Formatting Cel Width in Microsoft Excel

by ervinn Aug 29, 2005 7:07PM PDT

I was working with a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. At the bottom left I am able to choose from sheet 1, 2, or 3 inside the same worksheet. I was using sheet 1 and 2. On each sheet I had a schedule for the week so I was using 7 columns. Each column on both sheets were set to a width of 11.71. However, when I printed the 2 sheets and placed the second page behind the first one it was clear to see that on the second sheet the columns were narrower. It also appears that the font is a wee bit smaller on the second page even though they are set to the same font and size on both sheets. I appreciate someone being able to provide assistance with this problem. Thank you in advance.

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You can gang select sheets

by ChuckT Aug 30, 2005 2:56PM PDT

If you click on the sheet names on the bottom, when also holding down the "Ctrl" key, you can then do identical actions on those "gang selected" worksheets.

Identical actions are things like, but not limited to, column width settings, entering text, entering formulas, changing fonts, or cell attributes, and much more.

An example, let's say you have three worksheets: Sheet1, Sheet2, and Sheet3.
Select Sheet1 and hold down Ctrl and then also select Sheet3.
On the top sheet (should be Sheet1, but it could just as well be Sheet3) drag the column A width to some amount.
Now go to Sheet3, and see that Column A is identically wide too.

Now try this:
Select Sheet3
Hold down Ctrl and also select Sheet2.
Now type in ABCDEF into any cell.
now go to that other Sheet (Sheet2) and see that ABCDEF is in the same cell.

Cool trick, and one that you can use to ensure that all the columns really are the same width.

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That's a great tip

by ervinn Aug 30, 2005 6:47PM PDT

Thank you very much for that great tip.

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(NT) (NT) But did it resolve your issue?

by ChuckT Aug 31, 2005 7:36AM PDT

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It did not

by ervinn Aug 31, 2005 5:49PM PDT

No, you're tip did not resolve my issue. For some reason - when placed together and held up to the light it's easy to see - the cel width on each column on page two (sheet 2) is narrower than the cel width on each column on page one (sheet 1).

The girls in the office tell me it doesn't have to be perfect and that I am anal but that can be the topic for another discussion - once this one has been resolved... LOL.

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Could it be ...

by Kees Bakker Aug 30, 2005 9:41PM PDT

that somehow the print is set to 'fit to 1 page'. Then, if you have a column that's seemingly empty but contains space, to the right of the filled columns, it's printed also, making everything else a little bit smaller.
Just a WAG.

Kees

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No the same

by ervinn Aug 31, 2005 5:56PM PDT

I don't know if that would cause the same problem I am having but it is not same thing that is happening. In my case the second sheet will print out (can be seen on print preview as well) with each column being slightly narrower with the result being that you get to the end of the last column on the printed sheet two about half a column sooner that you do on the printed sheet 1.

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Something else I noticed

by ervinn Aug 31, 2005 6:17PM PDT

Something else I noticed is that when I go to print preview and select margins there are column indicators at the top of the print preview of the sheet. However, while I've set the column widths to 11.71 on sheet 1 and sheet 2, both seperately and by gang selecting sheet 1 and sheet 2 before formatting column width the print preview margins view shows variances in column widths.

If I place my mouse pointer over one of the column width indicators so that the pointer becomes a cross with arrows pointing left and right and click on the left mouse button then the width of that column is displayed at the bottom left (just above the Start button on XP). Not only are the column widths on sheet 2 not displayed as being 11.71, some are a little smaller (eg. 11.64) and some are are a little bigger (eg. 11.86). Clicking and dragging the column width indicators even the slightest amount will result in a jump to the other side of 11.71 that is even greater than it was before dragging.

Meanwhile, if I leave print preview and go back to sheet 2 - sheet 1 is the same - and check the column widths one by one the width of each column is displayed as being 11.71.

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Experiment.

by Kees Bakker Aug 31, 2005 7:36PM PDT

Make a copy of sheet1. Select the contents, and delete it. Then paste the contents only (Edit>Paste Special>Values) of the filled rectangle only from sheet2 into this copy of sheet1.
It's the same now?

Kees

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Or try this

by MarkFlax Forum moderator Sep 2, 2005 10:56PM PDT

In sheet 1, (if that is the sheet that you have formatted to your satisfaction), look at the top left, to the left of the A in Column A and above the 1 in column 1. There should be an empty square.

Click that, and it highlights the whole sheet.

In the same sheet, click and depress the "Format Painter" button, (It looks like a paint brush).

Move the mouse down to the sheet 2 tab, and click. With the focus now on sheet 2, click the same square.

This should duplicate all of the formatting from sheet 1 to sheet 2.

If you only want to duplicate "parts" of the 2 sheets, highlight the cells in sheet 1 you want to carry across, and depress the same button. Move to sheet 2 and highlight the same cells, (or the cells you want to duplicate formatting for). Make sure the row range and column range are indentical.

By the way, I loved ChuckT's tip. I never knew that!

Mark

Formatting Cel Width in Microsoft Excel

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