initial default column width

  • Thread starter Thread starter Bruceh
  • Start date Start date
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Bruceh

Is there a way to configure Excel 2000 so that when I create
a new Workbook or add a new Worksheet so that all the columns
have a particular width instead of the default 64 pixels?

TIA
 
Create the workbook exactly the way you want it, then save it as a
template with the name "Book.xlt" (no quotes) in you XLStart directory.
It'll be then used as the template for new workbooks.

Likewise, save a one-sheet workbook as a template, named "Sheet.xlt" for
the template for Insert/Worksheet.
 
Open a blank workbook.
Change the Column Widths for all Columns to 64 pixels
Name the File Book
Then, Save the file as a Template (choose Template from the Save As Type box
located beneath the filename Box.
Browse for your xlStart folder and Save the new Template in this folder. It
will become the Default for all future workbooks.

If you can't find the xlStart folder, try doing a Windows Search (from the
start menu) telling it to Search for Hidden Files and Folders, System
Folders, everything.

tj
 
Thanks TJ & JE...
Open a blank workbook.
Change the Column Widths for all Columns to 64 pixels
Name the File Book
Then, Save the file as a Template (choose Template from the Save As Type box
located beneath the filename Box.
Browse for your xlStart folder and Save the new Template in this folder. It
will become the Default for all future workbooks.

If you can't find the xlStart folder, try doing a Windows Search (from the
start menu) telling it to Search for Hidden Files and Folders, System
Folders, everything.

tj
Click to expand...
 
John and/or anybody out there

How does one determine a "64 pixel" width, or any "xx pixel" width or height?

Doesn't it change with the Windows Display Resolution and size of default
fonts?

I never could determine a direct link between 72 pts to the inch and pixels
per inch.

I google and see many different interpretations like .75 pixels to a point and
96 to an inch but all estimates are qualified with "depending upon
resolution".

How about the default width of 8.43?

What is that in pixels? 64?

This is a serious request. I would like to know, please.

Gord Dibben Excel MVP
 
Gord -

You'll note that I wrote "Create the workbook exactly the way you want
it".

You're right - pixels are almost impossible to work with. Graphics have
their own pixels per inch setting. Monitors have a set maximum number of
pixels per inch, but of course you can set the resolution to display a
different # of pixels per inch. In addition, while Macs equate points
and pixels per inch (i.e., 72 pixels/points per inch), Windows does an
automatic magnification (on almost everything *except* graphics) to
display 96 pixels per inch (points don't change). So a 12 point font
*generally* displays 16 pixels high. Because of that, web browsers,
(which may have a pixels per inch setting of their own), in order to
print, guess which platform/combination they're running on, and scale a
printout accordingly (though not always correctly).

I've found that, most of the time, when people mention "pixels" with
regard to column width, they mean "points", or rather something like
points that will stay relatively constant. So I assume that the OP
wanted the width of the column to be either 64 points or 64*(4/3) = 85.3
points.

Of course, Excel doesn't measure column width in points (except, sort
of, in Mac XL 2004). <g>

Instead, it sets it in character *widths* (using the "0" for
proportional fonts), so for my default of Verdana 10, the default 10
characters corresponds to 1.04" or 74.88 points. If I instead set my
default font to Courier New 12, the default 10 character widths is also
1.04", since the character widths are the same. OTOH, if I set the
default font to Verdana 12, the default width becomes 1.18" or 84.96
points. Again, this reflects the character *widths*, not heights, since
1.04" * 12/10 = 1.248", not 1.18"

In XL04, you *can* set the column widths directly in inches or
centimeters (since it assumes that the screen is at 72 ppi, and fonts
don't get scaled as in Windows). So you can set the column width
directly to 64/72 inches, or 0.89". The number of width units will
obviously vary with the font size.
 
Personally I just use "pixel" width as reference to see if one column is
the same size another.

I never equate the number of pixels to inches. I just do a Print Preview
and see how the columns fit on the page. If it doesn't I adjust:
* Margins
* Headers/Footers
* Individual column widths
* Scale %
 
bruceh <[email protected]> said:
Personally I just use "pixel" width as reference to see if one column is
the same size another.
Click to expand...

That's a curious choice, since Excel doesn't allow you to directly set
column widths in anything like pixels. When you asked to set the default
column width to "64 pixels", how did you choose 64?

Also, realize that when you create and use your own definitions without
letting your audience know, you potentially waste the time of those
you're asking for help.
I never equate the number of pixels to inches. I just do a Print Preview
and see how the columns fit on the page. If it doesn't I adjust:
* Margins
* Headers/Footers
* Individual column widths
* Scale %
Click to expand...

The nice thing about XL04 is that you can change the first 3 of those in
Page Layout view and see immediately how it will print.
 
JE said:
That's a curious choice, since Excel doesn't allow you to directly set
column widths in anything like pixels. When you asked to set the default
column width to "64 pixels", how did you choose 64?
Click to expand...
Also, realize that when you create and use your own definitions without
letting your audience know, you potentially waste the time of those
you're asking for help.
Click to expand...

He's not using his own definitions. By moving the mouse between
two column headers (e.g. between column B & C) the icon should
change indicating you can change the width of the column. As you
change the width, a hint displays indicating something like:
Width: 8.43 (64 pixels)

Also, 64 pixels is the width of the columns when a new workbook/worksheet
is created. At least it is with Excel 2000. Perhaps Excel 2004 doesn't have
this feature or is displayed in another format. I use 2000 like the OP.

Bill
 
My apologies - I forgot that WinXL showed the value in "pixels" - I've
never relied on them since they don't seem to correlate to any "real"
pixels, and you can't set column widths in pixels.

You're right, MacXL shows the column widths in characters and
inches/centimeters. Those measurements, however, conform to how the
sheet prints out. For instance, setting the left and right margins at
1.25" and column widths at 1" will print 6 columns across on standard US
Letter paper, taking up the full 8.5". The same doesn't happen when I
set the same margins and the column width to the value corresponding to
96 pixels in XL03, however - I get only 5 columns until I shrink the
margins to about 1.1".

FWIW, I never use the default workbook in either Mac or WinXL - I have a
custom workbook that I use as a template for both.
 
Bill

Thanks for that tidbit.

I have just never paid attention the the ballon tip when left-clicking on a
column header as you point out.

8.43 only shows up in Excel 97, but 2002 and 2003 show 8.43 and 64 pixels.

Gord
 
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