WORD

Rotating Drawing Objects

Word drawing objects such as AutoShapes and WordArt can be rotated using Word's rotate tool.  However, if you want to rotate pictures such as .jpg and .gif images you will need to do this in a suitable paint package before inserting the picture into your document.

If you want to rotate  your WordArt or any other drawing object you can select the object and then use the Rotate tool from the Drawing toolbar . Click on any of the green circles that appear at the corners of your drawing object and then drag the object round to the position you require.

Word's clipart is made of Windows Metafile (.WMF) images and cannot be rotated with the rotate tool alone.  However, it is possible to rotate clipart by following these steps:

1.  Click on the View drop-down menu and choose Toolbars and then Customise to display the Customise window.  Click on the Drawing option on the left of the window and then scroll down to the very bottom of the icons in the list on the right to find the Disassemble Picture icon .

Click and hold your left mouse button over this icon and drag it onto your Drawing Toolbar, release your mouse button when you see a large black I shape over the toolbar.

2.  Click on your clipart image and click the Disassemble Picture icon which should now be on your drawing toolbar, you will see lots of handles appear over your clipart.

3. Now click your right mouse button over the clipart so a menu appears.  Select Grouping from the menu and then Group from the sub-menu:

4.  Your picture now has one set of handles at each corner, click on the Rotate icon from the Drawing Toolbar and you will see the green rotation handles appear, click and drag one of these handles and you will be able to rotate your clipart.

This technique only works for .WMF graphics, it will not work for .JPG, .GIF or .BMP images, these must be rotated in a graphics package and saved in their rotated form before you insert them into your Word document.