Trying to add a textbox with VBA, but getting a Smiley Face instead

JoeMo

MrExcel MVP
Joined
May 26, 2009
Messages
18,203
Office Version
  1. 365
  2. 2010
Platform
  1. Windows
Sorry, the first attempt to post this appeared to have failed so this may be posted twice.
Excel 2007, Vista.
When I step through the code and hover over "Type:= msoTextBox" the tip pointer indicates a value of 17 which is consistent with the mso shape type enum for a TextBox, but Excel produces a smiley face instead. Am I missing something?
Code:
Sub TBoxAdd()
Dim sh As Shape
'next line returns a smiley face
Set sh = ActiveSheet.Shapes.AddShape(Type:=msoTextBox, Left:=100, Top:=100, Width:=100, Height:=100)
MsgBox sh.Name  'Returns "Smiley Face #"
End Sub
 
Last edited:

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No response, so I did some homework on this. I'll pass my findings on for those, like me, who are still learning. The syntax I used to add a shape apparently applies to 138 (Excel 2007) 'basic shapes', but does not include a text box.

To add a text box I found this statement to work:
Code:
Dim sh as shape
Set sh = ActiveSheet.Shapes.AddTextbox(msoTextOrientationHorizontal, Left:= 100, Top:=10, width:= 100, Height:= 50)
Using the statement in my original post generated a Smiley Face because msoTextBox has a value of 17 and for the 'basic shapes' number 17 is indeed a Smiley Face.

The macro below will list (draw) the 138 'basic shapes' and place the type number value for each shape within the shape. Might serve as a handy reference because with Excel 2007 the macro recorder is mostly out to lunch when it comes to trying to record with shapes.
Code:
Sub ListShapes()
'Lists (draws) shapes of Type i from i = 1 to 137 (apparently the limit)
'down the activesheet. Note textbox requires a different
'syntax to generate and is not included here.
Dim sh As Shape
For Each sh In ActiveSheet.Shapes
    sh.Delete
Next sh
For i = 1 To 137
Set sh = ActiveSheet.Shapes.AddShape(Type:=i, Left:=100, _
    Top:=80 * i, Width:=50, Height:=50)
ActiveSheet.Shapes(sh.Name).OLEFormat.Object.Text = CStr(i)
Cells(sh.TopLeftCell.Row, sh.TopLeftCell.Column).Offset(0, 2).Value = sh.Name
Next i
End Sub
 
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