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Funky Shapes and Fills in Excel Comments

You are here: Home / Excel / Funky Shapes and Fills in Excel Comments
Funky Shapes and Fills in Excel Comments
May 16, 2012 by Mynda Treacy

Did you know you can jazz-up your Excel Comments using Shapes, or even insert a Picture that conveys your message?

Just take these weather themed comments I created:

Excel Comments

How to Change a Comment Shape

In Excel 2007 and 2010 you first need to add a command to your Quick Access Toolbar. Note: I’m going to call it the QAT from now on as it takes too long to type!

  1. Right click QAT > Customize QAT
  2. Choose commands from: All Commands
  3. Find ‘Change Shape’ and ‘Add’ it to the Customize QAT side and press OK
  4.  
    Excel Comments

  5. Now insert your comment as usual. You know; right-click > Insert Comment...
  6. To change the shape, edit your comment. Right-click cell containing comment > Edit Comment.
  7. Left-click on the outer edge of the comment box once to select it, select the 'change shape' command from the QAT. Choose your new shape.
     
    Important! If you don’t select the outer edge of the comment first it won’t allow you to select the Change Shape command from the QAT.
  8.  
    Excel Comments

  9. To change the background colour of your shape right-click the cell containing your comment.
  10. Left-click the outer edge once to select the comment box.
  11. Right-click and select Format Shape.
  12. Select the Colors and Lines tab. Choose your new color from the Fill menu.
  13.  
    Excel Comments

  14. To have your comment on show permanently, right-click the cell containing the comment > Show/Hide Comments.

Comments with Picture Backgrounds

Excel Comments

Inserting a picture as your comment background is easy. Simply insert your comment as you normally would.

  1. To insert a picture background, edit your comment by right-clicking the cell containing comment > Edit Comment.
  2. Left-click the outer edge of the comment to select it > right-click and select Format Comment
     
    Note: if you don’t select the outer edge of the comment box first you will only see the font formatting options when you select Format Comment..
  3.  
    Excel Comments

  4. Select the Colors and Lines tab > from the fill menu choose Fill Effects > Select the Picture tab > Select Picture and browse to find the picture you want to use > Open.

Bonus tip: Try formatting your comment with both a Shape and Picture Fill.
 
Excel Comments

Ok, I know it won’t be every day that you need to create your own weather report in Excel, but you could use special shaped comments and picture fills for more practical applications.

For example; use picture fills in comments to create a product catalogue, or use different shapes to call attention to important content in your reports.

I’d like to thank fellow Excel trainer Shannon Hommel for reminding me of this fun tip.

Funky Shapes and Fills in Excel Comments
Mynda Treacy

Microsoft MVP logo

AUTHOR Mynda Treacy Co-Founder / Owner at My Online Training Hub

CIMA qualified Accountant with over 25 years experience in roles such as Global IT Financial Controller for investment banking firms Barclays Capital and NatWest Markets.

Mynda has been awarded Microsoft MVP status every year since 2014 for her expertise and contributions to educating people about Microsoft Excel.

Mynda teaches several courses here at MOTH including Excel Expert, Excel Dashboards, Power BI, Power Query and Power Pivot.

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Comments

  1. Rod Decker

    May 2, 2017 at 7:54 pm

    Hey really nice article very informational.

    Reply

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