How to draw a straight line

[Lvrande]

I just got Office 2007. In 2003 in Excel, I could hold down the shift key
while dragging the mouse to ensure that my line would be straight. Now,
holding down the shift key makes it a 45 degree angle. All I can find in Help
is that you draw a straight line by dragging the mouse or by clicking on the
starting and ending points. My hand is not steady enough to draw absolutely
straight lines freehand. Any idea how I can make a perfectly straight
horizontal or vertical line without snapping to the grid?

 

[Bill Sharpe]

I just got Office 2007. In 2003 in Excel, I could hold down the shift key
while dragging the mouse to ensure that my line would be straight. Now,
holding down the shift key makes it a 45 degree angle. All I can find in Help
is that you draw a straight line by dragging the mouse or by clicking on the
starting and ending points. My hand is not steady enough to draw absolutely
straight lines freehand. Any idea how I can make a perfectly straight
horizontal or vertical line without snapping to the grid?

I am able to draw straight horizontal and vertical lines in Excel 2007
by shift-dragging left and down, respectively. If I move substantially
off the horizontal or vertical path I do indeed get a 45 degree angle.

Despite the term freeform, it's pretty easy to draw a straight line
using this choice. too. In the insert menu, select shapes, then freeform
line, then click where you want to start the line. Move the cursor to
where you want to end the line and click again. You can continue in
another direction or double click to stop.

Try adjusting the sensitivity of your mouse or try using the other hand
to hold the mouse.

BTW, I can't draw a straight line freehand either...

Bill

 

[Elkar]

Holding down the SHIFT key still works in 2007. It should "lock" the line to
the nearest 45 degree angle from the starting point to the mouse pointer. As
long as you're drawing a new line. If you're trying to modify an existing
line, then the current angle will influence the effect of the SHIFT key.

The other option is to set the angle manually, by right-clicking the line
after you draw it and selecting "Size and Properties". Set Height and
Rotation to 0 for a flat horizontal line.

HTH
Elkar