Wordwrapping a long sentence using F2, how to end the process?

[jbclem3]

Using Excel 2002...I pasted in a long sentence, and it goes off the right
side of the screen. I know that I can make it word wrap by hitting F2.
I've done that and it works nicely. But I was told that I could end this
process by hitting Alt-Enter, and that doesn't work... all that happens
after Alt-Enter is a blank new row opens up below the word-wrapped rows. If
I hit Alt-Enter again, another blank row opens up below. How can I end this
F2 word-wrap and go on with other business.

John

 

[Dave Peterson]

alt-enter is used to force a new line in a cell.

If you want to wrap the text at a specific location in that string, alt-enter is
very useful.

If you want to let excel wrap the text where it thinks it should, just:

Select the cell
Format|cells|Alignment tab|check Wrap Text

 

[jbclem3]

Alt-Enter only seems to force a new line if I've used F2 first to wrap the
text. A year ago, I was told to use F2 and then Alt-Enter to end the
process, but that seems to have been incorrect. Using F2 makes a perfect
word-wrap, but I haven't figured out how to get out of that mode.

I tried the other way, setting the Alignment to Wrap Text, but what that
does is wrap the text into a column, so I ended up with a long column of
words stretching downward off the screen.

Can you tell me how to use the F2 mode correctly?

 

[Dave Peterson]

I'm not sure why anyone told you to use F2. That puts you into edit mode in the
formula bar. It has nothing to do with wrapping text in the cell.

And I think that each time I've used alt-enter, excel has turned on wrap text
(if it's not already on) for that cell.

Maybe you're thinking of merging cells so that you can have the appearance of a
wide cell (when other cells in that column are narrow) and still use wrap
text?????

 

[jbclem3]

Here's what I was told to do (on this newgroup last Oct):

Block the cells from the beginning of the text to the end of the screen,
then sufficient rows down to accommodate all the text, click on Edit, Fill,
Justify.Else, press <F2>, and then, where you want it to wrap, press
<Alt><Enter>

I just tried it again, this time blocking the cells (which I had forgotten
to do). After I block and then hit F2, the wordwrapping takes place
perfectly...not necessary to press Alt-Enter. The problem is that the
cursor is left at the end of the wordwrapped sentence, and if I press
Alt-Enter it just opens another row and drops the cursor down to it. If I
hit Enter, or esc, the wordwrap disappears and I'm back to the original
sentence. So F2 does the job all by itself, but I can't figure out how to
finish the process and leave the sentence in it's wrapped position.

Also, the Edit, Fill, Justify doesn't work properly. It does wrap the
sentence, but in the second row only part of the first word is visible, and
in the third row the words are there but in a different and smaller font.

With F2 I'm half way there. What do you think is wrong here?

 

[Dave Peterson]

I think the biggest problem is that you're trying to use Excel as a word
processor. And Excel makes a horrible word processor.

But this is the first time you mentioned that you wanted to use Edit|Fill.

Maybe it's time to start over and describe what you have (in detail) and what
you want when you're done.

Here's what I was told to do (on this newgroup last Oct):

Block the cells from the beginning of the text to the end of the screen,
then sufficient rows down to accommodate all the text, click on Edit, Fill,
Justify.Else, press <F2>, and then, where you want it to wrap, press
<Alt><Enter>

I just tried it again, this time blocking the cells (which I had forgotten
to do). After I block and then hit F2, the wordwrapping takes place
perfectly...not necessary to press Alt-Enter. The problem is that the
cursor is left at the end of the wordwrapped sentence, and if I press
Alt-Enter it just opens another row and drops the cursor down to it. If I
hit Enter, or esc, the wordwrap disappears and I'm back to the original
sentence. So F2 does the job all by itself, but I can't figure out how to
finish the process and leave the sentence in it's wrapped position.

Also, the Edit, Fill, Justify doesn't work properly. It does wrap the
sentence, but in the second row only part of the first word is visible, and
in the third row the words are there but in a different and smaller font.

With F2 I'm half way there. What do you think is wrong here?