Using the Standard Toolbar to Align Text and Numbers in Cells

You've probably noticed by now that Excel 2003 left-aligns text (labels) and right-aligns numbers (values). This makes data easier to read.

You do not have to leave the defaults. Text and numbers can be defined as left-aligned, right-aligned or centered in Excel 2003. The picture below shows the difference between these alignment types when applied to labels.

Text and numbers may be aligned using the left-align, center and right-align buttons of the Formatting toolbar:

To Align Text or Numbers in a Cell:

• Select a cell or range of cells
• Click on either the Left-Align, Center or Right-Align buttons in the standard toolbar.
• The text or numbers in the cell(s) take on the selected alignment treatment.

Changing Horizontal Cell Alignment

We've previously seen how to align text or numbers using the left-align, center and right-align buttons in the standard toolbar. You can also define alignment in the Alignment tab of the Format Cells dialog box.

The Horizontal section features a drop-down that contains the same left, center, and right alignment options in the picture above and several more:

Fill

"Fills" the cell with the current contents by repeating the contents for the width of the cell.

Justify

If the text is larger than the cell width, Justify wraps the text in the cell and adjusts the spacing within each line so that all lines are as wide as the cell.

Center Across Selection

Contents of the cell furthest to the left are centered across the selection of cells. Similar to merge and center, except the cells are not merged.

To Change Horizontal Alignment using the Format Cells Dialog Box:

• Select a cell or range of cells.
• Choose Format Cells from the menu bar.
  
  
  
  (You could also right-click and choose Format Cells from the shortcut menu.)
• The Format Cells dialog box opens.
• Click the Alignment tab.
  
  
• Click the Horizontal drop-down menu and select a horizontal alignment treatment.
• Click OK to apply the horizontal alignment to the selected cell(s).

Changing Vertical Cell Alignment

You can also define vertical alignment in a cell, similar to how it is done for horizontal alignment. In Vertical alignment, information in a cell can be located at the top of the cell, middle of the cell or bottom of the cell. The default is bottom.

To Change Vertical Alignment using the Format Cells Dialog Box:

• Select a cell or range of cells.
• Choose Format Cells from the menu bar.
  
  (You could also right-click and choose Format Cells from the shortcut menu.)
• The Format Cells dialog box opens.
• Click the Alignment tab.
• Click the Vertical drop-down menu and select a vertical alignment treatment.
• Click OK to apply the vertical alignment to the selected cell(s).

Changing Text Control

Text Control allows you to control the way Excel 2003 presents information in a cell. There are three types of Text control: Wrapped Text, Shrink-to-Fit and Merge Cells.

The Wrapped Text wraps the contents of a cell across several lines if it's too large than the column width. It increases the height of the cell as well.

Shrink-to-Fit shrinks the text so it fits into the cell; the more text in the cell the smaller it will appear in the cell.

Merge Cells can also be applied by using the Merge and Center button on the standard toolbar.

To Change Text Control using the Format Cells Dialog Box:

• Select a cell or range of cells.
• Choose Format Cells from the menu bar.
• The Format Cells dialog box opens.
• Click the Alignment tab.
• Click on either the Wrapped Text, Shrink-to-Fit or Merge Cells check boxes-or any combination of them-as needed.
• Click the OK button.

Changing Text Orientation

The fourth type of cell alignment in the Format Cells dialog box is Text Orientation, which allows text to be oriented 90 degrees in either direction up or down.

To Change Text Orientation using the Format Cells Dialog Box:

• Select a cell or cell range to be subject to text control alignment.
• Choose Format Cells from the menu bar.
• The Format Cells dialog box opens.
• Click the Alignment tab.
• Increase or decrease the number shown in the Degrees field or spin box.
• Click the OK button.

Challenge!

• Open your Monthly Budget file.
• Center the text horizontally in Column A and Row 2.
• Apply a distributed vertical text alignment to Row 2.

   

  

   

• Save your document.
• Use the text control and text orientation features so that you are familiar with them.
• Close the document without saving any of the formatting from the text control and text orientation features.