Microsoft KB Archive/77288

= Works: Formatting Column Width for Date or Number to Avoid ##### =

Article ID: 77288

Article Last Modified on 11/16/2006

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Works 2.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Works 3.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Works 4.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Works 4.5 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Works 6.0
 * Microsoft Works Suite 2001

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This article was previously published under Q77288



SUMMARY
If you enter a date or number in a Works for Windows spreadsheet or database, the column/field width should be set to a number greater than the maximum number of characters the cell or field will hold. The minimum size of this number is dependent on the width of the individual characters for the font used in the cell or database field.

It is usually sufficient to make the column/field width about 1.5 times larger than the maximum number of characters that will be in the cell or field. Proportional fonts such as Times New Roman and Arial will probably require a much smaller number. In Works 3.0 and later, you can use Best Fit to format the column/field width to the minimum width needed to display the largest value in that column/field.

If the width for a date is not set wide enough, ######## will be displayed instead of the date. Also a True/False value will display as ###### if the column width is not wide enough to display the word &quot;True&quot; or &quot;False.&quot;

Works 3.0, 4.0, 4.5, and 6.0 Solution
To correct this display problem in Works for Windows version 3.0, 4.0, 4.5, or 6.0, use the Best Fit feature to increase the column width wide enough to display the largest value in that column.

To Use Best Fit in Works 3.0, 4.0, 4.5, and 6.0
Double-click the field name or column heading to activate the Best Fit feature.

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 * 1) Select the field or column.
 * 2) From the Format menu, click Field Width (database) or Column Width (spreadsheet), and click Best Fit.

Works 2.0 Solution
To re-size a column width in Works for Windows version 2.0 and 2.0a:
 * 1) From the Format menu, choose column width.
 * 2) Enter a value in the Width box (default is 10).

If you enter a number that is too large to fit into a cell that has general format, Works displays the number in scientific notation. An extra space must be added to maintain a placeholder for the sign (+/-) of the number. When a number is positive (greater than zero), the &quot;+&quot; that would represent it as a positive number is not displayed, but its placeholder must still be present.

NOTE: With proportionally spaced fonts such as Times New Roman or Arial you may be able to use a smaller column width than recommended above because character width will vary.



MORE INFORMATION
If the ###### are still displayed even after increasing the field width, make sure that the numeric format of the field is set appropriately. For example, if you enter -10 in a field formatted as a date, ###### will be displayed regardless of the field width, since negative date entries are not allowed.

