Get rid of merged cells! Debate

[erik.van.geit]

oops
It was another member
sometimes too enthousiastic, but I prefer that instead of the opposite

ladies & gentlemen,
nevermind, go on with your nice discussions

 

[Lewiy]

To Lewyi.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>
Quote:<o></o>
<TABLE class=MsoNormalTable style="WIDTH: 100%; mso-cellspacing: 0cm; mso-padding-alt: 4.5pt 4.5pt 4.5pt 4.5pt" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR style="mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes"><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8 1pt inset; PADDING-RIGHT: 4.5pt; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8 1pt inset; PADDING-LEFT: 4.5pt; BACKGROUND: #e6e6e6; PADDING-BOTTOM: 4.5pt; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8 1pt inset; PADDING-TOP: 4.5pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8 1pt inset; mso-border-alt: inset windowtext .75pt">they can be quite useful. Yes there are always alternatives but not necessarily satisfactory ones. Let’s say I have a report spanning 10 columns and I want a heading in row 1 centred across the top. If it were 9 columns, I could place my heading in column E and centre the text, but I have 10 columns……so what do I do? I “merge-and-centre” cells A1:J1….job done. <o></o>
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Seems like you didn't understand the "center across selection". If you want something centered in A1:J1, enter it in A1, then select A1:J1 and "center across selection". 10 columns and perfectly centered <?xml:namespace prefix = v ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" /><v:shapetype id=_x0000_t75 stroked="f" filled="f" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" oreferrelative="t" o:spt="75" coordsize="21600,21600"><v:stroke joinstyle="miter"></v:stroke><v:formulas><v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></v:f></v:formulas><vath o:connecttype="rect" gradientshapeok="t" o:extrusionok="f"></vath><o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></o:lock></v:shapetype><v:shape id=_x0000_i1025 style="WIDTH: 11.25pt; HEIGHT: 11.25pt" alt="" type="#_x0000_t75"><v:imagedata o:href="http://www.mrexcel.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif" src="file:///C:\windows\TEMP\msohtml1\01\clip_image001.gif"></v:imagedata></v:shape><o></o>

<o></o>
<o> </o>
Blimey, looks like I’ve taken quite a grilling over the weekend!!!<o></o>
<o> </o>
Ok, let me clarify…firstly, I am aware of “centre across selection”, however, I urge you all to place some text in E1, then highlight A1:J1, format>cells>alignment>centre across selection…………then change the fill colour of D1 to yellow………oh look, now I have a silly yellow cell in the middle of my heading instead of a nice big yellow-filled cell across 10 columns.<o></o>
<o> </o>
I realise that, yes, there are solutions to this too (but silly ones if you ask me)….and if you read the rest of my post you’ll see that I don’t really condone the use of merged cells in general…..but they have a time and place as long as you don’t plan to ever change them….reporting only <o></o>
<o> </o>
Oh and Emma:<o></o>

<o></o>

(I can't believe you are one of Them. I always thought you were a good guy...)<o></o>

<o></o>
Two spaces after a full stop…….goshhhhhhh!

 

[cornflakegirl]

Is it really that tricky to put the fill colour in A1:J1?

(Are you recommending two spaces after a full stop?)

 

[Domski]

A bit late on this one...

Originally I never got the problem with merged cells but over the last last 12 months or so when I've been using VBA more I have hit various problems and whilst I'm sure there are ways and means around them I reckon it's almost always easier to set the worksheet up differently using merge and centre or just not bother at all.

 

[dcofer]

<o> </o>
however, I urge you all to place some text in E1, then highlight A1:J1, format>cells>alignment>centre across selection…………then change the fill colour of D1 to yellow………oh look, now I have a silly yellow cell in the middle of my heading instead of a nice big yellow-filled cell across 10 columns.<o></o>

Why would you only want to color D1 to yellow? Use fill color on the entire heading, A1:J1. Then it "appears" that it was merged and centered, but actually it is only centered across the selection. The appearance is the same.

--dave

 

[Lewiy]

(Are you recommending two spaces after a full stop?)<?xml:namespace prefix = o /><o></o>

Yes!
<o></o>

Why would you only want to color D1 to yellow? Use fill color on the entire heading, A1:J1. Then it "appears" that it was merged and centered, but actually it is only centered across the selection. The appearance is the same.<o></o>

<o></o>

I realise that, yes, there are solutions to this too<o></o>

<o></o>
<o></o>
I think I’m gonna stop digging now before I lose my spade. But I maintain that there are uses for merging cells in terms of layout…..whether these uses are mimic-able or not. How many other functions/features of Excel have alternatives? Loads!

 

[cornflakegirl]

So, you tell me to use two spaces after a full stop, but then don't do it...

(Where does whole thing come from anyway? It looks crap!)

 

[RoryA]

As with most things, I think it all depends. Sometimes I find merged cells useful for the same reason I find them annoying at other times. For example, if you try and quickly select a row/column containing merged cells using Shift+Space (or Ctrl+Space), you end up including the merged rows/columns. Sometimes this is handy, other times it's incredibly irritating. The only firm(ish) rule I have is that anything I'm going to code will not have merged cells in it.

 

[Domski]

(Where does whole thing come from anyway? It looks crap!)<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

I think it's how typists were taught RSA style years ago. My mum was a secretary type way back and when I asked her to type me a letter when I was a kid she got an old typewriter out and told me to do it myself. When I showed her it I remember her saying that there should be two spaces after a full stop and one after a comma.

Dom

 

[Joe4]

Quote from rorya

I can resist anything except temptation!

Rory,
You wouldn't happen to be a Rush fan, would you?
http://www.lyricsfreak.com/r/rush/resist_20119945.html

BTW, regarding the original issue in the thread, I am "Center Across Selection" kind of guy. I do a ton of VBA, and I have never come across an instance in which "Center Across Selection" didn't do what we hoped to accomplish with merging cells.