Reversing Dimensions

Summary: The maximum dimensions for a worksheet is hard-coded into Excel. This tip explains why this is and, perhaps, one way you can "fudge" the dimensions. (This tip works with Microsoft Excel 97, Excel 2000, Excel 2002, and Excel 2003.)

Excel will handle up to 256 columns and 65,536 rows of information. Unfortunately, you cannot increase these dimensions, nor can you reverse them. (Reversing them would allow you up to 65,536 columns and 256 rows.) The dimensions are "hard-coded" into Excel.

There is talk that in the next version of Excel this dimensional limit will be removed; the truth of such rumors waits to be seen. In the meantime, there is a way you can fudge this, however. You can change the alignment of information in your cells by 90 degrees, change the height and width of the cells, and then print your information in landscape mode. While this does not technically change the number of dimensions, it does provide the illusion of more columns.

ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (2076) applies to Microsoft Excel versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003

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Reversing Dimensions