Excel XP

Changing Column Width and Row Height

Introduction

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

  • Change column width
  • Change row height

Adjusting column widths

By default, Excel's columns are 8.43 characters wide, but each individual column can be enlarged to 240 characters wide.

If the data being entered into a cell is wider or narrower than the default column width, you can adjust the column width so it is wide enough to contain the data.

Column Too Small for Data

You can adjust column width manually or use AutoFit .

To manually adjust column width:

  • Place your mouse pointer to the right side of the gray column header.
  • The mouse pointer changes to the adjustment tool (a double-headed arrow).

    Selecting a Column's Border
  • Drag the adjustment tool left or right to the desired width, then release the mouse button.

    Drag Column To Enlarge It

To AutoFit column width:

  • Place your mouse pointer to the right side of the column header.
  • The mouse pointer changes to the adjustment tool .
  • Double-click the column header border.
  • Excel autofits the column, making the entire column slightly larger than the largest entry contained in it.

To access AutoFit from the menu bar, choose Format Column AutoFit Selection .

Adjusting row height

Changing the row height is similar to adjusting column width. There will be times when you want to enlarge a row to visually provide some space between it and another row above or below it.

To adjust the height of a single row:

  • Place your mouse pointer to the lower edge of the row heading you want to adjust.
  • The mouse pointer changes to the adjustment tool .

    Selecting a Row's Broder
  • Drag the adjustment tool up or down to the desired height, then release the mouse button.

    Expanded Row Height

To AutoFit row height:

  • Place your mouse pointer to the lower edge of the row heading you want to adjust.
  • The mouse pointer changes to the adjustment tool .
  • Double-click to adjust the row height to autofit the font size.
  • Excel XP autofits the row, making the entire row slightly larger than the largest entry contained in the row.

Challenge!

  • Type the sentence "Mary had a little lamb" in cell B2.
  • Define the row height of row 2 as 25 .
  • AutoFit the column width of column B.