The Excel column widths are based in inches instead of font point. How do I change this?

Question

I recently installed MS Office 2007, over my Office 2000. I'm doing a step-by-step project for class, and I need to format the column width. However, when I click "column width," it shows the width in inches (.71") and setting it as a size "11" (as I'm instructed) would be larger than the width of the screen. How do I change it so it's based on font size?

Answer 1

rather than using the Column Width box, if you'll just drag the column wider you'll notice an information box that shows the width in pixels. There has never been a way to do it based on "font size".



just click on the line in-between the column headings and "drag" it wider or smaller. You'll see the info box and the "pixel width" data changes as you drag it bigger/smaller.

Answer 2

To the best of my knowledge, Excel has never done it's columns by anything but inches or centimetres. Are you sure that it is the column WIDTH you need to format, or the font size for characters in the column?



If the latter, just highlight the column (by clicking on the letter at the top of the page), and then go to the font size indicator and change it to 11 point (either using the drop-down, or by typing it in the display window).



Good Luck!



EDIT: Ok...try highlighting the column, then either by choosing the Format menu, or by right clicking on the column header letter, choose the Column Width selection, and enter the value required. (I'm trusting the MicroSlut didn't change the menus THAT much!) In any case, if it does format it to wider than the screen...so what? Just zoom out a couple of steps. :D

Answer 3

IGnore that one, I tried it and it did nothing. What is easiest (and the only thing I ve found, I m doing those projects too!), is to go to the top of the column and drag the right edge of the column to the desired width. It will show a little box telling you the inches and pixel-width of the column, and if you select multiple columns, it will do all at once. Let me know if that doesn t make sense!