Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Excel 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Excel, click here: Static Sizes for Comment Boxes.
Jean-Marc is having a problem with comment boxes in his workbooks. It seems that every time he opens an Excel workbook in which he previously inserted comments, those comments have changed size. For example, if he inserts a 2" by 2" comment (or places a picture inside a comment box), the next time he opens the workbook only half the picture shows in a much larger comment box. Jean-Marc is wondering if there is a way to make the comment boxes retain the same size as he originally sets them.
The solution seems to be related to how the comment is created. How you view comments is controlled by three option buttons on the View tab of the Options dialog box. If you choose to view Comments & Indicators, then the sizes of your comments should remain static. If you choose to view only the indicators, then Excel chooses how and where to display the comment each time it is redisplayed.
If you don't want your comments to always be visible, but you still want them to retain their sizes, then the only option is to develop a macro that will do the resizing for you.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (3160) applies to Microsoft Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Excel (Excel 2007 and later) here: Static Sizes for Comment Boxes.
Save Time and Supercharge Excel! Automate virtually any routine task and save yourself hours, days, maybe even weeks. Then, learn how to make Excel do things you thought were simply impossible! Mastering advanced Excel macros has never been easier. Check out Excel 2010 VBA and Macros today!
Want to make your worksheet comments appear a certain way? It's easy to do using techniques you already are familiar with.
Discover MoreHave you ever chosen to edit a comment, only to find that the comment is quite a ways from the cell with which it is ...
Discover MoreAdding comments to the cells in your worksheets can help to document different aspects of that worksheet. Adding a ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2014-01-12 05:37:32
Roy Taylor
There is always the opposite problem. I populated comment boxes with lists of names but it would only show the first few.
I found this piece of coding that resized the box to show all the names; it also shrunk the comment boxes if there were only a few names.
Rem this coding automatically resizes the comment box to show all the data
Sub AutoSizeComment()
Dim CmtCount As Integer, i As Integer
CmtCount = ActiveSheet.Comments.Count
For i = 1 To CmtCount
ActiveSheet.Comments(i).Visible = True
ActiveSheet.Comments(i).Shape.Select True
With Selection
.AutoSize = True
End With
ActiveSheet.Comments(i).Visible = False
Next i
End Sub
Got a version of Excel that uses the menu interface (Excel 97, Excel 2000, Excel 2002, or Excel 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2019 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Excel 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Excel, click here: 
Comments