XL7: Character May Not Be Printed When Text Is Centered in Cell

• Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a

SYMPTOMS

When you print a worksheet from Microsoft Excel 7.0, one character on either the right or left side of a cell may not be printed. For example, the word "August" may be printed as "ugust" (without the letter "A").

CAUSE

This problem may occur when the following conditions are true:

• You format the cell with a center horizontal alignment by clicking Cells on the Format menu, clicking the Alignment tab, and clicking Center under Horizontal.

  -and-

• The contents of the cell are almost exactly the same width as the width of the cell, including the gridlines on the right and left sides of the cell.

  -and-

• You are printing to a non-PostScript printer, such as a LaserPrinter.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, do any of the following:

• If one is available, print to a PostScript printer.

  -or-

• Add a space ( ) to both the beginning and ending of the cell so that the contents of the cell extend into the cells to the left and right of the active cell.

  In many cases, this step prevents the problem from occurring, and the text remains centered in the cell.

  -or-

• Increase or decrease the width of the cell so that the contents of the cell are narrower than the cell or the contents are wider than the cell (so that the contents extends into the cells to the left and right of the cell).

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. This problem was corrected in Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows.

MORE INFORMATION

This problem occurs because of the way in which Microsoft Excel 7.0 sends information to the printer when you print a worksheet. If a character in a cell with centered horizontal alignment touches, but does not cross, the gridlines to the left or right of the cell, the character may not be printed.