[Solved] Auto fit column or row to contents

[RichardSc47]

Hi everyone,

does openoffice calc have an 'Auto fit column width' option anywhere.
I can't find it.

Thanks for help
from
Richard

[Villeroy]

It does even have help files. While working with Calc hit F1 and type "width" or "height" into the keyword index (second tab).

[RichardSc47]

Thanks,
I found you can do it by double clicking when on column or row edge (when the left/right arrows and thick line pop up).
Selecting multiple columns or rows adjusts them all at once.

[MTP]

You can also do it by right-clicking in the gray row number or column letter area and choosing "Optimal Row Height" or "Optimal Column Width" menu option.

[RichardSc47]

Thanks

[opoppal]

Trying in OpenOffice Spreadsheet to autofit column width or row height to content (which is a cinch in MS Excel or on iWork Numbers) I can't find a way that works. "Optimal Row Height/Column Width" allows me to put in measurements and so eventually arrive by trial and error what works, but that's not the same as "autofit" in one click. I'd be grateful for advice. Or should I just forget about trying and accept that this option doesn't exist in OpenOffice?

[RichardSc47]

Just hover on the column or row dividers, click when the cursor changes to a thick vertical line with left and right arrows and it will auto your row or column.

[opoppal]

Thanks, RichardSC47. I've tried hovering on the divider, and nothing happened. Hovering on the divider in the blue frame did produce a cross with arrows at the end of one of one of its two lines, and that allowed me to widen the column. But there was nothing auto about it. Perhaps the problem is that your experience is with OpenOffice on a PC, and mine is on a Mac.

[RoryOF]

I found (Xubuntu 15.10) it needs a double click.

[RusselB]

In Windows, up to and including Windows 7, possibly after, if you right click on the column letter or row number, then select Optimal Column Width (or Optimal Row Height as appropriate), the number that can be altered is the excess width/height that you wish to incorporate. Leave the check box checked, or if unchecked, check it.

[RickVR]

If you have the "Wrap text automatically" option enabled then the "Optimal Column Width" function will do very weird stuff like shrink the column to the length of the longest single word in the column or worse if you also have the "Hyphenation active" option set as well.

Format -> Cells -> Alignment Tab -> Wrap text automatically
OR
Ctrl+1 -> Alignment Tab -> Wrap text automatically

If you uncheck the "Wrap text automatically" option then you will get results closer to what Excel and others do.

[travis_mcgee]

Autofitting columns ...

Yes. It's been driving me insane too.

Part of the problem some people are having could be that they are not demerging their file cells. (You have to eliminate any hidden columns. Demerge and merge are the same thing for OO, so just go to Format and select Merge. Then eliminate the blank columns.)

There really should be a way to just select all and have everything autofit as with Excel (I know, I know, I'm committing heresy ...)

[Gammerz]

• Select all rows and and columns by pressing ctrl+a or clicking the top left empty column/row name. All the cells will be selected and turn blue.

• Double click on any column divider between the column names.