Different Cell Widths

[pdxuser]

I have one table with 0.5" cell widths. Good.

I have another table with 1.875" cell widths. Good.

I want both tables on the same page, one under the other. Hard.

How can I achieve this? Is there a way to have the column widths of one table independent of the other on the same page? Is there a workaround that would achieve the same effect?

[shg]

Not hard -- impossible. A column's width is its width alllll the way down.

You could merge cells, but that is very bad practice.

You could set the print range and page breaks so that one printed below the other.

[pdxuser]

You could merge cells, but that is very bad practice.

You mean create a bunch of 0.125" cells, from which I could get both 0.5" cells and 1.875" cells? That was the only thing I could think of. You can see why I came here for better options.

You could set the print range and page breaks so that one printed below the other.

That sounds promising -- good thinking!

[Bjornar]

You could use the camera tool to take a picture of table #2 and place this below table #1. You can not edit the cells via the picture, but for printing and displaying purpose this should work fine. The picture will update live, if you change something in the source cells.

The camera is hidden in View -> Toolbars -> Customize -> Tools.
You can find it there and drag it to one of your toolbars.

[pdxuser]

That sounds perfect, Bjornar, but I'm using Excel 2007, with its new strip menu, and not only can I not find the camera tool, but a search in the help guide finds nothing called a camera tool...?

[shg]

The functionality of the camera button is available without it.

Copy the range, press and hold the Shift key, and do Edit > Paste Picture Link (in Excel 2003).

[pdxuser]

In 2007, "picture" seems to refer exclusively to images such as a JPEG, WMF, EPS, etc. Basically, all I can do with "pictures" is choose Insert > Picture, and a file manager pops up for me to select what image file I want to put in my sheet. Searching the help file for "picture link" didn't come up with anything. Perhaps I need to save the second table as a separate file, then insert it onto the same sheet as the first chart as an object? Insert > Object says it "inserts the contents of the file into your document so that you can edit it later using the program which created the source file." Hm...

[Bjornar]

I'm using 2003, and have never worked with 2007. If you do a google search on "camera tool excel 2007", you will probably find some help. The camera should still be there and if seem like you can find the camera tool if you configure your Quick Access Toolbar (QAT).

[VBA Noob]

The camera is on the QAT (Quick Access Toolbar). See link for more

http://www.exceluser.com/explore/xl12_ui.htm

VBA Noob

[ExcelHero]

pdxuser:

Here is how to do it in Excel 2007.

First, put the command for pasting the picture link onto the Quick Access Toolbar. You do this by clicking on the little down arrow just to the right of the QAT at the very top of the Excel 2007 window. When the menu pops up select More Commands...

On Excel Options make sure that you are on the Customize section at the extreme left. At the top is a combo box that likely says "Popular Commands". Change this to "All Commands."

On the list below the combo box, scroll down to "Paste Picture Line." Add it to the right-side list. Note: if you really want the Camera Tool you can do the same for it. Now select OK at the bottom of the dialog.

Your button(s) will now be a part of the QAT at the top.

Select whatever range you are interested in linking a picture to. Copy it with Control-C. Click where you want the link and then click on the "Paste Picture Link button you just added to the QAT.

The longer I use Office 2007 the more I like it. BUT, MS did a really poor job of making a way for all of us that have used these programs for decades now to quickly find everything we know. And as you discovered the help file is terrible in this regard. The really need to add an index to the help file so that whenever an experienced user types something that made sense in previous versions they see help on how to do this in 2007.

At any rate, I hope this helps!

Daniel Ferry