Excel: Autoformat Sample Dialog Box Displayed Incorrectly

• Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 4.0, 4.0a, 5.0

SUMMARY

In Microsoft Excel, when you change the font in the default or Normal style by adding a "Font=" entry in the EXCEL4.INI file, the font size of the sample table in the AutoFormat dialog box will also be changed (to see this sample table, choose AutoFormat from the Format menu).

If you type a font size of 14 points or greater in the EXCEL4.INI, the sample table will appear to have overlapping text and irregular formatting (such as borders and shading). This overlapping text and irregular formatting will only appear in the sample table. When you actually apply a format to your worksheet, it will be displayed correctly.

MORE INFORMATION

The font size in the AutoFormat dialog box is not affected when you change the default font from Microsoft Excel. This includes setting the default for an individual worksheet by changing the font in the Normal style and setting it globally for all worksheets by saving the SHEET.XLT, MACRO.XLT, and/or CHART.XLT templates, to the XLSTART directory.

WORKAROUND

To maintain the current font size as the default, remove the "Font=" line from the EXCEL.INI and use the template method to globally change the default font.

To change the font for worksheets and macro sheets, do the following:

1. From the File menu, choose New. Select Worksheet and choose the OK button. From the File menu, choose New and select Macro Sheet.

2. From the Format menu, choose Style. Choose the Define button.

3. In the Style Dialog box, under Change, choose the Font button.

4. In the Font dialog box, select the desired font and size and choose the OK button. In the Style dialog box, choose the OK button.

5. From the File menu, choose Save. Change the directory to XLSTART and select Template from the Save File As Type box. For the macro sheet, type MACRO.XLT in the File Name box. For the Worksheet, type SHEET.XLT in the File Name box.

6. Choose the OK button and close the files.

1. From the File menu, choose New. Select Chart and choose the OK button.

2. From the Chart menu, choose Select Chart.

3. From the Format menu, choose Font. Select the desired font and size and choose the OK button.

4. From the File menu, choose Save. Change the directory to XLSTART and select Template from the Save File As Type box. In the File Name box, type CHART.XLT.

5. Choose the OK button and close the Chart window.

Reference(s);

"Microsoft Excel User's Guide 1," version 4.0, pages 80, 246-249