Setting the Standard Column Width

Summary: Using Excel's menu option to set the standard column width for an Excel worksheet. (This tip works with Microsoft Excel 97, Excel 2000, Excel 2002, and Excel 2003.)

You may have noticed that when you first open a new Excel workbook, all the columns are the same width. This width is called the standard column width, and you can easily change it by following these steps:

Choose the Column option from the Format menu. This displays a submenu.
Choose the Standard Width option from the submenu. This displays the Standard Width dialog box. (Click here to see a related figure.)
Specify the width that should be used for columns in your worksheet.
Click on OK.

With this done, the width of all your columns should adjust automatically. However, if you previously had explicitly set the width of any columns, those columns are not affected by changing the standard column width. Instead, they remain the width you previously specified.

ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (2672) applies to Microsoft Excel versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003

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Setting the Standard Column Width