Using AutoShapes to Create Hyperlinks

AutoShapes (created using the drawing toolbar) can also be e-mail hyperlinks.  AutoShapes hyperlinks are easier to identify as hyperlinks and do a better job of communicating that the spreadsheet contains e-mail triggers that make it easy for users to communicate with the developer.  In this part of the example we will create an AutoShape hyperlink and save the file in standard Excel format.  The following are the steps to follow: 

• Open the file you want the link in.
• Make sure the Drawing Toolbar is displayed.
• Select the AutoShape you want to use from the Drawing Toolbar.
• Place the AutoShape over an area of the worksheet that does not contain data. (If you overlap data, Excel will do a poor job of creating an HTML document in the last part of this example.)
• Right mouse click on the AutoShape and select Hyperlink.
• When the Insert Hyperlink dialog box opens, select the e-Mail Address icon on the Link To bar.
• In the e-mail address text box enter the address to which messages should be sent.
• Fill in the subject box.
• Click OK and the text you highlighted before entering the hyperlink dialog box is now an e-mail hyperlink.
• Right mouse click once again and select Add Text.  Enter the text you want and format the text and the AutoShape background to meet your needs.
• Click away from the AutoShape to deselect the object.

At this point your worksheet is complete and ready to be distributed to your users.  When they have questions all they have to do is click on your AutoShape and an e-mail will be automatically generated.

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