Circle and rectangle tool

Question

I'm using Word for Mac, but I think the same is true for Windows. In Word 2004, on the drawing toolbar, there were icons for RECTANGLE and CIRCLE. They allowed you to put a rectangle around a word or photo (or whatever you wanted), or circle something in a picture (a head, for example). In fact, when you used the CUSTOMIZE feature, under ALL COMMANDS, it was even called RECTANGLE and CIRCLE. 

Now in 2008 and 2011 for Mac, they're gone, and I cannot figure out how to put a circle or rectangles around anything, especially in a picture (and I don't mean a text box, which is something entirely different). Both of these shapes are found in the BASIC SHAPES on the drawing toolbar, but they act like pictures, and fit between or next to words, never around them.

So:

1. Why did they eliminate these useful tools from the drawing toolbar?
2. Are they hidden under a different name? If so, I certainly didn't find them under ALL COMMANDS in customize menu.
3. How can I put a circle or rectangle around something specific in a photo I pasted into a Word document?

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

It seems that you have the default insertion for shapes set to 'in-line' (the default setting), which will make them behave like font characters. Set the insertion default to 'behind text' or right click the shape and set the layout property to behind text.

Answer 2

I can change the color to NO FILL, and right click does save NO FILL as the default fill color (instead of the previous blue). Unfortunately, changing LAYOUT to BEHIND TEXT is not saved as a default. This is different on a Mac I guess. But at least I now can put a circle or rectangle on a picture and not have the picture move away in horror. I just have to go back to LAYOUT (in Mac, it's under FORMAT:ARRANGE in the ribbon, and then there is a pull-down next to WRAP TEXT with the usual suspects: Square, Tight, Behind Text, and In Front of Text) and select BEHIND TEXT.

Thanks for all your help. A bit more cumbersome than Word 2004, but at least I can get it done.

Answer 3

If it's like the Windows versions, you select a shape that has the formatting you want, right-click its border, and choose Set AutoShape Default.

Answer 4

How do you set the defaults for the shapes? I can do it each time by going to LAYOUT and setting it behind the text. But I see now way to make this the DEFAULT layout. So, instead of the simpler RECTANGLE which I used to be able to draw, now I have to:

1. Draw the rectangle from BASIC SHAPES.
2. FILL:NO FILL (in Mac, they're filled in with blue)
3. LAYOUT:BEHIND TEXT

This is not easier than the old way. In fact, it's a pain in the behind.