Setting Orientation of Cell Values

Summary: Excel isn't limited to displaying text horizontally in a workbook. Instead, it allows you to adjust the orientation of the text to exactly what you want to see. (This tip works with Microsoft Excel 97, Excel 2000, Excel 2002, Excel 2003, and Excel 2007.)

Excel allows you to easily adjust how you want information to appear within a cell. The Alignment tab within the Format Cells dialog box allows you to specify how information should be oriented (in which direction the text should be printed). You can set orientation in the following manner:

Select the cells whose orientation you want to change.
Display the Format Cells dialog box. (In Excel 2007 display the Home tab of the ribbon and click the small icon at the lower-right corner of the Number group. In older versions of Excel choose Cells from the Format menu.)
Click on the Alignment tab. (Click here to see a related figure.)
Use the Orientation section to specify the angle (in degrees) at which the headings should be turned. You can set any value between 90 degrees and –90 degrees.
Click on OK. Your headings are turned as you directed.
Format your columns to so their width is better suited to the new text orientation.

ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (2758) applies to Microsoft Excel versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003 | 2007

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Setting Orientation of Cell Values