Column width in inches?

B

Bob Newman

I want to use Excel to make some forms. Is it possible to set it so the
column width is displayed in inches? That way I will know how the width
will look in the printed form? Right now I have been using the trial &
error method. Estimating, printing, editing, printing again, etc. I am
going through about 25 pages on each form. There must be an easier way.

Thanks in advance... Bob
 
A

Andy B

Bob

The width unit of measurement is the number of characters of a standard
font. It is not mm or cm or inches. As far as I am aware it can't be. I
think you'll have to continue with you trial and error approach.

Andy.
 
B

Bob Newman

If it makes any difference the size of the font is not relevant. I just
want to make a column 2 inches wide of instance.

Bob
 
A

Andy B

Bob

The only thing I can suggest is that you set it up once and make a note of
the number of pixels that equals the width you want.

Andy.
 
J

jaf

Hi Bob,
If you place your mouse cursor between 2 columns you get the resize arrows
cursor.
Right click and you get a tooltip that show the column width in chars &
pixels.
Pixels per inch for your display can be viewed in control panel>display,
settings tab. Click advanced.
96 pixels per inch is the normal default.

My machine is set to 96 pixels/inch. With the standard column width of 8.43
chars @ 63 pixels that works out to 63/96=.656 inches wide.

Hope this helps.
 
D

Dave Peterson

I don't know if you saw this but Harald Staff posted this response to a
different question by mistake. I think it was intended for you:

Here's a variation of the metric code at
http://www.erlandsendata.no/english/index.php?d=envbawssetrowcolumnmm

Sub SetWidth()
Dim W As Double, C As Long
C = ActiveCell.Column
On Error Resume Next
W = CDbl(InputBox("Width for column number " & _
C & ":", "Enter inches:"))
If W > 0 Then Call SetColumnWidthInches(C, W)
End Sub

Sub SetColumnWidthInches(ColNo As Long, inchW As Double)
Dim W As Double
If ColNo < 1 Or ColNo > 255 Then Exit Sub
Application.ScreenUpdating = False
W = Application.InchesToPoints(inchW)
While Columns(ColNo + 1).Left - Columns(ColNo).Left - 0.1 > W
Columns(ColNo).ColumnWidth = Columns(ColNo).ColumnWidth - 0.1
Wend
While Columns(ColNo + 1).Left - Columns(ColNo).Left + 0.1 < W
Columns(ColNo).ColumnWidth = Columns(ColNo).ColumnWidth + 0.1
Wend
Application.ScreenUpdating = True
End Sub
 
B

Bob Newman

I'm kind of a rookie, I think I'll stick to trial and error. Thanks anyway
guys.

Bob
 
J

just helping

see if you can cut-n-paste your form to MS word. It'll show it in inches.

----- Bob Newman wrote: -----

I want to use Excel to make some forms. Is it possible to set it so the
column width is displayed in inches? That way I will know how the width
will look in the printed form? Right now I have been using the trial &
error method. Estimating, printing, editing, printing again, etc. I am
going through about 25 pages on each form. There must be an easier way.

Thanks in advance... Bob
 
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