Displaying a value in an AutoShape

You want to make a particular value really stand out? Use an AutoShape.

First, click the AutoShapes button on the Drawing toolbar, select the shape you want to use by clicking it, and click in the formula bar. Then enter a cell reference such as the following:

=$B$14 

Press Enter. In the example below, the contents of cell B14 will then be displayed inside the AutoShape. If the content of the referenced cell changes, the graphic will reflect the change. The advantage is that AutoShapes offer formatting options that are not available within the standard Format menus.

To make an AutoShape even snazzier, double-click the graphic to access the Format AutoShape dialog box. From there, you can apply formatting changes -- for instance, adjusting the vertical or horizontal positioning, changing the font, adding color, or making the text bold.