Inserting Shapes

EasySpreadsheet allows you to draw on your worksheet with the help of various drawing tools.

To draw, you must open the Drawing Toolbar:

  1. Go to the View menu.

  2. Go to Toolbars.

  3. Check off Drawing.

  4. The Drawing Toolbar will appear above your spreadsheet.

Here is a quick summary of how each drawing tool functions when you click each button:

 Draw a Line: A + cursor will appear. Left-click and hold down your mouse at the location where you want your line to begin.  Drag your mouse to the location of where you want your line to end. Release the mouse button, and your line will be drawn.

 Draw a Rectangle: A + cursor will appear. Left-click and hold down your mouse button at any position on your sheet.  This position will be one corner of your rectangle. Drag your mouse, and a rectangle shape will be drawn.  Continue to drag your mouse until the shape is the scale you want.

 Draw an Ellipse: A + cursor will appear. Left-click and hold down your mouse button at any position on your sheet.  Drag your mouse, and an elliptical shape will be drawn. Continue to drag your mouse until the shape is the scale you want.

 Draw an Arc: A + cursor will appear. Left-click and hold down your mouse button at any position on your sheet.  Drag your mouse in any direction, and an arc shape will be drawn. Depending on which direction you drag your mouse, the degree of the arc will vary. Drag your mouse in a direction that creates an arc shape to your liking.

 Draw a Polygon: A + cursor will appear. Left-click and hold-down your mouse button and move the mouse to draw a free-hand shape. In order to draw a straight line, you must let go after you initially left-click the mouse. In order to complete (close) the shape, you must bring the + to the point where you began drawing, and left-click on the mouse again. This will change the + back to the normal cursor and  your shape will be considered complete.

 Edit an Existing Polygon: Click on a previously drawn polygon with your mouse. Small square 'nodes' will appear on the outer line of the shape. You can edit the shape of the polygon by clicking and holding the mouse on any of the nodes (the + will appear) and re-positioning them by dragging the mouse and letting go at the new position.  

 Edit Fill Color of a Graphic Object: You must first click on a previously drawn object (rectangle, ellipse, or polygon). Click on the button (shown above) and the color of the shape will change to the color shown on the button.  To choose your own color, click the down arrow located to the right of the button. A palette of colors will appear. Choose the color you want your shape to be. If you do not see the exact color you want, click on More Colors to create your own custom color.  Click OK when you are done.

 Edit Line Color of a Graphic Object: You must first click on a previously drawn object (line, arc, rectangle, ellipse, or polygon). Click on the button (shown above) and the color of the line will change to the color shown on the button. To choose your own color, click the down arrow located to the right of the button.  A palette of colors will appear. Choose the color you want your line to be. If you do not see the exact color you want, click on More Colors to create your own custom color.  Click OK when you are done.

 Edit Line Style/Weight of a Graphic Object: You must first click on a previously drawn object (line, arc, rectangle, ellipse, or polygon). Click on the button (shown above) and a window will appear where you can pick the style (solid, segmented, no line), weight (line thickness or thinness), and color. Click OK when you are done. (Note: A segmented line will only work with the thinnest line width.)

 Edit Properties of a Graphic Object: You must first click on a previously drawn object (line, arc, rectangle, ellipse, or polygon). Click on the button (shown above) and a window will appear with two choices: Patterns and Line Style. Under Patterns, you can choose the Fill Color by clicking one of the colored squares.  Next, click on one of the patterns provided, or click None if you do not wish to use a pattern. Choose a color for your pattern by clicking a color under the Pattern Color label. You can view your fill choices in the Sample viewer. For Line Style, you can pick the style (solid, segmented, no line), weight (line thickness or thinness), and color. (Note: A segmented line will only work with the thinnest line width.) Click OK when you are done.

 Bring Selected Objects to the Top: When there are many overlapping objects on a sheet, you may want to change the order of them (i.e., you want a shape that is underneath another to appear on top). Click on the object you want to bring to the top. Next, click on the button shown above. Your object will be instantly brought to the top.

Send Selected Objects to the Back: When there are many overlapping objects on a sheet, you may want to change the order of them (i.e., you want a shape that is on top of another to appear behind it). Click on the object you want to send to the back. Next, click on the button shown above. Your object will be instantly sent to the back.

Note: You can change the width, height, scale of an object at anytime.  Just click on the object once and square nodes will appear.  Click and drag these nodes in order to resize, or scale the object.  Let go of the mouse button when you are complete.