Cell Width Points vs. Characters

2024-04-10 08:41 UTC gpt-4

In VBA for Excel, the width of a cell is measured in points. One point equals approximately 1/72 of an inch, which means that the measurement is dependent on the resolution of your display. The ColumnWidth property, which you use to set or get the width of a column in Excel through VBA, is actually measured in characters. However, the size of a character is defined as the width of the zero (0) character in the default font size for the workbook. The exact visual width in points or inches can vary depending on the default font and font size.

If you need to convert between points and the character-based measurement that Excel uses for column widths, you might need to use some approximation or conversion based on the default font and font size of the workbook you are working with. Excel’s internal handling of column width is optimized for readability and on-screen display rather than direct correspondence to physical measurement units.

Yes, you can access the workbook’s default font size through VBA in Excel. The default font and its size for a workbook are properties of the Workbook object. You can access these properties using the StandardFont and StandardFontSize properties of the Workbook object. Here’s how you can do it:

To get the default font name:

Dim defaultFont As String
defaultFont = ThisWorkbook.StandardFont

To get the default font size:

Dim defaultFontSize As Double
defaultFontSize = ThisWorkbook.StandardFontSize

These snippets will store the default font name and size of the workbook where the VBA code is being run (ThisWorkbook) into the variables defaultFont and defaultFontSize respectively.

Keep in mind, these properties are read/write, so you can not only read but also set the default font name and size for the entire workbook with VBA like this:

ThisWorkbook.StandardFont = "Arial"
ThisWorkbook.StandardFontSize = 11

This would change the workbook’s default font to Arial with a font size of 11. However, changing the default font or size affects only the new sheets added to the workbook after the change. It doesn’t retroactively change the font or size of existing content.

To adjust the width of a specific range of cells so that it perfectly fits the width of the sheet in VBA for Excel, you would typically follow these steps:

Calculate the total width of the target sheet in points or the unit of measurement that Excel uses internally for column widths.
Determine the total width that your specific range of cells should cover to fit perfectly across the width of the sheet.
Adjust the width of the columns in your range based on the calculated total width they need to occupy.

However, step 1 can be a bit tricky because Excel doesn’t directly expose the total width of the sheet through VBA properties. One common approach is to resize the columns to a known standard width, calculate the total desired width based on the sheet’s usable space, and then distribute this width evenly across the columns in your range or adjust according to content if that’s preferable.

Here’s a simple approach to evenly distribute the width across a specific range of columns. Note, this example assumes you want to adjust all columns in the sheet, but you can modify the range according to your needs:

Sub AdjustColumnWidthsToFitSheet()
    Dim totalWidth As Double
    Dim columnCount As Integer
    Dim targetWidthPerColumn As Double

    With ActiveSheet
        ' Assuming all columns have the same width for calculation simplicity
        ' Get the total usable width of the sheet in points
        totalWidth = .UsedRange.Width

        ' Determine the number of columns in your range
        ' Change "A:Z" to your specific range of columns
        columnCount = .Range("A:Z").Columns.Count

        ' Calculate the target width for each column
        targetWidthPerColumn = totalWidth / columnCount

        ' Set the width of each column in the range
        .Range("A:Z").ColumnWidth = targetWidthPerColumn * .Range("A1").Width / .Range("A1").ColumnWidth
    End With
End Sub

This script takes a straightforward approach by dividing the total width of the used range of the sheet by the number of columns in the specified range. It then sets each column in the range to this width. Keep in mind, Excel’s column width measurements aren’t in points but in a more abstract “character width” based on the default font, so adjustments and testing may be needed to get the exact fit you’re looking for.

This method assumes the default font and size for simplicity and uses the width of a single cell in column A as a reference. For more precise adjustments, especially when working with different fonts or sizes within your target range, further calculations may be needed to account for these variances.

The error you’re encountering, “unable to set the ColumnWidth property of the Range class,” can happen for a few reasons, but it’s likely due to the calculation of the ColumnWidth resulting in a value that is outside the permissible range for column widths in Excel. Excel columns have a minimum width of 0 (hidden) and a maximum width of 255 characters (based on the default font and size). If the calculated targetWidthPerColumn is outside this range when converted back to Excel’s column width units, you’ll encounter this error.

To correct for this, we need to ensure that the calculated column width is within Excel’s acceptable bounds. Additionally, it’s crucial to remember that the ColumnWidth and Width properties represent different metrics; ColumnWidth is measured in the number of characters, while Width is measured in points. This discrepancy can cause confusion and incorrect calculations.

Let’s refine the approach to avoid this error by making sure we stay within bounds and adjust our calculation:

Sub AdjustColumnWidthsToFitSheet()
    Dim totalWidthPoints As Double
    Dim columnCount As Integer
    Dim targetWidthPerColumnPoints As Double
    Dim targetColumnWidth As Double

    With ActiveSheet
        ' Get the total usable width of the sheet in points
        totalWidthPoints = .Range("A1").EntireRow.Width

        ' Determine the number of columns in your range
        columnCount = .Range("A:Z").Columns.Count

        ' Calculate the target width for each column in points
        targetWidthPerColumnPoints = totalWidthPoints / columnCount

        ' Loop through each column in the range to set the width
        Dim col As Range
        For Each col In .Range("A:Z").Columns
            ' Calculate and adjust each column width within the permissible range
            ' The conversion factor below is a rough estimation; might need adjustment
            targetColumnWidth = targetWidthPerColumnPoints / (7 * .StandardFontSize / 10)

            ' Ensure the targetColumnWidth is within Excel's limits
            If targetColumnWidth < 0 Then targetColumnWidth = 0
            If targetColumnWidth > 255 Then targetColumnWidth = 255

            col.ColumnWidth = targetColumnWidth
        Next col
    End With
End Sub

In this updated version, we loop through each column in the specified range and individually set the width. This approach gives us more control over the adjustment of each column and allows us to ensure that the calculated ColumnWidth is within the acceptable range. Note that the conversion factor used (7 * .StandardFontSize / 10) is a rough estimation to convert from points to character width, as there’s no direct method provided by Excel to do this conversion accurately due to varying character widths in different fonts. You might need to adjust this factor based on the default font used in your workbook.

The error you’re encountering, “object doesn’t support this property or method,” suggests there’s an issue with the use of the .StandardFontSize property in this context. My previous advice was incorrect in suggesting that .StandardFontSize could be used directly off the ActiveSheet object. The StandardFontSize property is associated with the Excel.Application object, not directly with a workbook or worksheet object, and it refers to the default font size for the application, not for a specific workbook. This mistake led to the error in your VBA code.

Let’s correct this by using the correct reference for obtaining the standard font size, and adjust our approach slightly to ensure compatibility:

Sub AdjustColumnWidthsToFitSheet()
    Dim totalWidthPoints As Double
    Dim columnCount As Integer
    Dim targetWidthPerColumnPoints As Double
    Dim targetColumnWidth As Double
    Dim standardFontSize As Double

    ' Correctly obtain the application's standard font size
    standardFontSize = Application.StandardFontSize

    With ActiveSheet
        ' Get the total usable width of the sheet in points
        totalWidthPoints = .Range("A1").EntireRow.Width

        ' Determine the number of columns in your range
        columnCount = .Range("A:Z").Columns.Count

        ' Calculate the target width for each column in points
        targetWidthPerColumnPoints = totalWidthPoints / columnCount

        ' Loop through each column in the range to set the width
        Dim col As Range
        For Each col In .Range("A:Z").Columns
            ' Adjust each column width within the permissible range
            ' The conversion factor here is an approximation; adjust as necessary
            targetColumnWidth = targetWidthPerColumnPoints / (7 * standardFontSize / 10)

            ' Ensure the targetColumnWidth is within Excel's limits
            If targetColumnWidth < 0 Then targetColumnWidth = 0
            If targetColumnWidth > 255 Then targetColumnWidth = 255

            col.ColumnWidth = targetColumnWidth
        Next col
    End With
End Sub

In this corrected version, standardFontSize is properly obtained from the Application object, and then used in the calculation of targetColumnWidth. This approach should resolve the error and adjust the column widths as intended, but keep in mind the conversion from points to Excel’s character-based column width is approximate and might require fine-tuning based on the actual font and its characteristics used in your worksheet.

The ActiveSheet.UsedRange.Width and ActiveWindow.UsableWidth properties in Excel VBA refer to different measurements within the Excel environment, each useful in its context. Here’s a breakdown of the differences:

`ActiveSheet.UsedRange.Width`

Definition: This property returns the width of the “Used Range” of the active sheet. The Used Range includes any cells that have been used or formatted in some way. This means if you have data, formatting, or formulas in cells A1 to D10, for example, the Used Range would encompass these cells, and UsedRange.Width would give you the width of this range in points.
Use Cases: It’s useful when you need to know the width of the part of a sheet that contains data or formatting. This can be helpful for setting print areas, adjusting layouts, or performing operations that need to consider only the portion of the sheet that is actively in use.

`ActiveWindow.UsableWidth`

Definition: This property returns the usable width of the Excel window in points. The usable width is the amount of horizontal space available for displaying the sheet content, excluding the space taken by the application interface elements like the ribbon, sidebars, and scrollbars.
Use Cases: It’s useful when you want to adjust your content or UI elements within Excel to fit within the visible area of the application window. For instance, you might use this to ensure that a user form appears fully within the Excel window without being cut off.

Key Differences:

Scope: UsedRange.Width is specific to the content of the active sheet, whereas UsableWidth relates to the Excel application window itself.
Measurement: UsedRange.Width measures the width of the used range in points, reflecting the extent of the sheet’s content. UsableWidth measures the available display width in the Excel window, also in points, but focusing on the application’s UI constraints.
Application: You would choose between these properties based on whether your task is related to the content of a worksheet (UsedRange.Width) or to the Excel application interface and display area (UsableWidth).

Using these properties appropriately can help tailor Excel VBA solutions to fit specific layout, formatting, or interface requirements, whether they concern the content of a worksheet or the overall application environment.

To get the column width of a specific range in Excel VBA, you generally refer to the ColumnWidth property of a Range object. If your range spans multiple columns with different widths, it’s important to decide how you want to handle this: you might want to get the width of the first column in the range, an average width, or perhaps you’re only interested in a specific column within a larger range.

Here’s how you can approach these scenarios:

Get the Column Width of the First Column in a Range

If you have a range and want to know the column width of the first column within that range, you can do so like this:

Dim firstColumnWidth As Double
firstColumnWidth = Range("YourRange").Columns(1).ColumnWidth

Replace "YourRange" with the actual reference to your range. For example, if your range is “B2:D4”, this will give you the width of column B.

Get the Column Width of Each Column in a Range

If you need the width of each column within a range, especially if they might have different widths, you can loop through each column in the range:

Dim col As Range
For Each col In Range("YourRange").Columns
    Debug.Print col.ColumnWidth
Next col

This will print the width of each column in the “Immediate” window in the VBA editor. Replace "YourRange" with your specific range.

Get the Average Column Width of a Range

If you’re interested in the average width of the columns within a range, you can calculate this by summing the widths and then dividing by the number of columns:

Dim avgWidth As Double
Dim totalWidth As Double
Dim colCount As Integer

colCount = Range("YourRange").Columns.Count
For Each col In Range("YourRange").Columns
    totalWidth = totalWidth + col.ColumnWidth
Next col

avgWidth = totalWidth / colCount

Debug.Print avgWidth

Replace "YourRange" with your specific range. This calculates the total width of all columns in the range, divides by the number of columns, and prints the average width.

These examples show basic techniques for working with column widths in Excel VBA. Depending on your specific needs, you may adjust the range references or calculations accordingly.

The line totalWidthPoints = .Range("A1").EntireRow.Width in Excel VBA is used to get the total width, in points, of the entire row in which cell A1 is located. Let’s break down the components of this line to understand why it’s written this way and what it accomplishes:

`.Range("A1")`

This specifies a Range object that represents a single cell, A1, on the worksheet referred to by the With statement that precedes this line (presumably ActiveSheet or a specific Worksheet object).

`.EntireRow`

This property of the Range object returns another Range object that represents the entire row of the initial range. When you use .EntireRow on a range that’s a single cell (like A1), you get a range representing all the cells in the row where A1 is. If A1 is in row 1, .EntireRow would refer to all cells in row 1.

`.Width`

This property of the Range object returns the width of the range in points. When called on the range returned by .EntireRow, it gives the total width of the entire row in points. This is a measurement that includes the width of all columns in the row.

Why not just `.Row`?

.Row is also a property of the Range object, but it serves a different purpose. It returns the row number of the first row in the specified range. For instance, Range("A1").Row would return 1 because A1 is in the first row of the worksheet. It does not provide a Range object or any dimensions (like width or height), which is why .EntireRow.Width is used to get the width in points.

Summary

So, the reason for using .EntireRow.Width instead of just .Row is that you’re interested in the dimensional property (width in points) of the entire row, not just the row number. This approach is useful when you need to understand or manipulate the layout or sizing of your worksheet programmatically, such as when you’re trying to set the width of cells or ranges based on the total available width of the sheet.

Using ActiveWindow.UsableWidth divided by the number of columns you need to adjust to fit the screen is a practical approach for distributing the available window width across multiple columns. This method can work effectively for setting column widths so that they fit within the visible area of the Excel window. Here’s why this approach can be valid and when you might need to consider additional factors like the standard font size:

Direct Calculation with `ActiveWindow.UsableWidth`

Simplicity: Dividing ActiveWindow.UsableWidth by the number of columns gives you a straightforward way to allocate space evenly across columns, ensuring they fit on the screen without considering the complexity of content width or font sizes.
Visibility: This method focuses on visibility within the Excel window, making it suitable for creating interfaces or layouts where ensuring that all columns are visible on screen is more important than the content itself.

When to Consider Font Size

Content Fit: If the content of your cells varies significantly in size or if you’re working with data that must be displayed without truncation, the column width set merely by dividing the usable width may not be ideal. Columns containing wider content might need to be wider than those with narrower content.
Readability: The default or standard font size affects how much content can be visibly and comfortably read within a given column width. Smaller fonts mean more text fits in less space, and vice versa. If readability is a concern, you might adjust column widths based on the font size used in your columns or cells.
Consistency: When creating sheets that will be viewed on different devices or by different users, the appearance might vary based on individual Excel settings, including font size. If consistency across views is crucial, you might design your layout with a bit more flexibility in column widths or ensure instructions are provided to standardize view settings.

Implementation

For a general layout adjustment where the goal is to fit columns on screen evenly, directly using ActiveWindow.UsableWidth should suffice. Here’s how you might implement it:

Sub AdjustColumnsToFitScreen()
    Dim usableWidth As Double
    Dim columnCount As Integer
    Dim targetWidthPerColumn As Double

    ' Get the usable width of the Excel window in points
    usableWidth = ActiveWindow.UsableWidth

    ' Set the number of columns you want to adjust
    columnCount = 5 ' Adjust this to your needs

    ' Calculate the target width for each column
    targetWidthPerColumn = usableWidth / columnCount

    ' Loop through each column to set the new width
    Dim i As Integer
    For i = 1 To columnCount
        Columns(i).ColumnWidth = targetWidthPerColumn / (Columns(i).Width / Columns(i).ColumnWidth)
    Next i
End Sub

This script sets the width of the first columnCount columns to evenly distribute them across the usable window width. The conversion from points to Excel’s column width units is necessary because ColumnWidth is measured in character units of the default font, not in points. Adjust columnCount to fit your specific requirements.

Remember, this approach assumes that an even distribution of width is suitable for your needs. If specific columns require adjustments based on content or readability, you might need to refine this approach by incorporating content width or font size considerations into your calculations.

The difference between Columns(i).Width and Columns(i).ColumnWidth in Excel VBA lies in the units of measurement used by each property:

`Columns(i).Width`

Units: Points
Description: This property returns the width of the column in points. Points are a unit of measurement used in typography, where 1 point is approximately 1/72 of an inch. The .Width property is useful when you need to work with precise measurements for layout, printing, or graphical elements because it corresponds to actual physical dimensions on a screen or page.

`Columns(i).ColumnWidth`

Units: Character units (based on the default font)
Description: This property returns the width of the column based on the number of characters of the default font that can fit in the column. The size of one character unit is determined by the width of the “0” (zero) character in the default font set for the workbook. This measurement is more abstract because it depends on the font and its characteristics, making it more relevant for setting and getting column widths in a way that’s consistent with how Excel’s user interface displays them.

Practical Difference

The practical difference between these two is significant when scripting in VBA because they are used in different contexts:

For precise layout control (e.g., when aligning objects or setting print areas), you would use Columns(i).Width to get or set the width in points.
For adjusting column widths in a manner consistent with user expectations within the Excel UI (e.g., ensuring text fits within cells without spilling over or being clipped), you would use Columns(i).ColumnWidth. This is because users typically think of column width in terms of how many characters can fit into a column, rather than the physical measurement of the column.

When converting between these units, keep in mind that there isn’t a fixed conversion rate due to the dependency on the font size and type used in the workbook. However, when setting column widths programmatically with the intention of matching Excel’s default behavior or ensuring compatibility with the Excel UI, ColumnWidth is typically the property you’d manipulate.

To set the width of a range of columns at once in Excel VBA, you can use the ColumnWidth property on a range that spans multiple columns. This is efficient for applying the same width to all columns in the specified range. Here’s how you can do it:

Example: Setting Width for a Range of Columns

Sub SetWidthForRangeOfColumns()
    ' Set the width of columns A through D to 20 characters
    Columns("A:D").ColumnWidth = 20
End Sub

This VBA script sets the column width of columns A through D to 20 character units. The ColumnWidth property is applied to all columns in the range simultaneously, making this method straightforward for uniformly resizing multiple columns.

Additional Considerations

Uniform Widths: Using this approach applies the same width to all columns in the specified range. If you need different widths for different columns, you would need to set each column’s width individually or adjust your range references accordingly.
Character Units: Remember, ColumnWidth is measured in the number of characters of the default font that can fit in the column. This means the actual visual width in points can vary based on the font and font size used in the workbook.
Performance: Setting the width of multiple columns at once is generally more efficient than iterating over a range of columns and setting each one individually, especially for large ranges.

This method is particularly useful for quickly standardizing the layout of your worksheet or preparing a consistent visual presentation without needing to adjust each column one by one.