Drawing canvas

In Microsoft Word, when a user inserts an AutoShape or Text box in a document, a drawing canvas appears, allowing the user to "draw" the AutoShape or Text box. The drawing canvas features a shaded border and has the words "Create your drawing here" inside it. The user is not required to create the AutoShape or Text box in the drawing canvas, however.

Some users find the drawing canvas to be an annoyance, as it can shift parts of a document around to fit the canvas properly. Luckily, it can be turned off by going to the Tools menu and selecting Options in the menu. On the General tab, uncheck the box for "Automatically create drawing canvas when inserting AutoShapes."

Draw, Microsoft Word, Word processor terms