Videos/Align text to shapes in Draw

Foreword
This video shows in the example how text can be arranged in a circle.

Text can basically be aligned to curves.

Since objects can be converted to curves, text can also be aligned to any object or curve.

This description refers to LibreOffice 6.

See below: Procedure as of version 7.0

Link to the Video
Link to the Video (in German [DE]):

Schrift an Formen ausrichten in Draw - LibreOffice 6

Align font to a circle




Customize toolbar
Open Draw.

For our purposes you use the [[Media:201801_HB_LO_Symbolleiste_Zeichnung.png|Drawing_Toolbar]].

If it is not visible, it can be selected from the menu with.

Right click on the tear-off bar and select [[Media:201801_HB_LO_Drop-Down_Zeichnung.png|"Customize Toolbar…"]] off.

In the "Customise" dialog the [[Media:201801_HB_LO_Dialogbox_Anpassen_Kategorie_Format.png|"Toolbars" Tab]] select.

Then select "Category" = "Format".

At [[Media:201801_HB_LO_Dialogbox_Anpassen_Funktion_Fontwork.png|"Function", "Fontwork"]] click on it.

Click the right arrow in the middle (Add entry).

Click on.

The "Drawing" toolbar now has the [[Media:201801_HB_LO_Symbolleiste_Zeichnung_Symbol_Fontwork_Text_einfügen.png|Symbol "Insert Fontwork-Text"]] to get it done.

Draw a circle
On the "Drawing" toolbar, select the "Circle" icon off.

In principle, any object (circle, square, rectangle, hexagon, octagon, etc) can be used.

Draw a circle.

In the sidebar, select "None" for "Area and Fill".

[[Media:201801_HB_LO_Kreis mit Rand.png|The circle is now transparent and has a coloured border.]]

Convert circle to curve
Right click on the circle.

Choose and  from the drop down menu.

The circle is now defined as a curve.

Add text
You double-click on the circle so that the cursor flashes in the middle of the circle.

Now you can write the desired text.

Here in the example you write: [[Media:201801_HB_LO_Kreis_mit_Text-Dies_ist_ein_langer_Text.png|"This is a long text "]].

Please insert a space directly after the word "Text ".

You click on the symbol [[Media:201801_HB_LO_Symbol_Fontwork-Text_einfuegen.png|"Insert Fontwork-Text"]].

Rotate text
The [[Media:201801_HB_LO_Dialogbox_Fontwork.png|"Fontwork" Dialog]].

In it you click on the [[Media:201801_HB_LO_Symbol_Drehen.png|Symbol "Rotate"]].

This causes the text to be placed on the arc.

However, the text does not yet go around the circle.

Close text around the circle
To make the text enclose the entire circle, click on the [[Media:201801_HB_LO_Symbol_Auto-Textgröße.png|"Auto Text Size" Symbol]].

Now the text goes completely around the circle.

You can now also see why a space was inserted after the word "text".

It provides the distance to the beginning of the sentence.

Appearance
The appearance depends on many factors.

These are, for example: font, text length and circle size.

Change circle border
If the circle edge is disturbing, you can set the line color in the sidebar to "white".

Customizes toolbar
In LibreOffice version 7.0 and higher the toolbars are fixed by default.

This is noticeable by the fact that the so-called tear-off bar is not visible.

Irrespective of the tear-off bar, you can right-click on the toolbar and select "Customise toolbar..." in the context menu.

If you do not want to click on a symbol, you can also right-click on one of the [[Media:202008_LOEN_vertical dividing line.png|dividing lines]] in a toolbar.

If the tear-off bar is not present, you can also remove the check mark from "Fix toolbar" in the context menu by right-clicking on the toolbar.

This makes the tear-off bar visible again and the toolbar can be detached from the border position.

The "Customise" dialog is always accessed via the menu.

Select.

In the "Customise" dialog, [[Media:202204EN_Draw Toolbars Tab on Customise dialog.png|select the "Toolbars" tab]].

At the top left of "Search" enter "Fontwork".

Under Category, select "Fontwork".

On the right-hand side (list: "Assigned commands") click on the last entry "Toggle Extrusion".

Click on the black right arrow in the middle.

The entry "Fontwork" has now been placed at the end of the list on the right.

Click on.

The [[Media:202204DE_Draw Symbolleiste Zeichnung Symbol Fontwork.png|new fontwork icon]] is now available at the end of the "Drawing" toolbar.

Draw a circle
Basically you can use any object (circle, square, rectangle, hexagon, octagon, etc).

On the "Drawing" toolbar, select the "Circle" icon.

Now draw a circle.

In the sidebar, for "Area and "Fill", select "Without".

[[Media:201801_HB_LO_Kreis mit Rand.png|The circle is now transparent and has a coloured border.]]

Convert circle to curve
Click on the circle with the right mouse button.

From the context menu select and.

The circle is now defined as a curve.

Add text
You double-click on the circle so that the cursor flashes in the middle of the circle.

Now you can write the text you want.

Here in the example you write: [[Media:201801_HB_LO_Kreis_mit_Text-Dies_ist_ein_langer_Text.png|"This is a long text "]].

Please add another space directly after the word "text ".

You click on the symbol "Fontwork".

Rotate text
The [[Media:202204_Draw Dialog Fontwork.png|Dialog "Fontwork"]] appears.

In it, click on the [[Media:201801_HB_LO_Symbol_Drehen.png|Symbol "Rotate"]].

This places the text on the circular arc.

However, the text does not go around the circle yet.

Close text around the circle
To make the text go around the entire circle, now click on the [[Media:201801_HB_LO_Symbol_Auto-Textgröße.png|Symbol "Auto-Text-Size"]] in the "Fontwork" dialog.

Now the text goes completely around the circle.

You can now also see why a space has been inserted after the word "text".

It provides the distance to the beginning of the sentence.

Appearance
The appearance depends on many factors.

These are for example: Font, text length and circle size.

Change circle border
If the circle border is disturbing, you can set the line colour to "white" in the sidebar.

Documentation / Manuals
Here you will find the Documentation / Manuals:

Documentation / Manuals

Any questions?
For questions on this topic go to:

Ask.LibreOffice

Get Involved
Join us today and help us to make it even better!

Get Involved

Donate
LibreOffice is Free Software and is made available free of charge.

Your donation, which is purely optional, supports our worldwide community.

If you like the software, please consider a Donation.

Alternative Methods
Create Circle Text Online