WordprocessingML Text Box

WordprocessingML stores all textbox geometry using VML. This example shows how a simple text box is stored.

All the VML is embedded directly in the word/document.xml file as it is intermingled with other XML. VML is used to define the graphic content. Within the VML <textbox> tag, additional information about the text box text is added. The following is the section of the document.xml that defines the text box.

<w:r w:rsidR="00735D93">
  <w:rPr>
    <w:noProof /> 
  </w:rPr>
  <w:pict>
    <v:roundrect id="_x0000_s1027" style="position:absolute;
      margin-left:193.2pt;margin-top:-18pt;width:385.75pt;
      height:36.5pt;z-index:251660288;mso-width-percent:900;
      mso-position-horizontal-relative:page;
      mso-position-vertical-relative:margin;mso-width-percent:900;
      mso-width-relative:margin" arcsize="2543f" o:allowincell="f"
      stroked="f">
      <v:shadow on="t" type="perspective" color="#4f81bd [3204]"
        origin="-.5,-.5" offset="-3pt,-3pt" offset2="6pt,6pt"
        matrix=".75,,,.75" /> 
      <v:textbox style="mso-next-textbox:#_x0000_s1027;
        mso-fit-shape-to-text:t" inset=",,36pt,18pt">
        <w:txbxContent>
          <w:p>
            <w:pPr>
              <w:rPr>
                <w:i /> 
                <w:color w:val="7F7F7F" w:themeColor="background1"
                  w:themeShade="7F" /> 
              </w:rPr>
            </w:pPr>
            <w:r w:rsidR="00CA19B3">
              <w:rPr>
                <w:i /> 
                <w:color w:val="7F7F7F" w:themeColor="background1" 
                  w:themeShade="7F" /> 
              </w:rPr>
              <w:t>Text box</w:t> 
            </w:r>
          </w:p>
        </w:txbxContent>
      </v:textbox>
      <w10:wrap type="square" anchorx="page" anchory="margin" /> 
    </v:roundrect>
  </w:pict>
</w:r>

This general format is used for any type of textbox, such as those added automatically when a cover page is added to a document.