A unexpected behavior

[Marsh]

In Excel 2003, a collegue has a file with a nuber of Merged cells. For a
reason that escapes our explanation, some rows, not necessarily with merged
cells, do not automatically resize row height when she uses Alt+Enter to
create a line break.
Is there an explanation for this behavior? Is there a method to correct
this without unmerging the cells.
Thanks
Marsh

 

[Gord Dibben]

Welcome to the wonderful world of merged cells which cause no end of
problems and should be banned from existence.

If cells are merged. the row will not autofit even with line-feeds and wrap
text enabled without using VBA

See google search thread for code by Greg Wilson. Watch out for word wrap
in the URL which all one line.

http://groups.google.com/group/micr...60cbeb27874?lnk=st&q=&rnum=4#ca1c160cbeb27874


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP

 

[MartinW]

Welcome to the wonderful world of merged cells which cause no end of

problems and should be banned from existence.

Hi Gord,

There are times that merged cells come in handy.
My organisation has a timeheet that was probably created in Word
then converted to PDF and is available to all parts of the organisation
on the company Intranet as a standard form. The intended use of the
form is to be hand written.

I made an Excel version of the form that automated the input and calculated
times etc. but in order to re-create an EXACT replica of the original form I
needed to use merged cells.

Admittedly, due to the merged cells, it is not entirely user friendly, the
merged
cells can cause the odd minor problem, but it works very well for myself and
anyone else who is fairly competent in Excel.

Regards
Martin

 

[Marsh]

Thanks Gord, I believe we will hence forth avoid merged cells, as much as
possible

 

[Pecoflyer]

Hi Gord,

There are times that merged cells come in handy.
My organisation has a timeheet that was probably created in Word
then converted to PDF and is available to all parts of th
organisation
on the company Intranet as a standard form. The intended use of the
form is to be hand written.

I made an Excel version of the form that automated the input an
calculated
times etc. but in order to re-create an EXACT replica of the origina
form I
needed to use merged cells.

Admittedly, due to the merged cells, it is not entirely user friendly
the
merged
cells can cause the odd minor problem, but it works very well fo
myself and
anyone else who is fairly competent in Excel.

Regards
Martin

Martin, merged cells can be easily replaced by using Format - cente
across selection.
The effect is the same and the problems merged cells create ar
avoided.
As to persons " fairly competent", I know a lot of MVP's who strongl
recommend AVOIDING merged cells at all costs ( save for cosmeti
purposes).
But if you want to stick with them, be my guest, and welcome to th
fifth dimension

--
Pecoflye

Cheers -
*'Membership is free' (http://www.thecodecage.com)* & allows fil
upload ->faster and better answer

 

[Gord Dibben]

Martin

Merged cells have their place in a worksheet that is for presentation
purposes only and will not require any manipulation.

Very few worksheets meet that criterion.

The vast majority of Excel users will expect to be able to copy, paste,
filter, sort and a myriad of other functions that merged cells render near
impossible.

When I become fairly competent in Excel I may have another look at using
merged cells.


Gord

 

[MartinW]

Hi Gord,

I just wanted to make the point that although merged cells should
be treated like poison, they don't need to be "banned from existence".

As for competence, well it's all relative isn't it.
Amongst my work colleagues, I am considered an advanced user, some
have even had the temerity to use terms like expert and guru.

That's all very nice of course, but I know the truth!!!

When compared to the likes of yourself and the many other responders
in these newsgroups, I'm not quite up to beginner status yet.

Such is Life!!
Cheers
Martin

 

[Gord Dibben]

"Banned from existence" is a little over the top, I agree.

Maybe, like poison, they should come with skull and crossbones label.


Gord

 

[JE McGimpsey]

"Banned from existence" is a little over the top, I agree.

Not at all. Merged cells are the spawn of Satan. Friends don't let
friends merge cells!

Don't give in on this one...! <g>

 

[Gord Dibben]

I wimped out<g>

"for presentation only" means just that.


Gord