Microsoft KB Archive/159407

= Microsoft Knowledge Base =

XL: Shift Key Modifies Behavior of Drawing Toolbar
Last reviewed: November 26, 1996

Article ID: Q159407

The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 5.0, 5.0c
 * Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, version 7.0
 * Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, version 5.0, 5.0a

SUMMARY
If you use the shift key in conjunction with buttons on the drawing toolbar, you modify the behavior of drawn element(s). This modified behavior depends on whether you press the shift key before or after you click the button on the drawing toolbar.

MORE INFORMATION
The following table describes the different behavior of the Drawing Toolbar icons when the shift key is used in conjunction with the respective buttons. Note that this list does not describe the normal purpose of each drawing tool, just their behavior when the tools are modified by pressing the shift key.

In the following list, the Shift prior column lists drawing tool behavior when you press the shift key prior to clicking the button. The Shift after column lists drawing tool behavior when the shift key is depressed after selecting the icon with the mouse.

Drawing Tool       Shift Prior Draws:       Shift After Draws: ---

Line               Lines drawn in           Lines drawn in                    45 degree increments     45 degree increments

Arrow              Arrows drawn in          Arrows drawn in                    45 degree increments     45 degree increments

Freehand           Filled drawing           Normal freehand drawing

Rectangle          Filled square            Square

Ellipse            Filled circle            Circle

Arc                Filled arc               Arc

Freehand Polygon   Filled polygon           Normal polygon

Filled Rectangle   Square                   Filled Square

Filled Oval        Circle                   Filled Circle

Filled Arc         Arc of equal axes        Filled Arc of equal axes

Filled Freehand    Filled polygon           Filled Freehand Polygon Polygon

Text Box           Square text box          Square text box

Drawing selection  Selects/drags elements   Normal Behavior along horizontal, vertical or 45 degree directions from source

Group box when     Ungroups objects         Menu flashes indicating grouped objects                             erroneous event are selected

Group box when     Menu flashes indicating  n/a objects already selected ungrouped objects  erroneous event are selected

Ungroup box when   Menu flashes indicating  Ungroups grouped objects grouped objects    erroneous event are selected

Ungroup box when   Groups objects           Menu flashes indicating ungrouped objects                           erroneous event are selected

Bring to front     Sends to back            Brings objects to front

Send to back       Brings to front          Sends to back

Drop shadow        Normal behavior          Normal behavior

Color              Normal behavior          Normal behavior

Resizing sheet     Retains proportions if   Normal behavior objects            dragging on any corner

Create button      Draws square button      Draws square button

Note: Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh uses the toolname of freeform tools, whereas Microsoft Excel for Windows uses the toolname of freehand tools.