Microsoft has rolled out a new gesture feature in its Office suite, expanding its capabilities beyond OneNote and Word. With the latest update, Beta users of Excel and PowerPoint can now use the Draw and Hold gesture to create perfect shapes on their canvases. This tool is designed for stylus users who want cleaner visuals and fewer manual adjustments in their presentations and spreadsheets.
A Handy Tool for Shape Precision
While Excel is primarily known for its data management tools, users will now find it easier to insert shapes without the frustration of aligning lines or curves. PowerPoint, a more common platform for drawing tools, also benefits from this update. Users can sketch out basic shapes like circles, triangles, or squares, hold the stylus briefly, and watch as the system corrects any uneven lines.
This gesture doesn’t just fix mistakes—it transforms the rough sketches into more precise versions, saving users the hassle of redrawing or resizing manually.
Streamlined Workflows for PowerPoint and Excel
The way this feature works is fairly simple but effective. A single stroke is all it takes. You sketch a line or shape, pause the pen for a moment, and Excel or PowerPoint straightens everything for you. Available shapes include hexagons, rectangles, and trapezoids, alongside a few fun extras like stars and hearts. For those needing a quick diagram or a tidy chart, this feature helps cut down on wasted time.
Microsoft’s goal with this feature is to offer a more user-friendly experience, especially for those using touchscreens and styluses. It’s another step toward making digital inking more accessible across the entire Office suite.
Feature Rollout for Beta Users
Currently, the Draw and Hold gesture is being gradually rolled out to Beta Channel users, starting with Version 2410. As always, the company is taking its time to make sure the release goes smoothly and that no major bugs pop up during the process. Beta testers will be able to try the new feature, though there’s always a small chance that it might be tweaked or removed based on user feedback.