The newly opened Excel document will display cells in rows and columns. The size of the cells is uniform. That is, the width of each of the cells is identical. The same is true of the heights of the cells. For many, many projects, the default setting is sufficient. For others, it needs to be adjusted. Let's take a look at the adjustment of the cell dimensions using only the mouse.
The Problem: When you enter contents into a cell and the size font or the quantity of keystrokes cause the cell data to "overflow" the width of the column
In this example, the heading "My Company's Income" in cell B2 takes up more space than is available for the width of column B. The "extra" typing spills over into the vacant adjacent cell. There will be a conflict with the contents of cell C2!
In order to "fix" the problem, you can follow along with these steps.
| Move your cursor to the vertical line between the B and C. |  |
| When the mouse is successfully over the vertical line, the cursor will turn into a "two-headed" arrow. |  |
| Click and drag the cursor in the direction you want the column width adjusted. (right). |  |
The width of column B is adjusted to "fit" the width of the contents of the cell. Of note is the fact that the cell B2 is not the only cell changed. All of the cells in column B are adjusted by whatever distance you drug the vertical bar. You don't make a single cell wider or narrower, you adjust the entire column.
Having completed the section on adjusting the column width, you should have a good guess on how to increase or decrease the height of the cells on a row. We think a single picture will suffice to describe what you do.
Before you ask why you would want to change the height of a row, note we are only showing the process. When you want/need to make a change, you will know how!
See a Movie of the Process | Return