Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Word 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Word, click here: Changing a Shape.

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. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Word (Word 2007 and later) here: Changing a Shape.

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

Displaying Latitude and Longitude

If you work with geographic data, you may need a way to display latitude and longitude in a worksheet. This tip examines ...

Discover More

Conditionally Formatting Non-Integers

The conditional formatting capabilities of Excel are very helpful when you want to call attention to different values ...

Discover More

Counting Asterisks in a Column

Excel can be used as a simple database program. If you use asterisks in a column of your database to designate ranking of ...

Discover More

The First and Last Word on Word! Bestselling For Dummies author Dan Gookin puts his usual fun and friendly candor back to work to show you how to navigate Word 2019. Spend more time working and less time trying to figure it all out! Check out Word 2019 For Dummies today!

More WordTips (menu)

Printing a Discussion

There are times you may have to work offline. Here is how to print out your discussion.

Discover More

Breaking a Document Link

Word allows you to link external information into your documents. If you no longer need to maintain the active link, you ...

Discover More

Automatically Saving Versions

The versioning feature in Word can be very handy as you develop your documents. Here's how to set it up so that a new ...

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 7 + 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.