XL97: Two Methods for Justifying Text

ID: Q183201

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows

SUMMARY

In Microsoft Excel, you can use either of two methods to justify text. This article explains the difference between the two methods.

MORE INFORMATION

Method 1: Justify Text Right and Left Within a Cell

When you use this method, it applies a formatting property. This divides the cell contents into multiple lines of text in the cell and adjusts the spacing between words so that all lines are as wide as the cell. The appearance of the cell changes but the actual contents does not change. To use this method, follow these steps.

1. Select the cell or cells that you want to align.

2. On the Format menu, click Cells.

3. Click the Alignment tab.

4. Under Horizontal, click Justify.

5. Click OK.

NOTE: Clicking Justify automatically wraps the text. More than one line of text must be wrapped to see the justification.

Method 2: Justify Text to Fill a Selected Range

This method uses a command on the Edit menu that actually changes and redistributes the contents of the selected cells.

NOTE: This second method is not covered in Microsoft Excel Help.

To use this method, follow these steps:

1. Select the cells that contain the text you want to distribute. Include

   the entire range in which you want the text to appear.

   Except for the left column, cells in the range should be blank.

Text is entered into the cells in the left column but flows over into the empty cells to the right.

Additional query words: XL97

Keywords          : kbdta xlformat 
Version           : WINDOWS:97
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbinfo

Last Reviewed: November 2, 1998