Type restricted to a fixed area

Question

I want to have a paragraph restricted to a define shape - say a rectangle. If I have some free text in a Word document, how can copy it in Illustrator so that its formatting is restricted to the reectangle that I have defined of a specific size?
Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Click on an enclosing path with the area type tool. (In most cases, the regular type tool will do. See below.)
Here is a screen capture from Version 10:
Path need not be closed.
From the AI 10 manual/help file:
You can use any object as an area within which to enter type. If the object is an open path, the program draws an imaginary line between the endpoints of the path to define the object for the type, just as it does to paint open paths.
To enter type in an object:
Select the type tool or the area-type tool if the object is a filled open path. Position the pointer on the path, and click. An insertion point appears. When you turn an object into a type path, the path becomes unstroked and unfilled, even if the path was originally stroked or filled. When the entire text object is selected, any changes to the paint settings affect only the type, not the path.
Enter some type.
As with text rectangles, if you enter more type than can fit within the area, in Outline view and in Preview view (only when text is selected), a small box with a plus symbol appears near the bottom of the area.
You can paint the path after you enter type by selecting the path with the direct-selection tool and using the Color palette or Swatches palette.