cell character limit

K

keenah

11.19.09

can the character limit on an excel cell be increased? there is a standard
set up limit of 255 characters. that is too little amount. is there a way
where we can access the code that determines this limit and change it to
elimitate this problem?

please help?

thx so much
 
L

Luke M

The actual limit is 32,767 characters. Of this, only 1,024 will display in a
cell.
(info from "Excel specifications and limits" in XL help file)

Due note that when you set the format of a cell to text, this is when the
256 limit kicks in. Simply change the formatting of the cell to "General" and
then you'll be good to go.
 
K

keenah

11.19.09

thanks luke m! actually, i realized that i typed the wrong # right after i
clicked the submit button, then it was alredy too late & couldnt figure out
how to get back to it. i tried searching for the post but it was almost an
impossible task. then when i finally figured out a way to find it, i
realized i could not edit it. by the time i found it you had already
replied. i apologize for my mistake.

1. thanks for the clarification however my question still remains. is there
a way to increase the char limit from whatever the amount is or perhaps make
it unlimited to avoid the conflict?

2. (new) also, is there a way to avoid having to hit Alt|Enter in order for
the characters above the display limit (1,024) to show & printed whatever the
case might be? not all workstations or printers have the same settings; this
will affect the workstation's display ability to show the file as well as the
printer's settings to print as the author intended it to be displayed or
printed.

it is always a problem when u distribute a spreadsheet & users need to
actually see the contents and|or print it. not all come come out or print
the whole content of the cell with the additional characters, this can be
pretty annoying and a waste of time for the users as well as the file's
author.

thx so much for any help on either or both of these above!




:

The actual limit is 32,767 characters. Of this, only 1,024 will display in a
cell.
(info from "Excel specifications and limits" in XL help file)

Due note that when you set the format of a cell to text, this is when the
256 limit kicks in. Simply change the formatting of the cell to "General" and
then you'll be good to go.

Best Regards,

Luke M
*Remember to click "yes" if this post helped you!*




:
11.19.09

can the character limit on an excel cell be increased? there is a standard
set up limit of 32,767 characters. depending on what ur workling on some
times even that is too little amount. is there a way where we can access the
code that determines this limit and change it to elimitate this problem?

please help?

thx so much
 
G

Gord Dibben

No way to increase the 1024 limit without inserting an Alt + Enter linefeed
every 100 or so characters.

Use a Textbox for long strings that will be over the 1024 limit.


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP
 
K

keenah

thx for the info though. i guess bad news for me...

not even with VB?

this is a huge problem!

because of this i cant use excel most of the times & use another kind of
spreasheet apps. i like Excel & i'm used to but this issue is pretty
annoying & it's never been corrected. i was wondering if the user could edit
the VB code to make it work as it should work.

do you know?

anyone?

thx again!
 
G

Gord Dibben

Looking at this part of your description in original post........

If you are dealing with that type of data you may be using the wrong
application.

And looking at this statement.............
i was wondering if the user could edit
the VB code to make it work as it should work.
Click to expand...

You mean "make it work as I would like it to work"

Plunking >32767 chars in a cell is not practical nor doable in Excel.


Gord
 
K

keenah

youre right. evidently excel is not the right app for complex content but
only if it will remain extremely simple. it cant handle it otherwise. it
has way too many limitations.

based on whay i've read so far there does not seem to exist a solution, it
is what it is, correct? does anyone out there disagree and there is a
solution to increase the limit or even make it indefinite?

if there isn't, im better off quiting MSO altogether and replace it with a
different spreadsheet app that is better, that doesnt have such limited
functionality, that i can customize according to my users needs & not cause
them or me so much trouble & frustration, & be able to manipulate it without
having to figure things out with the limited functionality it has (when
compared to other spreadsheet apps).

--
keenahmei


:

Looking at this part of your description in original post........

can the character limit on an excel cell be increased? there is a standard
set up limit of 32,767 characters. depending on what ur workling on some
times even that is too little amount.

If you are dealing with that type of data you may be using the wrong
application.

And looking at this statement.............

i was wondering if the user could edit the VB code to make it work as it
should work.

You mean "make it work as I would like it to work" Plunking 32767 chars in
a cell is not practical nor doable in Excel.
Gord


On Mon, 23 Nov 2009 07:47:04 -0800, [email protected] wrote:

thx for the info though. i guess bad news for me...

not even with VB?

this is a huge problem!

because of this i cant use excel most of the times & use another kind of
spreasheet apps. i like Excel & i'm used to but this issue is pretty
annoying & it's never been corrected. i was wondering if the user could edit
the VB code to make it work as it should work.

do you know?

anyone?

thx again!
 
B

Bill Sharpe

keenah said:
youre right. evidently excel is not the right app for complex content but
only if it will remain extremely simple. it cant handle it otherwise. it
has way too many limitations.

based on whay i've read so far there does not seem to exist a solution, it
is what it is, correct? does anyone out there disagree and there is a
solution to increase the limit or even make it indefinite?

if there isn't, im better off quiting MSO altogether and replace it with a
different spreadsheet app that is better, that doesnt have such limited
functionality, that i can customize according to my users needs & not cause
them or me so much trouble & frustration, & be able to manipulate it without
having to figure things out with the limited functionality it has (when
compared to other spreadsheet apps).
Click to expand...
If you have lengthy text that you would like users to view consider
putting the text in a Word or plain text document and hyperlinking to
that document in an Excel cell. Excel is a spreadsheet, not a word
processor. Your users (and you) would be much less frustrated.

Limited functionality? What other spreadsheet apps are you comparing
Excel with?

Bill
 
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