Creating text box in word

Reading
a lengthy text document can make anyone bored in minutes. However, there are
few simple ways to make your documents more attractive and appealing to the
reader. One such option is to add colorful text boxes in-between paragraphs.
This is a useful way to show important action points on full text based
documents. In this article, let us explore how to create text box in Word
document.

Related: How to quickly add dividers in Word?

We
will discuss the following options based on Word 2016 or later version.

• Create text box from existing text
• Creating empty text box
• Changing text box size and position
• Changing text direction
• Deleting borders

Creating
Text Box from Existing Text

You can convert any of the existing text paragraph and list to a text box in Word. Let’s see how to do that.

• First open your document and select the paragraph you want to convert to a text box.
• Switch to the “Insert” tab from the ribbon menu.
• Open the “Text Box” menu.
• Word offers a selection of predefined text boxes, for example for creating sidebars with quotes.
• However, for converting the existing text, select the entry “Draw Text Box” in the lower pane.

This will instantly add a bordered text box around
the selected text. Word treats text boxes as a drawing and you can design the
box as per your need using the “Drawing Tools” menu. You can move the text
boxes anywhere in the document, depending on the layout. This can be useful for
the design of flyers and brochure.

Creating
Empty Text Box

Of course, you do not necessarily need existing text to
create a new text box. Alternatively, you can also create empty text boxes and
enter the text into them later.

• Place the cursor where you want to insert a text box.
• Reopen the “Insert” menu and select “Text Box” option.
• Click the “Draw Text Box” menu item. You will see the cursor now changed to cross hair shape.
• Draw out the text box while holding down the left mouse button.
• Then enter the text into the text box.
• You can look at the various options in the context menu of your text box for designing your text box.

Changing
Text Box Size and Position

When
you have created a text box out, you have various options for editing. You can
design it, change the size and place it anywhere in your document.

• You can change the size of the box using the handles on the edges of it. Word will automatically adjust the text content inside the box.
• It is also possible to freely move the box using the mouse. You can hover over the mouse to change the cursor into a star shape, allowing you to drag the box.
• Formatting is also possible as usual, for example, right-click on the selected text to use the Mini toolbar and format the text in bold or change the alignment.
• You can click on the “Layout Options” button on the side of the text box to wrap text box with the content on your document.

Changing
Text Direction

Within
a text box, you can also influence the text direction. Besides the default
horizontal alignment the text can also run vertically.

• What about if you want to rotate the text inside text box? This is also
  very easy. Open the “Text Direction”.
• Double click on the text box to open “Drawing Tools” menu. Click on the
  “Text Direction” menu and select the entry, “Rotate all text 270°”.
• The text is now set vertically in the text box and you can adjust the
  format and position of the box.

• You can move the text box between paragraphs or columns by dragging the
  box while keeping the left mouse button pressed.

Related: How to embed Excel table in Word document?

Deleting
Borders and Content

By
default, text boxes are displayed with borders, but you do not have to keep
them. You can easily remove the borders.

• Click on the text box to open the “Drawing Tools” and select “Shape Outline”
  button under “Format” menu.
• Now, select the entry “No Outline” to remove the borders from the box.

• You can also apply different colors, weight and styles to the border if
  you want.
• In order to delete a text box content, simply click inside the box and
  edit or delete the content. Alternatively, select the text box by clicking on
  the border and press delete to completely delete the box.
• In this respect, text boxes behave in the same way as other drawing
  objects.

Using Text Box Templates

The best and easy way to use text box in Word is to
select one of the predefined text box template. You can select from one of the good-looking
templates from the “Text Box” menu dropdown.

For example, you can use text box in a sidebar
format or choose one of the colorful formats. You can adjust the layout
positions to align the content beside the box.

You can also customize the text box and create a
custom template as a Quick Parts.

• First, select the box you want to use as templates.
• Go to “Insert > Text Box” and choose “Save Selection to Text Box Gallery” option.
• Fill up the details to create a new building block.
• You can view the saved template under “Text Box” menu dropdown from next time onwards.

Other Formatting Options

The “Formatting Tools” menu offers various
additional options for customizing your text box content. You can double click
on any text box to view the menus applicable for drawing object. Below are some
of the activities you can do with the formatting tools:

• Apply shape styles like fill, effects and borders.
• Create WordArt inside text box.
• Change text direction.
• Position and wrap the content around the text box.

Add a text box

1. Go to Insert > Text Box, and then select Draw Text Box.
2. Click or tap in the document, and drag to draw the text box the size that you want.
3. To add text to a text box, select inside the text box, and then type or paste text. Notes:

How do I create a fixed text box in Word?

Follow these general steps.

1. Place the text box in your document.
2. Adjust the width of your text box to reflect what you need.
3. Right-click the text box and choose Format Text Box from the resulting Context menu.
4. Make sure the Text Box tab is displayed.
5. Make sure the Resize AutoShape to Fit Text check box is selected.

How do you insert a box in Word 2020?

Place you cursor at the start of the first line. Go to the Developer tab, and then click Check Box. If you want a space after the check box, press Tab or Spacebar. Use a Tab character if you want to format the list item with hanging indentation, like Word applies to bulleted lists.

Where is text box tools in Word?

Go to Insert > Text Box, and then select Draw Text Box. Click or tap in the document, and drag to draw the text box the size that you want. To add text to a text box, select inside the text box, and then type or paste text.

How do I make a text box a certain size in Word?

Click the Insert tab of the ribbon, click the Text Box button, and choose Draw Text Box. Draw a text box of any size. The Text Box Tools tab should appear on the ribbon, with the Size group at the right end. Type in the measurements, and the box will take that size.

How do I make a small box in Word?

Click the “Text Box” button on the Ribbon and choose the first option, “Simple Text Box.” Position the cursor on the Word page and drag to form the size of the box.

How do you insert a little box in Word?

Just position your cursor in the document where you want a check box, switch to the “Developer” tab, and then click the “Check Box Content Control” button. You should see a check box appear wherever you placed your cursor.

Why can’t I add a text box in Word?

If any part of the document is protected, insertion of pictures and text boxes (which in Word are actually graphic objects) is disabled. It seems you’re limiting the restriction to headers and footers.

Why is there no text box option in Word?

Provided you are still viewing the document in Print Layout view, you should be able to see any text boxes. If you still can’t see it, it could be possible that the text box is formatted for no line and no fill and that the text it contains is formatted as hidden (and you have the display of hidden text turned off).

What is text box tool?

The Text Box tool is useful for placing text notes and comments on the PDF. Text is contained within a text box you define, including its size, background color, and other properties.Go to Markup > Text > Text Box. Click on the Markups toolbar .

How do I apply a shape style to a text box in Word?

To change the shape style:

1. Select the text box you want to change.
2. On the Format tab, click the More drop-down arrow in the Shape Styles group.
3. A drop-down menu of styles will appear. Select the style you want to use.
4. The text box will appear in the selected style.

How do I insert a 2×2 box in Word?

Click the Insert tab and then click Pictures. Select the photo that you want to turn into a 2×2 picture. Click the Insert button to insert the picture into your Word document. You can also copy the picture (Ctrl + C) and paste it into your Word document (Ctrl + V).

How do you make a clickable checkbox in Word?

On the right side, check the “Show Developer tab in the Ribbon” and click OK. The Developer tab will now appear on the Ribbon. Under the Developer tab, click Legacy Tools button in Controls group and select the “Check Box Form Field” control. It will insert a clickable checkbox at your cursor’s location.

How do I insert a checkbox without the Developer tab in Word?

Open the drop-down menu and click on Define New Bullet. Click on the Symbol tab. From the list of fonts, select Wingdings (or Wingdings 2 in newer versions of Word) and find the appropriate, empty checkbox. Click OK to confirm and then once more.

How do I create a fillable field in Word?

Creating Fillable Forms Using Microsoft Word

1. Enable Developer Tab. Open Microsoft Word, then go to the File Tab > Options > Customize Ribbon > check the Developer Tab in the right column > Click OK.
2. Insert a Control.
3. Edit Filler Text.
4. Design Mode button again to exit the mode.
5. Customize Content Controls.

How do you insert a checkbox in Word for Mac?

Place the cursor where you want to add a checkbox in your document. Click the Developer tab at the top and select the Check Box Content Control icon from the Controls section. Word will add an interactive checkbox to your document. You can click on this box and it will be ticked.

How do you insert a checkbox in docs?

Insert checkboxes

1. On your computer, open a spreadsheet in Google Sheets.
2. Select the cells you want to have checkboxes.
3. In the menu at the top, click Insert. Checkbox.
4. To remove checkboxes, select the checkboxes you want to remove and press Delete.

How do I insert a text field in Word?

How to insert a Text field in Word

1. Launch Microsoft Word.
2. Click anywhere on the document.
3. Click the Insert tab.
4. Click the Quick Parts button.
5. Click Field from the drop-down menu.
6. Choose a field name from the field name list.
7. then, choose an option from the list on the right.
8. Click OK.

Can you add a text box in Word Online?

On the Insert tab, in the Text group, click Text Box. Click in the presentation, and then drag to draw the text box the size that you want. To add text to a text box, click inside the text box, and then type or paste the text.

How do I insert text into an object in Word?

To do so, click the “Insert” tab on the ribbon menu. Then, click the downward-facing arrow next to “Object” and select “Text from File.” Browse to the file you want and double-click it. Its text will appear in the Word document.

How do I insert a textbox in Word without borders?

Remove the border

1. Select the text box or shape. If you want to change multiple text boxes or shapes, click the first text box or shape, and then press and hold Ctrl while you click the other text boxes or shapes.
2. On the Format tab, click Shape Outline, and then click No Outline.

A text box is an element you can insert and position anywhere in a document. Text boxes are great for calling special attention to a quote or a whole block of text.

Insert a Text Box

1. Click the Insert tab.
2. Expand the Text group, if necessary.
3. Click the Text Box button.

A gallery of text box styles appears. The styles range from simple text boxes to stylized sidebars.

4. Select the text box you’d like to use.

   

The text box is automatically inserted.

5. Click the text box and type to replace the placeholder text.

   

The placeholder text disappears as soon as you start typing.

Text boxes can be sized, moved, arranged, and styled just like shapes and pictures.

Draw Text Boxes

You don’t have to use one of Word’s built-in text boxes; you can create one from scratch.

1. From the Insert tab, expand the Text group, if necessary.
2. Click the Text Box button.
3. Select Draw Text Box.

   

The pointer changes to a crosshair, indicating that you can draw the text box.

4. Click and drag in your document to create the text box.

   

The text box is inserted.

Link Text Boxes

Linking text boxes allows text to flow between them. For example, you could make the text of a long article flow through several smaller text boxes in a more advanced layout.

1. After you have created two or more text boxes, select the first one.

The second text box must be empty, so make sure to remove any text in it before proceeding.

2. Click the Format tab in the Drawing Tools ribbon group.
3. Click Create Link from the Text group.

The cursor changes into a tiny pitcher full of letters. Moving the cursor over the second text box reveals that you can “pour” additional text into it.

4. Click the second text box with the new cursor.

   

The two text boxes are linked. Now, once enough text is entered into the first text box, it will automatically overflow into the second.

5. Switch back to the first text box and type into it.

   

You can format the text in a text box just as you would any other text by using the Font and Paragraph groups on the Home tab.

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Introduction

Text boxes can be useful for drawing attention to specific text. They can also be helpful when you need to move text around in your document. Word allows you to format text boxes and the text within them with a variety of styles and effects.

Optional: Download our practice document.

Watch the video below to learn more about text boxes in Word.

To insert a text box:

1. Select the Insert tab, then click the Text Box command in the Text group.

   

2. A drop-down menu will appear. Select Draw Text Box.

   
3. Click and drag anywhere on the document to create the text box.

   

4. The insertion point will appear inside the text box. You can now type to create text inside the text box.

   

5. If you want, you can select the text and then change the font, color, and size by using the commands on the Format and Home tabs. To learn more about using these formatting commands, see our Formatting Text lesson.

   

6. Click anywhere outside the text box to return to your document.

You can also select one of the built-in text boxes that have predefined colors, fonts, positions, and sizes. If you choose this option, the text box will appear automatically, so you will not need to draw it.

To move a text box:

1. Click the text box you want to move.
2. Hover the mouse over one of the edges of the text box. The mouse will change into a cross with arrows.
3. Click and drag the text box to the desired location.

   

To resize a text box:

1. Click the text box you want to resize.
2. Click and drag any of the sizing handles on the corners or sides of the text box until it is the desired size.

   

Modifying text boxes

Word offers several options for changing the way text boxes appear in your document. You can change the shape, style, and color of text boxes or add various effects.

To change the shape style:

Choosing a shape style allows you to apply preset colors and effects to quickly change the appearance of your text box.

1. Select the text box you want to change.
2. On the Format tab, click the More drop-down arrow in the Shape Styles group.

   

3. A drop-down menu of styles will appear. Select the style you want to use.

   

4. The text box will appear in the selected style.

   

If you want to have more control over text box formatting, you can use any of the shape formatting options such as Shape Fill and Shape Outline. To learn more, see our Shapes lesson.

To change the text box shape:

Changing the shape of a text box can be a useful option for creating an interesting look in your document.

1. Select the text box you want to change. The Format tab will appear.
2. From the Format tab, click the Edit Shape command.

   

3. Hover the mouse over Change Shape, then select the desired shape from the menu that appears.

   
4. The text box will appear formatted as the shape.

   

Challenge!

1. Open our practice document.
2. Insert a Simple Text Box.
3. In the text box, type Get an additional 25% off when you mention this ad!
4. Change the font to Gadugi, 20 pt, Center Align.
5. Change the shape of the text box to Double Wave from the Stars and Banners group.
6. Change the text box style by selecting any style in the Intense Effect row.
7. Drag the text box to the space below Buy 1, Get 1 Free* and Formalwear.
8. When you’re finished, your document should look something like this:

   

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