Add Excel Text Boxes in C# and VB.NET

TextBox elements are special rectangular areas that hold text. In GemBox.Spreadsheet TextBox elements are used to hold shape text content and you can access them via the ExcelShape.Text property.

The ExcelShape object allows you to specify the element's size, location, and geometry (for more information, see the Shapes example), while the TextBox object allows you to set the text content and text formatting.

The example below shows how to create and customize text boxes and their content, and add them to an Excel worksheet in C# and VB.NET.

Excel workbook with TextBox elements — Screenshot of Excel file with text boxes

C#
VB.NET

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using GemBox.Spreadsheet;
using GemBox.Spreadsheet.Drawing;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        // If using Professional version, put your serial key below.
        SpreadsheetInfo.SetLicense("FREE-LIMITED-KEY");

        var workbook = new ExcelFile();
        var worksheet = workbook.Worksheets.Add("Text Boxes");

        // Create the first shape.
        var shape = worksheet.Shapes.Add(ShapeType.Rectangle, "B2", "D8");

        // Get the shape's text content.
        var textBox = shape.Text;

        // Create the first paragraph with bold, red run element.
        var run = textBox.Paragraphs.Add().Elements.AddRun("Shows how to use text boxes with GemBox.Spreadsheet component.");
        run.Format.Bold = true;
        run.Format.Fill.SetSolid(DrawingColor.FromName(DrawingColorName.Orange));

        // Create an empty paragraph.
        textBox.Paragraphs.Add();

        // Create a right-aligned (multi-line) paragraph.
        var paragraph = textBox.Paragraphs.Add();
        paragraph.Format.Alignment = HorizontalAlignment.Right;

        // Create and add a run element.
        run = paragraph.Elements.AddRun("This is a ...");
        var lineBreak = paragraph.Elements.AddLineBreak();
        run = paragraph.Elements.AddRun("... multi-line paragraph.");

        // Create the second shape.
        shape = worksheet.Shapes.Add(ShapeType.Oval, 200, 50, 150, 150, LengthUnit.Point);
        shape.Fill.SetSolid(DrawingColor.FromName(DrawingColorName.DarkOliveGreen));
        shape.Outline.Fill.SetNone();
        textBox = shape.Text;
        textBox.Format.VerticalAlignment = VerticalAlignment.Middle;

        // Create a list.
        paragraph = textBox.Paragraphs.Add();
        paragraph.Elements.AddRun("This is a paragraph list:");

        paragraph = textBox.Paragraphs.Add();
        paragraph.Format.List.NumberType = ListNumberType.DecimalPeriod;
        run = paragraph.Elements.AddRun("First list item");

        paragraph = textBox.Paragraphs.Add();
        paragraph.Format.List.NumberType = ListNumberType.DecimalPeriod;
        run = paragraph.Elements.AddRun("Second list item");

        paragraph = textBox.Paragraphs.Add();
        paragraph.Format.List.NumberType = ListNumberType.DecimalPeriod;
        run = paragraph.Elements.AddRun("Third list item");

        workbook.Save("Text Boxes.%OutputFileType%");
    }
}

Imports GemBox.Spreadsheet
Imports GemBox.Spreadsheet.Drawing

Module Program

    Sub Main()

        ' If using Professional version, put your serial key below.
        SpreadsheetInfo.SetLicense("FREE-LIMITED-KEY")

        Dim workbook As New ExcelFile()
        Dim worksheet = workbook.Worksheets.Add("Text Boxes")

        ' Create the first shape.
        Dim shape = worksheet.Shapes.Add(ShapeType.Rectangle, "B2", "D8")

        ' Get the shape's text content.
        Dim textBox = shape.Text

        ' Create the first paragraph with bold, red run element.
        Dim run = textBox.Paragraphs.Add().Elements.AddRun("Shows how to use text boxes with GemBox.Spreadsheet component.")
        run.Format.Bold = true
        run.Format.Fill.SetSolid(DrawingColor.FromName(DrawingColorName.Orange))

        ' Create an empty paragraph.
        textBox.Paragraphs.Add()

        ' Create a right-aligned (multi-line) paragraph.
        Dim paragraph = textBox.Paragraphs.Add()
        paragraph.Format.Alignment = HorizontalAlignment.Right

        ' Create and add a run element.
        run = paragraph.Elements.AddRun("This is a ...")
        Dim lineBreak = paragraph.Elements.AddLineBreak()
        run = paragraph.Elements.AddRun("... multi-line paragraph.")

        ' Create the second shape.
        shape = worksheet.Shapes.Add(ShapeType.Oval, 200, 50, 150, 150, LengthUnit.Point)
        shape.Fill.SetSolid(DrawingColor.FromName(DrawingColorName.DarkOliveGreen))
        shape.Outline.Fill.SetNone()
        textBox = shape.Text
        textBox.Format.VerticalAlignment = VerticalAlignment.Middle

        ' Create a list.
        paragraph = textBox.Paragraphs.Add()
        paragraph.Elements.AddRun("This is a paragraph list:")

        paragraph = textBox.Paragraphs.Add()
        paragraph.Format.List.NumberType = ListNumberType.DecimalPeriod
        run = paragraph.Elements.AddRun("First list item")

        paragraph = textBox.Paragraphs.Add()
        paragraph.Format.List.NumberType = ListNumberType.DecimalPeriod
        run = paragraph.Elements.AddRun("Second list item")

        paragraph = textBox.Paragraphs.Add()
        paragraph.Format.List.NumberType = ListNumberType.DecimalPeriod
        run = paragraph.Elements.AddRun("Third list item")

        workbook.Save("Text Boxes.%OutputFileType%")
    End Sub
End Module

Next steps

GemBox.Spreadsheet is a .NET component that enables you to read, write, edit, convert, and print spreadsheet files from your .NET applications using one simple API.

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Published: January 14, 2020 | Modified: April 27, 2022 | Author: Marek Turis

Add Excel Text Boxes in C# and VB.NET

See also

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