Specifying Your Target Monitor

If you are developing Web pages in Excel, it is a good idea to have in mind who the user is. The user, obviously, is the person who will view your Web page. However, there are certain assumptions that must be made about the user, and those assumptions will affect how you put your Web page together.

One of the prime considerations is what resolution of monitor the user will be using. This affects the presentation of graphics and text on their page. For instance, a graphic that shows up nicely centered on your screen at a high resolution may not give the desired impact if the user is working at a lower resolution.

You can instruct Excel to make certain assumptions about the user's monitor resolution as you are developing Web pages. You set the target resolution by following these steps in versions of Excel prior to Excel 2007:

1. Choose Options from the Tools menu. Excel displays the Options dialog box.
2. Make sure the General tab is selected. (Click here to see a related figure.)
3. Click on the Web Options button. Excel displays the Web Options dialog box.
4. Make sure the Pictures tab is selected. (Click here to see a related figure.)
5. Using the Screen Size drop-down list, select the screen resolution you believe most of your users will have.
6. Click on OK to close the Web Options dialog box.
7. Click on OK to close the Options dialog box.

If you are using Excel 2007 then you can set the target monitor by following these steps:

1. Click the Office button and then click Excel Options. Excel displays the Excel Options dialog box.
2. Click Advanced at the left side of the dialog box.
3. Scroll through the list of available options until you see the General group.
4. Click the Web Options button. Excel displays the Web Options dialog box.
5. Make sure the Pictures tab is selected.
6. Using the Screen Size drop-down list, select the screen resolution you believe most of your users will have.
7. Click on OK to close the Web Options dialog box.
8. Click on OK to close the Excel Options dialog box.