.
- Select the color you want. Here, I selected the marked color in the following picture.
- Finally, you will see that you have got your desired text box.
- After that, insert text boxes for the other Steps in the same way.
Step-03: Connect Text Boxes
- Now, I will connect the text boxes with Line Arrows.
- Go to the Insert tab.
- Then, select Illustrations.
- After that, select Shapes.
- Next, select Line Arrow.
- Afterward, join the first text box with the second one.
- Finally, join all the text boxes in the same way to get the flow chart.
Step-04: Text Boxes Alignment
Here, I will align the text boxes I inserted before. Without aligning, the text boxes do not look like a proper flow chart. I will align the text boxes in the same line.
- Firstly, select all the text boxes while holding the Shift key.
- Secondly, go to the Shape Format tab.
- Thirdly, select Align.
- After that, a drop-down menu will appear.
- Select Align Top from the drop-down menu.
- Finally, you will see that you have aligned the text boxes in a horizontal row.
Read More:Â How to Link Textbox to Multiple Cells in Excel
Example-02: Text Boxes Alignment in Vertical Column
In this example, I will explain how you can align text boxes in vertical columns in Excel. You can follow this method for text boxes that have the same width. Let me show you the steps.
Steps:
- First, insert the text boxes by following Step-01 from Example-01.
- Do the other formatting as required.
- Next, select all the text boxes while holding the Shift key.
- Then, go to the Shape Format tab.
- After that, select Align.
- Select Align Left.
- That’s it! Now, you will see that the text boxes are aligned in a vertical column.
Read More: How to Edit Text Box in Excel
Example-03: Use Center Align for Text Boxes in Excel
Here, I will explain how you use center alignment for text boxes in Excel. In this method, you will be able to align text boxes in vertical columns that don’t have the same width and height. Let’s see the steps.
Steps:
- Firstly, select insert text boxes by following Step-01 from Example-01 and complete other formatting.
- Secondly, select all the text boxes while holding the Shift key.
- Thirdly, go to the Shape Format tab.
- After that, select Align.
- Here, a drop-down menu will appear.
- Select Align Center.
- After that, you will see that you have got your desired changed alignment for the text boxes.
How to Align Text Within Text Boxes in Excel
Aligning the texts within the text boxes is as important as aligning text boxes. In this section, I will explain how you align the text within text boxes in Excel. I will show 2 different methods of doing it. Here, I have taken the following dataset to explain this section. I will align the texts within the text boxes in the flowchart.
1. Use Alignment Group to Align Text Within Text Boxes
There is an Alignment group in the Home tab. This group is used for aligning texts. In this method, I will use this group to align text within text boxes. Let’s see the steps.
Steps:
- In the beginning, select all the text boxes while holding the Shift key.
- Next, go to the Home tab.
- Then, select the alignment you want from the Alignment group. Here, I selected both Center and Middle Align.
- After that, you will see that you have got your desired alignment for the texts within the text boxes.
Note: You can also use the keyboard shortcuts for alignment.
- Top Align: Alt + H, A, T
- Middle Align: Alt + H, A, M
- Bottom Align: Alt + H, A, B
- Align Left: Alt + H, A, L
- Center: Alt + H, A, C
- Align Right: Alt + H, A, R
2. Align Text Within Text Boxes with Format Object Command
Here, I will explain how you can align text within text boxes by using the Format Object command. You can align texts and do other formatting using this command. Let’s see how you can use this command.
Steps:
- Firstly, select all the text boxes while holding the Shift key.
- Secondly, right-click on the selected text boxes.
- Thirdly, select Format Object.
- Now, the Format Shape task pane will appear on the right side of the screen.
- Select Text Options.
- Then, select the Textbox tab.
- Next, click on the drop-down option for Vertical Alignment.
- Consequently, a drop-down menu will appear.
- Select the alignment you want. Here, I selected Middle Centered.
- Finally, you will see that the texts are aligned in the way you wanted.
Read More: Formatting Text Box in Excel: All Properties to Explore
Practice Section
Here, I have provided a practice sheet for you to practice how to align text boxes in Excel.
Download Practice Workbook
You can download the practice workbook from here. It will help you to understand more clearly.
Conclusion
In this article, I tried to cover how to align text boxes in Excel. Here, I explained 3 suitable examples. Also, explain how to align text within text boxes in Excel. I hope this article was clear to you. Lastly, don’t forget to comment if you have any questions.
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