WordArt in 2003

[ekrouse]

My firm is looking to upgrade to Office 2003 from 2000. The problem I've encountered is with the WordArt function in MS Word. In previous versions, the WordArt could be "free rotated" using the "Free Rotate" icon (curled arrow available on the WordArt toolbar)just like a it was any other "auto shape" graphic (arrow, rectangle, etc).

In Office 2003, Wordart appears like a picture rather than a graphic. The only way to rotate the graphic is from the dialog box, but then it only rotates within the fixed box dimensions, rather than truley rotating the graphic. Am I missing something or is this a classic case of Microsoft downgrading the functionality of it's products?

 

[ThomasLafferty]

Try this
1. In Word 2003, by default, graphics are inserted in line with text. To turn this off:
Tools>Options>Edit>Insert Pictures as:>In front of Text. (this allows for rotation.)

2. On a separate issue, graphics are inserted by default in a drawing canvas (which I loathe....) To turn this off:

Tools>Options>General>Automatically create drawing canvas when inserting autoshapes.

Hope this helps...

Tom

Live once die twice; live twice die once.

 

[ekrouse]

Thanks ThomasLafferty. Unfortunately, this does not have any effect.

1) The inline / with text option doesn't apply to these kind of graphics since they are independent of the text (i.e. they float as a layer like a "text box" above the background text.

2) The drawing canvas is something that I hadn't seen before, however turning this off does not effect the issue in question.

Anyone else have any solutions?

 

[Lilliabeth]

As soon as you make the Wordart, select it and use the Pictures toolbar to change the Text wrapping to anything else, like Square or Tight. You will get that familiar green circle (rotate handle).

Lilliabeth
-Why use a big word when a diminutive one will do?-

 

[ThomasLafferty]

Oops...Apparently I am running 2002 and thought I was running 2003...
Are you presently experimenting with Word 2003? Those things I mentioned definitely work in 2002. Are you saying that by default, the Word Art inserts In Front of Text? When you select it on the screen, do you see an object handle at the top of the the Word Art object? When the Word Art is indeed floating, this handle should appear, and by grabbing it, you can free rotate directly without the need for the curved arrow cursor. If the selection border is a thin black line with solid black object handles, your Word Art is definitely in line with the text and needs to be formatted to in front of text.


Tom

Live once die twice; live twice die once.

 

[Lilliabeth]

Tom, Your suggestion does indeed work. I'm using 2003. I don't know why it didn't work for the original poster.

Lilliabeth
-Why use a big word when a diminutive one will do?-

 

[ekrouse]

Tom and Lilliabeth,

You are both correct. Your solution (changing from "inline with text") corrects the problem. When I tried it the first time, by changing the default settings under "Options > Edit", it didn't work. Later, after closing and restarting Word it did. Similarly, changing the properties as Lilliabeth said works immediately. I guess Word just needed to restart for the default settings to become active. Thanks everyone for your help.

-Eric