XL2000: Shadows on Drawing Objects may not Appear Correctly (211505)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Excel 2000
This article was previously published under Q211505

SYMPTOMS

When you create a drawing object in Microsoft Excel, if you apply a shadow to the drawing object, the shadow may appear differently than in earlier versions of Excel.

CAUSE

This will occur if all the following conditions are true:

  • The drawing object was created in Excel 2000.

    -and-

  • The drawing object is not filled (it is transparent).

    -and-

  • The workbook containing the drawing object has not been saved, or has been saved in the Excel 2000 format, closed and reopened.

WORKAROUND

If you create a drawing object in Excel and it needs to have a solid shadow, you must apply a fill to the drawing object. Use the following steps to do this:

  1. Select the drawing object.
  2. On the Format menu, click AutoShape.
  3. Click the Colors and Lines tab.
  4. In the Fill list in the Color section, click a color, or click Fill Effects and select a fill effect.
  5. Click OK.
The shadow will now appear solid.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

In Excel, drawing objects that you create can be filled or unfilled. Filled objects are opaque; unfilled objects are transparent and you can see cells or other objects through them.

In Excel 2000, when you create a drawing object, such as a rectangle, and then apply a shadow to the object, the shadow may not appear solid, but as a line. This will occur if the drawing object is not filled (it is transparent).

Shadows applied to drawing objects should appear correctly if any of the following conditions are true:

  • The drawing object was created in an earlier version of Excel.

    -or-

  • The drawing object is filled.

    -or-

  • The workbook that contains the drawing object is not saved in the Excel 2000 format.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:10/7/2003
Keywords:kbbug kbpending kbualink97 KB211505
©2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.