Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Email Address Sign up There was an error. Select these icons once to activate the feature and select a second time to turn the feature off. For example, many of the formatting features found on the Home tab of the ribbon, such as the bold feature, are found on single choice icons. Work With Non-Dialog Box Options It is not always necessary to access features and options in Excel through a dialog box. Selecting a function's name in the list opens its dialog box. When you select these down arrows, a drop-down menu opens and displays individual function names.
Each group name has a dialog box launcher associated with it. The Formulas tab in Excel contains groups of functions that have similar purposes in the Function Library. The dialog box makes it easy to enter information related to the function's arguments, such as the location of data and other input options. Some, such as those found under the Formulas tab, are associated with individual icons on the ribbon. Examples of groups with a dialog box launcher include: The Font and Number groups on the Home tabThe Charts group on the Insert tabThe Page Setup and Sheet Options groups on the Page Layout tab Access Function Dialog Boxes Not all dialog box launchers in Excel are found in the corner of ribbon groups. The launcher is a small downward-pointing arrow located in the bottom right corner of individual groups or boxes on the ribbon. Find the Dialog Box Launcher One way to open dialog boxes is to use the dialog box launcher. The information in this article applies to Excel versions 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, and Excel for Mac. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on OctoTweet Share Email Image Source / Getty Images Tweet Share Email MS Office Excel Word Powerpoint Outlook A dialog box in Excel is a screen where you input information and make choices about different aspects of the current worksheet or its content, such as data, charts, and graphic images. Software & Apps > MS Office The Dialog Box and Dialog Box Launcher in Excel Input information and make choices about Excel worksheet features By Ted French Ted French Writer Former Lifewire writer Ted French is a Microsoft Certified Professional who teaches and writes about spreadsheets and spreadsheet programs.