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8.12.1 Changing Column Width

 

By default, NExS creates columns that are twelve (12) positions wide. As mentioned earlier in this chapter, you can use the Sheet Defaults dialog box to change this default for the spreadsheet, creating a uniform set of columns of some user-specified width. You can also set individual columns to be wider or narrower than the default by using the Column Width option under the Format menu or by simply dragging the column border with the mouse.

Using Menus

To change the default column width:

  1. Select Sheet Defaults from the Options menu. NExS displays the Sheet Defaults dialog box as shown in Figure 8.2.

  2. Enter a number from 1 to 511 in the Default Column Width entry box.

  3. Apply your entry by clicking OK or Apply.

 

To explicitly set the width of selected columns:

  1. Select the column(s) you wish to change.

  2. Select Column Width from the Format menu which displays its cascading submenus.

  3. Select Column Width... from the submenus. NExS displays the Column Width dialog box as show in Figure 8.7.

  4. In the Selection entry box, enter the desired column width (1 - 511).

  5. Apply your entry by clicking OK or Apply.


The Column Width dialog box also contains pushbuttons to apply the default column width and to adjust column width to best fit cell contents.

 

To restore the original default column width to selected columns:

  1. Select the column(s) you wish to reset to the default.

  2. Select Column Width from the Format menu which displays its cascading submenus.

  3. Select Default Column Width from the submenu.

Best Fit Column Width

 

NExS provides a snap-to mechanism which forces the column height to best fit the cell contents. This provides a dependable mechanism to ensure no text is being truncated and that wasted space is minimized.

To snap column width to best fit cell contents:

  1. Select the column(s) you wish to adjust.

  2. Select Column Width from the Format menu which displays its cascading submenus.

  3. Select Snap Width to Contents from the submenu.

   figure2898
Figure 8.7: Column Width Dialog Box

Dragging the Column Border

 

You may change the column width dynamically, by dragging the right column border to the desired width.

Truncation Alert

When the column width of a cell is too narrow such that it cannot display a numeric value completely, NExS alerts you to this condition by showing a bold cell border in the truncated cell. If truncation occurs to the left, the left cell border is highlighted. If the truncation occurs to the right, the right cell border is highlighted. (Cell justification determines whether the truncation occurs on the left or the right.)


next up previous contents index
Next: 8.12.2 Changing Row Height Up: 8.12 Row and Column Previous: 8.12 Row and Column

NExS User's Guide, Version 1.4.5
Grey Trout Software
11 April 1999