Objects · original practice scenario
Duplicate a selected worksheet drawing object
In a spare worksheet, create a text box containing Quarterly review. Select its outer border so sizing handles are visible.
Start here: Windows drawing object selected by its border, not a worksheet cell or text insertion caret
Ctrl+D on a selected cell means Fill Down, a different operation.
Follow these instructions in your own desktop Excel workbook. This page explains the operation; it does not send commands to Excel.
Windows keys and context
The publisher notes that Cmd+D does not appear to work in Mac Excel 365. The conflicting Mac binding is withheld; use object copy/paste there.
Ctrl+D
Publisher-documented binding. Native desktop execution has not been tested.
Desktop key table and operation notes; reviewed 2026-10-18. Exceljet publisher reference ↗
Walk through the operation
- Confirm that the object border, not its text, is selected.
- Use the listed combination once and inspect the second object.
- Move the copy aside to compare its text and formatting with the original.
Instruction 1 of 3: Confirm that the object border, not its text, is selected.
Expected result: Two separate drawing objects retain the same text and appearance; grid cells are not filled down.
Recall the keys
Which listed Windows combination or sequence starts this operation in the context above?
Related walkthroughs
Browse all shortcut references →Catalog updated 2026-10-18. US keyboard notation: + joins held keys; commas separate successive presses. Function keys may require Fn. Desktop instructions are separate from this browser's own keyboard shortcuts.