Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 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: Editing Graphic Objects.

Editing Graphic Objects

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated January 31, 2023)
This tip applies to Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Excel in Microsoft 365


1

The technique you use to edit a graphics object depends on the type of object you are editing. The most common editing tasks—sizing and deleting objects—are easy to do in Excel.

To size an object, you first have to select it. This is done by using the mouse to point to one of the lines in the object. When you click on the mouse button, notice that handles appear around the outside of the rectangle that contains the object.

If you position the mouse pointer over one of the corner handles, it changes to a double-headed diagonal arrow. If you then click and hold down the mouse button, you can change the size of the object, keeping the proportions the same.

If you move the mouse pointer over one of the other handles, it changes to arrows that indicate the direction you can move the side. The shape of the graphics object is appropriately skewed, based on how you move the handle.

Finally, to delete a graphics object you need simply select it and press the Del key. You can also use one of the delete options from the Home tab on the ribbon.

ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (8934) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Excel in Microsoft 365. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Excel here: Editing Graphic Objects.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Picking Which Outlook Address to Use in Word

If your Outlook contacts have more than one address each, you may want to select which one is used in Word. This tip ...

Discover More

Spell Checking Your Worksheet

One of the indicators of a well-done worksheet is if there are any spelling errors within it. Excel allows you to easily ...

Discover More

Getting the Name of the Worksheet Into a Cell

Excel allows you to change the names assigned to the worksheets in a workbook. If you want to have those names appear in ...

Discover More

Save Time and Supercharge Excel! Automate virtually any routine task and save yourself hours, days, maybe even weeks. Then, learn how to make Excel do things you thought were simply impossible! Mastering advanced Excel macros has never been easier. Check out Excel 2010 VBA and Macros today!

More ExcelTips (ribbon)

Images Pile Up when Filtering

If you have a worksheet that has numerous pictures in a column, you may get an unwanted surprise when you try to filter ...

Discover More

Adding Drop Shadows

Want your shapes to really "pop" off the page? Add a drop shadow to them, as described in this tip.

Discover More

Pasting a Graphic to Multiple Worksheets

Do you need to add a logo or other graphic to a bunch of worksheets? Here are a couple of short macros that can make ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is two more than 4?

2019-03-30 09:14:30

Alan Cannon

If the graphical object is one that was inserted as a shape, smart art object, text box, or equation, the proportions aren't maintained unless you hold down the Shift key while dragging the corner. Only picture formats, including screen clips, automatically maintain proportions without using the Shift key.


This Site

Got a version of Excel that uses the ribbon interface (Excel 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the menu interface.

Newest Tips
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

View the most recent newsletter.