Excel 2003 Row and Column Dimensions

[Dermot]

If I open a new work book the row height is 12.75 and column width is 8.43
but visually the width is wider than the height!

If I select and area say A10:I10 and then go to the format menu and enter a
Row height of 50 and Column width of 50......i.e. equal dimensions to produce
a block of squares .......the aspect ratio is still rectangular.

I know this has to be something silly

Please advise.

 

[FSt1]

hi
see this site.
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/excel/HA101375451033.aspx
row heght is measured in points. 1 point = about 1/72 inch.
column width is measured in characters.
that's the difference.

Regards
FSt1

 

[Dermot]

Hi
Thanks for the reply and link.

I hadn't noticed this before as I usually just drag to get grid dimensions I
require....but tonight I entered specific data via the format menu which
brought it to my attension. I suppose it makes sense as the any number length
in a cell will be "X" characters wide and the space above or below them
expressed in points.

Thanks again for the help

 

[ShaneDevenshire]

Hi,

If you put your mouse between the column letters and hold it down you will
see the width in both characters and pixils, same for row height. If you set
the row hight and width by pixils then the cell will be much closer to a
square. Note screens have different aspect ratios which complicate the
problem. Another complication is the number of characters for column width,
that is affected by the font type.

 

[Dermot]

Hi Shane

Thanks for the reply and explanation.

I see what you mean regarding the (Height / Pixels) data being displayed by
placing the mouse between headers......oddly though.....the column data is
not the same as the row data.....

Column
Width: 50 (355 Pixels)

ROW
Height: 49.50 ( 66 Pixels)

A square would be: 50 (355 Pixels) x 50 (355 Pixels).

So I am still a little confused.

50 x 49.50 = nearly square.......but the cell shape is clearly rectangular.