Changing an AutoShape

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated February 11, 2017)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003


1

There may be times when you want to completely change an AutoShape from one to another. For instance, you may want to change one banner shape to another. While you can simply delete your original AutoShape and then draw a new one, Word makes it easy to change AutoShapes by following these steps:

  1. Make sure the Drawing toolbar is displayed.
  2. Select the AutoShape you want to change. Handles should appear around the outside of the shape.
  3. Click your mouse on Draw on the Drawing toolbar, and then choose Change AutoShape. The familiar AutoShape categories will appear.
  4. Select the AutoShape you want to use.

Word changes the AutoShape used, without changing the overall size or shape of the bounding rectangle that contains the AutoShape. You can then proceed to edit the new AutoShape, as desired.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (1694) applies to Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003.

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

Jumping to Alphabetic Worksheets

Got a workbook with a lot of worksheets in it? Here's some handy ways to jump to the worksheet you want, alphabetically.

Discover More

Changing the Lock Screen's Background Picture

Don't like the picture you first see when you look at your computer? Windows makes it easy to change the Lock Screen ...

Discover More

Top Margin Ignored when Printing

When you press the Print button in Excel, you want your worksheet to go to your printer and produce output as you expect. ...

Discover More

Do More in Less Time! An easy-to-understand guide to the more advanced features available in the Microsoft 365 version of Word. Enhance the quality of your documents and boost productivity in any field with this in-depth resource. Complete your Word-related tasks more efficiently as you unlock lesser-known tools and learn to quickly access the features you need. Check out Microsoft 365 Word For Professionals For Dummies today!

More WordTips (menu)

Refreshing the Discussion

To keep up with the Discussion, you will need to refresh the comments to make sure you are in-the-know.

Discover More

Changing the Office Assistant

How to change the Office Assistant character in Word.

Discover More

Using the Reviewing Toolbar

The Reviewing toolbar is a handy location for many of the tools often used by editors when working on a document. Here's ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, 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 minus 1?

2014-03-20 09:02:17

Arjun

Is there any way to change an auto shape to another shape in Powerpoint 2003?

I know it is possible in 2007,but in 2003 i dont know..please help


This Site

Got a version of Word that uses the menu interface (Word 97, Word 2000, Word 2002, or Word 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.

Videos
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, 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.