Stop Excel 2007 from Changing Column Widths

[Guest]

I am using Excel 2007 and often cut and paste data in number and scientific
number format. The problem is that Excel will often decide that I need to
see a large number of numbers after the decimal place and will change the
width of the columns to fit that many numbers. I am working with a lot of
data and so I would prefer to keep all of my columns at a set width of 8.43
to reduce the clutter. It becomes really annoying to have to change the
column widths back to the size that I want each time I add new data.

Can anyone please tell me how to stop Excel from automatically changing the
column width each time new data is entered?

Thank you.

 

[Bernard Liengme]

I cannot reproduce this behaviour - maybe it depends on the source from
which you are copying. Try making the columns a fixed width before pasting.
Just an idea.
best wsihes

 

[Guest]

Hello and thank you for your post. I have been playing around a bit more and
I can consistently cause Excel to change the width of a column if I use a
formula. For example if you type “=1e5*1e5â€, the column will be
automatically resized. You are correct that this automatic resizing will
stop if I select all of the columns and then make them a fixed width. I
guess that is the best method. Thank you.

 

[Guest]

Actually, I take part of that last post back. I have now run into cases
where the size of the column is still changed even if I have specified the
column width. For example, if I use the formula SUM to sum data in a column,
most of which are around 1e9 in size, the column will be automatically
resized to fit the value of the formula.

 

[dOinK]

I have the same problem, and I really think there should be an option to
turn off automatic column width adjustment. As an example: If I write a
formula which (at the time of typing) is calculated to 6.90573333333334E-11
(e.g. "=6.90573333333334E-11"), the column width is changed from the
standard value of 8.43 to 11.71 when the zoom level is 100% and 12.29 at a
200% zoom. If I reduce the zoom to 75% before typing in the formula, the
column width is not changed. I use Arial 10 pt as the standard (normal)
font.

The column width is not changed if the enire cell is pasted from somewhere
else, or if the "big" number result is obtained due to changes in cells it
refers to. But changing the text color of the cell, when the value is e.g.
6.90573333333334E-11 does trigger the resizing (at 100% zoom).

So, does anyone have a clue about whether the automatic column resizing can
be turned off? I can't imagine the programmers have just hard-coded this
behavior without an option to disable it. or are we in for a disappointment?

Thanks and regards!

PS: I'm using Excel 2003