Excel 2007 : Column Width

**Robin2** · 09-03-2008, 06:53 AM

Hi
I am trying to redesign a spreadsheet in 2007 that I had in 2003. The problem is when I set the column width to 14.25 it will not take it. It puts in 14.29. How can I make it accept 14.25.
Thanks

**royUK** · 09-03-2008, 12:06 PM

Are you doing this manually?

**Paul** · 09-03-2008, 07:29 PM

I don't believe you can set a column width to exactly 14.25, to be honest, not even programatically.

Even though Excel shows you widths such as 14.00, 14.14, 14.29, 14.43, 14.57, etc.., what you're really doing is setting the column width as a number of pixels.

14.00 = 103 pixels
14.14 = 104
14.29 = 105
14.43 = 106
etc..

My guess is Excel won't allow you to set a column width using a fraction of a pixel (makes sense), which 14.25 would be when converted to pixels.

**Robin2** · 09-03-2008, 07:59 PM

HI
Yes I am doing it manually. I was able to do it in 2003 and I need these settings to get the amount of colums I need to fit on the page. I would have thought that 2003 worked in pixels also. Maybe there is something else I need to change?

**Paul** · 09-03-2008, 08:18 PM

I have both 2003 and 2007, and I can't set it to exactly 14.25 in either system.

As I eluded to earlier, doing so would require Excel (and the operating system) to be able to use just a partial pixel to display the column width, which I'm not sure is even possible. The column can be either 104 pixes (14.14 characters) or 105 pixels (14.29 characters). There is no pixel between 104 and 105.

If someone can prove otherwise, please, feel free!

**Paul** · 09-03-2008, 08:23 PM

According to this Microsoft KB article: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/214123

..When you change the width of a column to a fractional number, the column width may be set to a different number depending on the font used in the Normal style. For example, with a Normal style font of Arial, if you attempt to change the width of a column to 8.5, the column is set to 8.57 or 65 pixels. This behavior occurs because of the translation of font characters to pixel units. Fractional pixel units cannot be displayed; therefore, the column width rounds to the nearest number that results in a whole pixel unit.

Perhaps there is a font that will allow you to set it to 14.25? Maybe, maybe not. I don't plan on trying that many fonts personally, though.

**royUK** · 09-04-2008, 04:43 AM

I only have 2000 on this computer, setting Column Width to 14.25 automatically defaults to 14.29.

If you convert your 2003 workbook to 2007 then column widths should transfer & be the same. Do this & try printing the sheet. I think if you check 2003 you will find the column width has defaulted to 14.29 as pjoaquin says.

**Robin2** · 09-04-2008, 05:54 AM

Hi
Thanks for all the help. Made a mistake as the previous excel version I was using was 2002 but some of my other office products were 2003 so naturally assumed that excel was also. I used Arial 10 normal font and it took 14.25 width and it did not revert. I will have to revise all my column widths in 2007 as I do not have my original anymore. Thanks again.