Support / Word / Word 2003 Help and How-to / Working with Graphics and Charts

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Add text to a drawing object or picture

Applies to: Microsoft Office Word 2003

You can add a numbered caption, such as "Figure 1," to an item and have Microsoft Word automatically add similar captions.
You can label a graphic or part of a graphic by inserting a text box (text box: A movable, resizable container for text or graphics. Use text boxes to position several blocks of text on a page or to give text a different orientation from other text in the document.).

If you want the label to include a leader (leader: A line that draws the reader's eye from a callout to the appropriate part of the illustration.), use an AutoShape (AutoShapes: A group of ready-made shapes that includes basic shapes, such as rectangles and circles, plus a variety of lines and connectors, block arrows, flowchart symbols, stars and banners, and callouts.) callout.

You can create decorative callouts and labels by inserting text in any AutoShape — with the exception of lines and freeforms (freeform: Any shape you draw by using the Curve, Freeform, and Scribble tools. Freeform shapes can include straight lines and freehand curves. They can be drawn opened or closed and can be edited.).

Do one of the following:

Show Add a caption

Do one of the following:

Show Add captions automatically as you insert tables, figures, equations, or other items

On the Insert menu, point to Reference, and then click Caption.
Click AutoCaption.
In the Add caption when inserting list, select the items for which you want Microsoft Word to insert captions.
Select any other options you want.
Click OK.
In your document, insert the item you want to add a caption to.

Word automatically adds the appropriate caption.

If you want to add an optional description, click after the caption and type the text you want.

Show Add captions manually to an existing table, figure, equation, or other item

Select the item you want to add a caption to.
On the Insert menu, point to Reference, and then click Caption.
In the Label list, select the item for which you want Microsoft Word to insert a caption.
Select any other options you want.

Note Microsoft Word inserts captions as fields (field: A set of codes that instructs Microsoft Word to insert text, graphics, page numbers, and other material into a document automatically. For example, the DATE field inserts the current date.). If your caption looks similar to {SEQ Table \* ARABIC}, Word is displaying field codes (field code: Placeholder text that shows where specified information from your data source will appear; the elements in a field that generate a field's result. The field code includes the field characters, field type, and instructions.) instead of field results (field results: Text or graphics inserted in a document when Microsoft Word carries out a field's instructions. When you print the document or hide field codes, the field results replace the field codes.). To see the field results, press ALT+F9, or right-click the field code, and then click Toggle Field Codes on the shortcut menu (shortcut menu: A menu that shows a list of commands relevant to a particular item. To display a shortcut menu, right-click an item or press SHIFT+F10.).

Show Use a text box to add a callout or label

On the Drawing toolbar (toolbar: A bar with buttons and options that you use to carry out commands. To display a toolbar, press ALT and then SHIFT+F10.), click Text Box .
Do one of the following:

To insert a text box with a predefined size, click the document.
To insert a text box with a different size, drag its sizing handles (sizing handle: One of the small circles or squares that appears at the corners and sides of a selected object. You drag these handles to change the size of the object.) until the text box is the size you want. To maintain the text box's width-to-height ratio, hold down SHIFT while you drag the sizing handles.

Position the text box by dragging it to the location you want.

Show Tip

You can use the options on the Drawing toolbar to enhance a text box — for example, to change the fill color — just as you can with any other drawing object.

Show Create a callout or label that includes a leader

On the Drawing toolbar (toolbar: A bar with buttons and options that you use to carry out commands. To display a toolbar, press ALT and then SHIFT+F10.), click AutoShapes, point to Callouts, and then click the callout you want.
Click where you want to insert the callout, and then start typing.
Resize the callout by dragging one of its sizing handles (sizing handle: One of the small circles or squares that appears at the corners and sides of a selected object. You drag these handles to change the size of the object.), and position the callout by dragging it to where you want it.

Show Insert text in an AutoShape

Select the AutoShape.
Do one of the following:

To add text for the first time, right-click any shape — except a line or freeform — click Add Text on the shortcut menu (shortcut menu: A menu that shows a list of commands relevant to a particular item. To display a shortcut menu, right-click an item or press SHIFT+F10.), and then type the text.
To add text to existing text, right-click any shape — except a line or freeform — click Edit Text on the shortcut menu, and then type the text.

Add text to a drawing object or picture

See Also