Very long cell problem. 1

[Melko]

It seems that when I write very long paragraph in a single cell after a while MS Excel do not show the text in main window and do not print it, even if the text is correcly shown in the formula bar.

I'd really like keep all text in a single cell, any work around?

Thanks

 

[melone]

Don't use Excel as a word processing package.

 

[briand2]

Melko,

Exactly how many characters do you mean by "very long text"?

Brian

 

[SooCS]

Excel is not really good at all in for word processing unlike Lotus 123, which allowed you to select a worksheet as document and worked almost like a word processor.

It is very useful to have some narative description of the worksheet that you develop, explaining the basis, the limitations and some instruction how to used the worksheet. This is especially true, when you dont use the worksheet very often or for someone to use your worksheet.

Melko, did you try wrapping the cells?

 

[cvg]

try inserting an embedded word or wordpad object into the spreadsheet.

 

[EGT01]

I've often wondered about the cell limit too. At times I work with equipment lists in Excel which allows some simple database type features. Rather agravating to be able to enter the text in a cell, see it in the formula bar but not display or print it. I usually end up having to abbreviate or leave out extraneous words. Guess I could split the text into adjoining cells but that complicates the database functions. Anyway, depending on your need, would a text box work?

Just for info, this is what I've found for limits in Excel

Microsoft Excel 7.0 (95)
-----------------------------------------
· Maximum Sheet Size: 16,384 rows by 256 columns
· Column Width: 0 to 255 characters
· Maximum length of cell contents (text): 255 chacters

Microsoft Excel 8.0 (97)
--------------------------------------------
· Maximum Sheet Size: 65,536 rows by 256 columns
· Column Width: 0 to 255 characters
· Maximum length of cell contents (text): 32,000 characters

Microsoft Excel 2000
--------------------------------------------
· Worksheet size: 65,536 rows by 256 columns
· Column Width: 255 characters
· Length of cell contents (text): 32,767 characters. Only 1,024 display in a cell; all 32,767 display in the formula bar.

 

[rajesh02]

1. Set the cell width as required.
2. Format cells/Alignment/Wrap text.
3. Use Alt+Enter to start new line in same cell.

I think this should solve display/printing problem.
GoodLuck!

 

[Melko]

No, rajash02. I already tried that. I'll try cvg idea, it seems good.

Thanks anyone.

 

[Melko]

Thanks cvg! It worked perfecly!

 

[joerd]

I have often used a text box (from the Drawing toolbar) to work around this problem. Regards,

Joerd

 

[briand2]

I do that quite often (i.e. inserting a text box).

For instance, I may have several worksheets and on the last one I put a big textbox and write instructions in it telling users (and me!) how to use the other worksheets!

Brian