Prevent the cell from expanding to the size of cell contents in a Google Docs spreadhseet

Question

How can Google Docs Spreadsheet be prevented from expanding to the size of the cell contents?

Example:

The cell expands vertically to fit the cell contents:

The cell expands horizontally to fit the cell contents:

Would like to see something like this instead:

Answer 1

There's a "wrap text" icon in the button bar just below the menu -- 4th button from the right, between the "merge cells" and "functions" buttons.

By default, text wrap is enabled. You can disable it for specific cells, a range of cells, entire rows, entire columns or the entire spreadsheet. Select the relevant cells (or column or row header or the top left corner for the entire spreadsheet), then just click the "wrap text" button to disable it.

Answer 2

Little tardy to the party but I was struggling with the same issue today. I don't think the other answers are getting to the root of your problem. Here's what I just figured out:

It looks like Row Height is set to expand to fit the data, by default.

In contrast, Column Width is set to a specific width, in pixels, 100 by default.

To set Row Height to a specific value, right click on the row header (you can select multiple rows at a time) and select "Resize row..." Then select the "Specify row height" option, instead of "Fit to data."

A specified row height will override text wrapping settings. Any information that's wrapped below the specified height will not be visible.

Hope this help!

Answer 3

1. Select the cell.
2. Select in top menu Format > Text wrapping > Clip.

This will give you what you wanted.

Answer 4

Step 1: Click here to select all cells.

Step 2: Adjust any one cell height (All cell will have the same height which you will define).

Answer 5

1. Select a row
   
2. Right-click on the row number (left side of document)
   
3. Click "Resize row..."
4. Select "Specify row height" (21 is the default, or whatever you want)
   
5. With that row selected, click the 'Paint Format' icon (upper left, underneath 'Edit' menu)
   

6. Select one or more rows to transfer the formatting, including row height (7. You can also immediately select more rows and press CMD+Y to duplicate those results again)

   • Note: if you don't want to transfer other formatting from the base row, you may need to do this process before changing other format options.