Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Excel in Microsoft 365. If you are using an earlier version (Excel 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Excel, click here: Moving and Copying Graphics Objects.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated April 22, 2023)
This tip applies to Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Excel in Microsoft 365
To move an object, click on one of the lines that make up the object. You should see handles (small boxes in Excel 2007, Excel 2010, or Excel 2013; small circles in Excel 2016 and later versions) appear around the edges of the object. When the handles appear, point to one of the lines in the object—do not point to the handles. Click and hold down the mouse button and move the mouse. The object is dragged along with the mouse pointer. When you release the mouse button, the object stays at the new position.
When you want to copy a graphics object, select the object as already described. Then, press Ctrl+C to copy the object to the Clipboard. You can then press Ctrl+V to paste the object in the worksheet. You can then move the newly pasted object to where you want it to appear.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (7733) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Excel in Microsoft 365. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Excel here: Moving and Copying Graphics Objects.
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2023-04-22 21:37:36
Tomek
I have recently discovered that Excel (my version is 365 Family, Win10) does not quite keep the aspect ratio of graphics when printed. This applies specifically to pictures that are objects in the regular worksheet. I observed that the vertical size is printed correctly, but the horizontal size is expanded to about 112%. So a square becomes a rectangle, a circle - an ellipse. Often the change is not easily noticed, but when you have diagonal lines that are perpendicular on the screen, and in the original picture, on the printout they are no longer perpendicular.
Interestingly, pie charts are not deformed, but pictures and inserted shapes are. Which allows me to demonstrate the issue here. I have created a pie chart in the worksheet, and superimposed over it a red circle of the same size. What I see on the screen is shown in Screenshot 1 (see Figure 1 below) , and what the print preview shows (and what actually prints) is shown in Screenshot 2 (see Figure 2 below) . It shouldn't be like this!!!!
Did anybody else notice this?
Just in case someone asks, no, it is not the printer issue, original pictures and shapes in other files print without distortion. The same objects copied and pasted into a Word document also print without distortion.
Figure 1.
Figure 2.
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Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Excel in Microsoft 365. If you are using an earlier version (Excel 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Excel, click here:
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