Excel for Mac 2016: Text box does not move with insert/delete table rows

Question

I have a worksheet containing several tables and text boxes. For each text box I have enabled the 'Move but don't size with cells' option. The text boxes move when inserting an entire worksheet row but do not move on insert/delete table rows. Is it possible to have text boxes move on insert/delete table rows?

Answer 1

Hi Bgg_005,

Based on my test, the sheet row is different from table row (“Move but don’t size with cells” selected). When we insert a sheet row, text box will move. However, when inserting a table, the Text Box doesn’t move. As a workaround, you may directly move the Text box to a proper position. You may also firstly insert sheet rows which make text box move, and then create table.

Other community members are welcome to share your experience about this thread here.

Best regards,

Tim

Answer 2

@Tim thank you for your reply. Yes, it does seem as though table rows are different from sheet rows, for whatever reason. Content in cells below a table move with table insert/delete rows but content in cells beside a table do not. Since my worksheet is intended for distribution among co-workers, neither 'workaround' is entirely satisfactory. What is needed is a way to lock or anchor a text box to a particular cell or worksheet row, which does not seem to be possible.

Answer 3

I just experimented with a table below a range of cells and below an Excel table. The text box moved up when I deleted rows from the range and it moved up when I deleted rows from the table. I have the text box set to move and size with cells.

Can you share an example workbook on DropBox or OneDrive or other sharing service and provide a step-by-step set of instructions that reproduce the problem you're having?

It would help if you go to the Excel menu and choose About Excel and include your version information.

Thanks.

Answer 4

@Jim,

Thank you for your reply. Yes, text boxes and content in cells below a table move with table insert/delete rows. However, text boxes or content in cells beside a table do not.

What I was looking for was a way to lock or anchor a text box to a particular cell or worksheet row. Unfortunately, this does not seem to be possible. I have since moved on. Thanks everyone for your suggestions.

Answer 5

This behavior has to do with the special way the Excel Table object behaves. When you add a row to a table other non-adjacent columns are not affected. If you add a complete row using the Insert menu Insert > Rows, then your text box will move down.