XL: Wrap Text Format Causes Text to Move Closer to Top of Cell

ID: Q176247

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel, if you apply the Wrap Text alignment format to a cell, the text in the cell may move slightly closer to the top of the cell. As a result, text in one cell may not be vertically aligned with text in another cell in the same row.

This problem is more noticeable when the text in the cell is bold, or when you apply borders to the cell.

NOTE: This problem does not occur in earlier versions of Microsoft Excel.

WORKAROUND

You can reduce the effects of this problem by formatting all cells in a row with the Wrap Text alignment. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Select all of the cells in the row that you are using.

2. On the Format menu, click Cells. Click the Alignment tab.

3. Click to select the Wrap Text check box. Then, click OK.

If all of the cells in the row use the Wrap Text alignment format, the text in all of the cells is aligned.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

When you use the Wrap Text alignment format, text that is too long to appear on one line is wrapped so that it appears in multiple lines in a single cell.

To see the problem that is described in the "Symptoms" section in this article, follow these steps:

1. In Microsoft Excel 97 or Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition, create a

   new workbook.

2. Enter the following values in Sheet1:

      B5: 56   C5: 56

3. Select cell B5. On the Format menu, click Cells. Click the Alignment

   tab. Click to select the Wrap Text check box, and then click OK.

4. Select the range B5:C5. On the Format menu, click Cells. Click the

   Border tab. In the Style box, select the thick border. Click Outline
   and click OK.

5. On the Format menu, point to Column, and then click AutoFit Selection.

Note that the "56" in cell B5 is closer to the top of the cell than the "56" in cell C5. If you format both cells to use bold text, the problem is even more noticeable. If you remove the border from both cells, the problem is less noticeable.

In Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition, the problem is noticeable even if you do not apply a border to the cells.

Additional query words: XL97

Keywords          : xlformat 
Version           : WINDOWS:97; MACINTOSH:98
Platform          : MACINTOSH WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbbug

Last Reviewed: January 9, 1999