Troubleshoot text in shapes
The shape isn't resizing to fit the text
To resize the shape this way, turn on the Resize shape to fit text option.
- Select the object.
- Double-click the selection border of the shape or text box.
- Click the Text Box tab on the Format AutoShape dialog box.
- Select the Resize shape to fit text check box.
Text won't move, flip or rotate with its shape
The text is probably in a text box. Text created with the Text Box tool 
or Vertical Text Box tool 
and placed on top of an object isn't attached to the object. It won't move or rotate with the object.
- To attach text so that it becomes part of the shape, click the shape and type or paste the text.
- To group the text box and object so that they move as a single unit, hold down SHIFT as you select the text and the object. Click Group
on the lower right edge of the selection box.
Note Text cannot be flipped, even when it is attached to the shape. If you want to flip text, for example, to create a mirror-image effect, use OfficeArt and then flip it. When I select a text box and start typing, the existing text isn't replaced with what I type.
To replace text in the text box, select the text — not the border of the text box — before you start typing.
I can't resize a shape beyond its text
Turn off the Resize shape to fit text option.
- Select the object.
- Double-click the selection border of the shape or text box.
- In the Format AutoShape dialog box, click the Text Box tab.
- Clear the Resize shape to fit text check box.
When I add text to a shape, the object changes size and I don't want it to.
Turn off the Resize shape to fit text option.
- Select the object.
- Double-click the selection border of the shape or text box.
- In the Format AutoShape dialog box, click the Text Box tab.
- Clear the Resize shape to fit text check box.
I tried to change the margins for text inside an object, but nothing happens.
Turn on the Resize shape to fit text option and then you can adjust the margins between the text and object.
- Select the object.
- Double-click the selection border of the shape or text box.
- In the Format AutoShape dialog box, click the Text Box tab.
- Select Resize shape to fit text.