Excel 2007 : Stopping text overlapping next column

[AdrianVW]

I'm amazed that I can't find a solution to this but I tried numerous searches in different places and nothing has helped. I want to avoid text in a 'notes' column overlapping columns to the right of a cell, in situations where that cell is blank. I don't want to wrap the text, because I want to keep the column narrow and on a single line, and expand the width when I occasionally need to view the text. Surely there must be a way, without typing something blank into the next column?

[MarvinP]

Hi AdrianVW and welcome to the forum,

I've had the same problem and this is the way Excel works. If there is nothing in the cell to the right of a long text string, the string will display through that blank cell.

My solution is to go to the cell to the right of the long text string and type in a space. This will make the long string not overwrite the cell as it is no longer blank. AutoFill or drag this cell with a space in it, down the column for all cells and see if this works for you.

If this isn't what you need, discribe what are other concerns.

[Haseeb Avarakkan]

Hello AdrianVW,

Select the range, go to,

Format Cell >> Alignment,

In the Horizontal drop down, select Fill

[MarvinP]

Hi Haseeb A,

So I put a long text string in A1, something like "Will this text go into the B Column?"

I do as you suggest and select the entire column B. Then do a Format Cell -> Alignment and change Horizontal to Fill.

It didn't keep the text in Column A from spillilng over into Column B.

What did I do wrong?

OK - I get it (I should have selected Column A) but read about unwanted results for the FILL selection here http://www.bettersolutions.com/excel...T216312221.htm
If you put a short word in a cell in Col A it repeats itself.

I like my answer better - but you taught me something about the Format Alignment Fill - Thanks.

[TMS]

@MarvinP: I think it's column A you need to format. Learnt something new today ;-)

[MarvinP]

Hi TM,
I too discovered it was coluumn A but did you see what happens if you have a short string in column A?
It will fill the entire length of the column with the short sting repeated. Who would of thought that?

[TMS]

@MarvinP:

did you see what happens if you have a short string in column A?

I only realised and tested it after I saw your edit (our posts crossed). Makes it a little less useful than it might otherwise have been. Shame :-(

Regards

[Haseeb Avarakkan]

did you see what happens if you have a short string in column A?
It will fill the entire length of the column with the short sting repeated. Who would of thought that?

Yes. you are right. I am sorry, I didn't think about the short charracters.

[AdrianVW]

Thanks for the replies. I previously tried 'fill' but ruled it out for the reasons mentioned. Unless anyone can say otherwise, it really does look like there's no solution other than Marvin's, which I had used, but I thought there has to be some other way! Considering what a common irritation this must be, it seems surprising if Microsoft haven't done anything about it yet. I'm probably not the only one that would find a proper solution more useful than the 'wrap text' option.

[MarvinP]

I always liked the text to flow over to the next column. I could read all of it and knew there was nothing in the cell next to it.

[Mooshki]

Format the column to "wrap text," then change the height of all of your rows to single-space height. That will hide the lower parts of the wrapped text.

[TMS]

There seems to be a spate of reviving 18 month old threads. Any thoughts on what, if anything, has encouraged this?

Regards, TMS

[arlu1201]

Its the various searches the users are doing in google / on the forum which are pulling up those threads. Maybe just a coincidence.

[Stosh]

That doesn't really work, because it does cause Excel to "fill" the cells. For example, if I have a single "X" in a cell, following your instructions changes that to the number of "X"s needed to fill the cell. For example, if my cell can have 4 characters, "X" becomes "XXXX".

[Stosh]

That works, but if I have a large spreadsheet that I added a column to, I don't want to go through hundreds of cells individually to add a space in each one. Is there a way to automate this, or to prevent the overlapping outright?

[jeffreybrown]

Hi Stosh & Welcome to the Forum,

Unfortunately your post does not comply with Rule 2 of our Forum RULES.

Do not post a question in the thread of another member -- start your own thread.

If you feel an existing thread is particularly relevant to your need, provide a link to the other thread in your new thread.

Old threads are often only monitored by the original participants.

New threads not only open you up to all possible participants again, they typically get faster response, too.

[umair_the_qa_tester]

Wrapping text on Google Docs:
Wrap:
to wrap the text in a cell just click on Format > Text Wrapping > Wrap (this will fit all your text in one cell and will increase the size of the cell to display the complete text)

Clip
to wrap the text in a cell but doesn't want to change the size of the cell Format > Text Wrapping > Clip