Have you ever attempted to resize header columns in Excel by dragging to fit the text? I have, only to find that just when I think I’ve adjusted them correctly, a quick glance down the row shows another column with hidden or truncated text. Frustrating, isn’t it? Especially after multiple attempts to get it right.
Fortunately, there’s a quick shortcut to automatically resize selected columns so their widths perfectly match their content.
Steps to follow:
- Highlight the columns you want to adjust. Typically, this would be the header row at the top of your spreadsheet.
- Hold down the Alt key, then sequentially press the keys H, O, and I.
- Repeat this process for the columns containing data beneath the headers to ensure all fit well.
Dominic Bayley / Foundry
And that’s all! For an extra touch, you can also rotate the header text to make your spreadsheet more visually distinctive. To do this, go to the Home tab, then click the text orientation button (look for the icon with Ab + an upward diagonal arrow). Choose the orientation you prefer. The Angle Counterclockwise option is popular in presentation formats.
This concludes this quick tip! For more practical Excel tricks, be sure to subscribe to the PCWorld Try This newsletter.