When you draw, resize, or move a shape or an object (object: A table, chart, graphic, equation, or other form of information. Objects created in one application, for example spreadsheets, and linked or embedded in another application are OLE objects.), it will align or "snap to" the nearest intersection of lines in the grid (grid: A set of intersecting lines used to align objects.), even if the grid is not visible, or snap to other shapes or objects. If your shape or object does not move where you want, turn off the snap-to options.
Which Office program are you using?
Excel
Turn on the snap-to options
- Click the shape or object (object: A table, chart, graphic, equation, or other form of information. Objects created in one application, for example spreadsheets, and linked or embedded in another application are OLE objects.) in the worksheet.
- Under Drawing Tools on the Format tab, in the Arrange group, click Align.
If you do not see the Drawing Tools or Format tabs, make sure that you selected a shape or an object. You might have to double-click the shape or object to open the Format tab.
- Do one or both of the following:
- To position shapes or objects to the closest intersection of the grid, click Snap to Grid.
- To position shapes or objects to grid lines that go through the vertical and horizontal edges of other shapes or objects, click Snap to Shape.
Note To temporarily override the snap-to options, hold down ALT while you drag the shape or object.
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Turn off the snap-to options
- Click the shape or object (object: A table, chart, graphic, equation, or other form of information. Objects created in one application, for example spreadsheets, and linked or embedded in another application are OLE objects.) in the worksheet.
- Under Drawing Tools on the Format tab, in the Arrange group, click Align.
If you do not see the Drawing Tools or Format tabs, make sure that you selected a shape or an object. You might have to double-click the shape or object to open the Format tab.
- Depending on which options are selected click Snap to Grid or Snap to Shape to disable these options.
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PowerPoint
Turn on the snap-to options
- On the Home tab, in the Drawing group, click Arrange, point to Align, and then click Grid Settings.
Tip You can also right-click on an empty area of the slide (not a placeholder (placeholders: Boxes with dotted or hatch-marked borders that are part of most slide layouts. These boxes hold title and body text or objects such as charts, tables, and pictures.)) or the margin around the slide, and then click Grid and Guides.
- Do one or both of the following:
- To position shapes or objects (object: A table, chart, graphic, equation, or other form of information. Objects created in one application, for example spreadsheets, and linked or embedded in another application are OLE objects.) to the closest intersection of the grid, under Snap to, select the Snap objects to grid check box.
- To position shapes or objects to grid lines that go through the vertical and horizontal edges of other shapes or objects, under Snap to, select the Snap objects to other objects check box.
Notes
- To temporarily override the snap-to options, hold down ALT while you drag the shape or object.
- If you want the current settings in the Grid and Guide dialog box to be the default settings for all presentations, rather than just this one, click Set as Default.
- If the Snap objects to grid check box is selected, you can draw in straight lines when you draw a freeform shape
.
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Turn off the snap-to options
- On the Home tab, in the Drawing group, click Arrange, point to Align, and then click Grid Settings.
Tip You can also right-click on an empty area of the slide (not a placeholder (placeholders: Boxes with dotted or hatch-marked borders that are part of most slide layouts. These boxes hold title and body text or objects such as charts, tables, and pictures.)) or the margin around the slide, and then click Grid and Guides.
- To turn off Snap objects to grid or Snap objects to other objects, clear the respective check box.
Note If you want the current settings in the Grid and Guide dialog box to be the default settings for all presentations, rather than just this one, click Set as Default.
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Word
Turn on the snap-to options
- Click the shape or object (object: A table, chart, graphic, equation, or other form of information. Objects created in one application, for example spreadsheets, and linked or embedded in another application are OLE objects.) in the document.
- Under Drawing Tools on the Format tab, in the Arrange group, click Align
, and then click Grid Settings.
If you do not see the Drawing Tools or Format tabs, make sure that you clicked a shape or an object.
- Do one or both of the following:
- To position shapes or objects to the closest intersection of the grid even when the grid is not visible, under Show grid, select the Snap objects to grid when the gridlines are not displayed check box.
- To position shapes or objects to grid lines that go through the vertical and horizontal edges of other shapes or objects, under Object Snapping, select the Snap objects to other objects check box.
Notes
- To temporarily override the snap-to options, hold down ALT while you drag the shape or object.
- If you want these settings to be the default settings for all documents, click Default.
- By default, shapes and other objects will snap to the nearest intersection of gridlines only if the grid is displayed, unless you select the Snap objects to grid when the gridlines are not displayed check box.
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Turn off the snap-to options
- Click the shape or object (object: A table, chart, graphic, equation, or other form of information. Objects created in one application, for example spreadsheets, and linked or embedded in another application are OLE objects.) in the document.
- Under Drawing Tools on the Format tab, in the Arrange group, click Align , and then click Grid Settings.
If you do not see the Drawing Tools or Format tabs, make sure that you clicked a shape or an object. You may need to double-click the object. You may need to double-click the object to open the tabs.
- To turn off the Snap objects to grid when the gridlines are not displayed or Snap objects to other objects settings, clear the respective check box.
Note If you want these settings to be the default settings for all documents, click Set As Default.
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