The drawing tools of Excel follow what is called the "layers" approach to drawing. Each new object is drawn on its own "transparent" sheet of paper. The order of the sheets is determined by the order of the drawing...that is, the last object is on top and the first object is on bottom.

Since multiple objects drawn on a single spreadsheet will require that some object be on the bottom and some object be on the top, you might think this could lead to serious planning to achieve the desired effect. In fact, you can draw the objects in any order and then rearrange their order on the spreadsheet very easily. Let's take a look at how it is done.

The image above would indicate that three objects have been drawn. Since the red object appears in the back, it was probably drawn first. The yellow object was drawn second and the blue object drawn last. We are not really sure of the drawing order, but the current layer order is red, yellow, blue with red on the bottom.

Let's start with this arrangement and change the order. The first thing to do is to select one of the objects.

In this example, the blue triangle was selected first. Note the selection process will outline the object by activating the sizing handlebars.

When objects are positioned on top of each other it may be difficult to select the object you want.

If a "mistake" is made, click off the object and try again.

 

Once the object is selected (blue triangle), you click on Drawing + Order and review the choices. If you would like to move the triangle back one layer, you would select the Send Backward choice.

 

Send Backward will move the layer of the object back one level. This should accomplish the desired shift in the image.

 

Original Position	Results with the Send to Back choice

Consider what Order choice should be made to accomplish the change indicated in the panel below. Determine for yourself what single action would accomplish the desired result.

Make this collection of objects....	look like this collection of objects.
The Yellow Oval is Selected first	The final position is achieved

Give yourself 100 points if you correctly identified the Send to Back choice. Give yourself another 25 points if you thought of the Send Backward choice executed twice.

When you have multiple objects on your spreadsheet, you may control the order of the objects regardless of their arrival order. You simply select one of the objects, select Draw + Order, and apply the proper action(s) until you have the desired result.

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