Insert and format autoshapes

Insert an autoshape

To add an autoshape to your spreadsheet,

1. click the Insert Autoshape icon at the top toolbar,
2. select one of the available autoshape groups: basic shapes, figured arrows, math, charts, stars & ribbons, callouts, buttons, rectangles, lines,
3. click the necessary autoshape within the selected group,
4. place the mouse cursor where you want the shape to be put,
5. once the autoshape is added you can change its size and position as well as its settings.

Adjust the autoshape settings

Some of the autoshape settings can be altered using the Shape Settings tab of the right sidebar that opens if you select the inserted autoshape with the mouse and click the Shape Settings icon. Here you can change the following settings:

• Fill - use this section to select the autoshape fill. You can choose the following options:
  • Color Fill - select this option to specify the solid color you want to fill the inner space of the selected autoshape with.

    

    Click the colored box below and select the necessary color from the available color sets or specify any color you like:

    • Theme Colors - the colors that correspond to the selected color scheme of the document.
    • Standard Colors - the default colors set.
    • Custom Color - click this caption if there is no needed color in the available palettes. Select the necessary colors range moving the vertical color slider and set the specific color dragging the color picker within the large square color field. Once you select a color with the color picker, the appropriate RGB and sRGB color values will be displayed in the fields on the right. You can also specify a color on the base of the RGB color model entering the necessary numeric values into the R, G, B (red, green, blue) fields or enter the sRGB hexadecimal code into the field marked with the # sign. The selected color appears in the New preview box. If the object was previously filled with any custom color, this color is displayed in the Current box so you can compare the original and modified colors. When the color is specified, click the Add button. The custom color will be applied to your autoshape and added to the Custom color palette.

  • Gradient Fill - fill the shape with two colors which smoothly change from one to another.

    

    • Style - choose one of the available options: Linear (colors change in a straight line i.e. along a horizontal/vertical axis or diagonally at a 45 degree angle) or Radial (colors change in a circular path from the center to the edges).
    • Direction - choose a template from the menu. If the Linear gradient is selected, the following directions are available : top-left to bottom-right, top to bottom, top-right to bottom-left, right to left, bottom-right to top-left, bottom to top, bottom-left to top-right, left to right. If the Radial gradient is selected, only one template is available.
    • Gradient - click on the left slider under the gradient bar to activate the color box which corresponds to the first color. Click on the color box on the right to choose the first color in the palette. Drag the slider to set the gradient stop i.e. the point where one color changes into another. Use the right slider under the gradient bar to specify the second color and set the gradient stop.
  • Picture or Texture - select this option to use an image or a predefined texture as the shape background.

    

    • If you wish to use an image as a background for the shape, you can add an image From File selecting it on your computer HDD or From URL inserting the appropriate URL address into the opened window.
    • If you wish to use a texture as a background for the shape, open the From Texture menu and select the necessary texture preset.

      Currently, the following textures are available: canvas, carton, dark fabric, grain, granite, grey paper, knit, leather, brown paper, papyrus, wood.

    • In case the selected Picture has less or more dimensions than the autoshape has, you can choose the Stretch or Tile setting from the dropdown list.

      The Stretch option allows you to adjust the image size to fit the autoshape size so that it could fill the space completely.

      The Tile option allows you to display only a part of the bigger image keeping its original dimensions or repeat the smaller image keeping its original dimensions over the autoshape surface so that it could fill the space completely.

      Note: any selected Texture preset fills the space completely, but you can apply the Stretch effect if necessary.

  • Pattern - select this option to fill the shape with a two-colored design composed of regularly repeated elements.

    

    • Pattern - select one of the predefined designs from the menu.
    • Foreground color - click this color box to change the color of the pattern elements.
    • Background color - click this color box to change the color of the pattern background.
  • No Fill - select this option if you don't want to use any fill.
• Opacity - use this section to set an Opacity level dragging the slider or entering the percent value manually. The default value is 100%. It corresponds to the full opacity. The 0% value corresponds to the full transparency.
• Stroke - use this section to change the autoshape stroke width and color.
  • To change the stroke width, select one of the available options from the Size dropdown list. The available options are: 0.5 pt, 1 pt, 1.5 pt, 2.25 pt, 3 pt, 4.5 pt, 6 pt. Alternatively, select the No Line option if you don't want to use any stroke.
  • To change the stroke color, click on the colored box below and select the necessary color.
• Change Autoshape - use this section to replace the current autoshape with another one selected from the dropdown list.

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To change the advanced settings of the autoshape, use the Show advanced settings link at the right sidebar. The 'Shape - Advanced Settings' window will open:

The Size tab contains the following parameters:

• Width and Height - use these options to change the autoshape width and/or height. If the Constant Proportions button is clicked, the width and height will be changed together preserving the original shape aspect ratio.

The Weights&Arrows tab contains the following parameters:

• Line Style - this option group allows to specify the following parameters:
  • Cap Type - this option allows to set the style for the end of the line, therefore it can be applied only to the shapes with the open outline, such as lines, polylines etc.:
    • Flat - the end points will be flat.
    • Round - the end points will be rounded.
    • Square - the end points will be square.
  • Join Type - this option allows to set the style for the intersection of two lines, for example, it can affect a polyline or the corners of the triangle or rectangle outline:
    • Round - the corner will be rounded.
    • Bevel - the corner will be cut off angularly.
    • Miter - the corner will be pointed. It goes well to shapes with sharp angles.

    Note: the effect will be more noticeable if you use a large outline width.

• Arrows - this option group is available if a shape from the Lines shape group is selected. It allows to set the arrow Start and End Style and Size by selecting the appropriate option from the dropdown lists.

The Margins tab allows to change the autoshape Top, Bottom, Left and Right internal margins (i.e. the distance between the text within the shape and the autoshape borders).

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Insert and format text within the autoshape

To insert a text into the autoshape select the shape with the mouse and start typing your text. The text you add in this way becomes a part of the autoshape (when you move or rotate the shape, the text moves or rotates with it).

To format the text you enter, use the icons situated at the top toolbar. Some additional settings can be also altered using the Text Settings tab of the right sidebar that opens if you select the inserted autoshape with the mouse and click the Text Settings icon. Here you can change the following settings:

Spacing - use this section to set the line height for the text lines within the paragraph as well as the margins between the current and the preceding or the subsequent paragraph.

• Line Spacing - set the line height for the text lines within the paragraph. You can select among three options: at least (sets the minimum line spacing that is needed to fit the largest font or graphic on the line), multiple (sets line spacing that can be expressed in numbers greater than 1), exactly (sets fixed line spacing). In the At field you can specify the necessary value.
• Before - set the amount of space before the paragraph.
• After - set the amount of space after the paragraph.

You can also change the advanced settings of the paragraph. Put the cursor within the paragraph you need - the Text Settings tab will be activated at the right sidebar. Click the Show advanced settings link. The paragraph properties window will be opened:

The Indents & Placement tab allows to change the first line offset from the left internal margin of the text block as well as the paragraph offset from the left and right internal margins of the text block.

The Font tab contains the following parameters:

• Strikethrough is used to make the text struck out with the line going through the letters.
• Double strikethrough is used to make the text struck out with the double line going through the letters.
• Superscript is used to make the text smaller and place it to the upper part of the text line, e.g. as in fractions.
• Subscript is used to make the text smaller and place it to the lower part of the text line, e.g. as in chemical formulas.
• Small caps is used to make all letters lower case.
• All caps is used to make all letters upper case.
• Character Spacing is used to set the space between the characters.

The Tab tab allows to change tab stops i.e. the position the cursor advances to when you press the Tab key on the keyboard.

• Tab Position - is used to set custom tab stops. Enter the necessary value in this box, adjust it more precisely using the arrow buttons and click the Specify button. Your custom tab position will be added to the list in the field below.
• Default Tab is set at 1.25 cm. You can decrease or increase this value using the arrow buttons or enter the necessary one in the box.
• Alignment - is used to set the necessary alignment type for each of the tab positions in the list above. Select the necessary tab position in the list, choose the Left, Center or Right radiobutton and click the Specify button.
  • Left - lines up your text by the left side at the tab stop position; the text moves to the right from the tab stop as you type.
  • Center - centres the text at the tab stop position.
  • Right - lines up your text by the right side at the tab stop position; the text moves to the left from the tab stop as you type.

  To delete tab stops from the list select a tab stop and click the Remove or Remove All button.