Column Width dialog

Use this dialog to specify the column width of the currently selected worksheet item in centimetres, inches, or pixels. For example, you might want to reduce the width of a column to fit a worksheet onto a printed page.

If the content of a column is too wide to fit in the specified width, Discoverer does the following:

  • If a numeric value is too large to display in a column, Discoverer displays a value truncated with ellipses (...). For example, if you set the Column Width value to 1 cm (with text right aligned), the value '$1000.00' is displayed as '...00.00' both on screen and on the printed page. The text alignment determines whether ellipses are added before or after the number.

  • If an item heading or text value fit is too large to display in a column, Discoverer truncates the text. For example, if you set the Column Width value to 1 cm, the value 'VIDEO STORES' is displayed as 'VIDE' both on screen and on the printed page.

Auto size

Use this check box if you want Discoverer to set the column width for you (typically using the width of the largest column heading or cell value).

Hint: To select auto size for multiple worksheet items, select the items in the worksheet data area and choose Format | Columns | Autosize.

Column Width

Use these fields to specify the width of the currently selected column in either pixels, centimetres, or inches. For example, you might want the column to be 90 pixels wide. These fields are only active when the Auto size check box is cleared.

Notes

  • Discoverer automatically sets the column width on crosstab worksheets (that is, the Format | Columns | Width and Auto size menu options are grayed out for crosstab worksheets).

  • 1 inch is equivalent to 2.54 centimetres and 72 pixels.

  • To control whether column headings are displayed on the current worksheet, choose Tools | Options to display the Options dialog, display the "Options dialog: Sheet tab", and use the Show column headings check box.

  • Discoverer exports item values in full, even if the values are truncated on screen and on the printed page as a result of adjustments to the column width. For example, if you set the Column Width value to 1 cm, the value 'VIDEO STORES' is exported as 'VIDEO STORES' even if it is displayed as 'VIDE' on screen and on the printed page.