Formatting worksheet cells

Command

Path

Cells

Format (worksheet menu)

Set the appearance of worksheet cells with a variety of formatting options. Formatting applied to a database header row applies to all of the associated database sub-rows. The worksheet formatting also applies to worksheets placed on a drawing.

You can apply Fill and Pen attributes to the worksheet image on the drawing (from the Attributes palette). However, it is not recommended to apply both cell formatting and attributes to the same object, because the results can be unpredictable.

To format worksheet cells:

Select the cells to format.

Select the command.

The Format Cells dialog box opens.

On the Number tab, set the number format for the selected cells.

Click to show/hide the parameters.Click to show/hide the parameters.

Parameter

Description

General

Specifies the default general format for any purpose

Decimal

Uses decimal numbers; enter a value for the number of decimal places, and if desired, use commas as separators

Scientific

Uses scientific numbers; enter a value for the number of decimal places

Fractional

Uses fractional numbers; enter the rounding value for fractions

Percentage

Uses percentages; enter a value for the number of decimal places

Dimension

Uses dimension numbers

Dimension Area

Uses the dimension area format (precision and units) as specified for this document; also displays the area units after the number

Dimension Volume

Uses the dimension volume format (precision and units) as specified for this document; also displays the volume units after the number

Angle

Determines the accuracy of angles and the measurement system used; the measurement system can be degrees/minutes/seconds, or decimal numbers up to eight decimal places

Date

Uses date formats; select the desired format from the list

Boolean

Evaluates the cell data to either True or False

Text

Treats the cell contents as text, even if a number is in the character string

Leader

Displays the specified leader text before the cell value (except for Boolean and Text formats)

Trailer

Displays the specified trailer text after the cell value (except for Boolean and Text formats)

Click the Alignment tab to specify text alignment options.

Click to show/hide the parameters.Click to show/hide the parameters.

Parameter

Description

Alignment

Sets the alignment of text in relation to the cell border

Horizontal

Specifies horizontal text alignment; select General to align text strings on the left and numbers on the right

Vertical

Specifies vertical text alignment

Text Orientation

Sets the text orientation

Vertical Text

Orients text vertically

Horizontal Text

Orients text horizontally

Wrap Text

Wraps text that exceeds the cell width (automatically adjusting row height); deselect to allow text that is longer than the cell width to “float” over empty adjacent cells. If adjacent cells contain content, unwrapped text may appear truncated. Numbers that exceed the cell width are displayed with # characters.

Merge Cells

Merges a range of selected spreadsheet cells into one cell; cell and border formatting and text wrapping are applied to the cell group rather than to the individual cells. The cell contents and format of only the upper left cell in the group apply to the merged cells. Data and formatting in the other cells will be lost during the merge.

To split merged cells, select the merged cell group and then deselect Merge Cells.

Click the Font tab to specify the font, font size, style, and color of text in selected cells. See Formatting text.

Click the Border tab to set cell border formatting options.

Select the Line Attributes, and then use the Presets or Preview buttons to add or remove border elements.

Click to show/hide the parameters.Click to show/hide the parameters.

Parameter

Description

Line Attributes

 

Style

Sets the line style and thickness for the border element

Color

Sets the line color for the border element

Presets

 

None

Removes all border formatting

Outline

Adds or removes a border only on the outside edges (top, bottom, left, and right) of the cell selection

Inside

Adds or removes a border only on the inside (horizontal and vertical) edges of the cell selection

Preview

 

Top

Adds or removes a border at the top of the cell selection

Horizontal

When more than one cell is selected, adds or removes a horizontal border between cells

Bottom

Adds or removes a border at the bottom of the cell selection

Left

Adds or removes a border on the left edge of the cell selection

Vertical

When more than one cell is selected, adds or removes a vertical border between cells

Right

Adds or removes a border on the right edge of the cell selection

Click the Patterns tab to specify fill options for the selected cells.

Click to show/hide the parameters.Click to show/hide the parameters.

Parameter

Description

Style

Select Solid or Pattern to apply a solid fill color or pattern to the selected cell

Color/Pattern

If Style is set to Solid, select the fill Color; if Style is set to Pattern, select the Pattern and the foreground and background colors

If Vectorworks Design Suite is installed, click the Images tab to specify the type, size, view, and margin for images in the selected cells. For more information, see Inserting images in worksheet cells.

Click to show/hide the parameters.Click to show/hide the parameters.

Parameter

Description

Image Type

Select Thumbnail to display a thumbnail image of the referenced object in the cell; this is useful for 2D/3D symbols or plug-in objects. Use other settings to control the scale, view, rotation, and render mode shown in the thumbnail.

Select 2D Attributes to display a rectangle with the same 2D attributes as the referenced object. For a styled wall, slab, or space, the rectangle fill is a top/plan cross-section view of the object.

Size

 

AutoSize

Sizes the image automatically so that the entire image is always visible, even when the cell size changes

Fixed

Sizes the image according to the specified Height and Width; also specify the Units for the dimensions (points, millimeters, or inches)

Layer Scale

Sizes the image according to the scale of the layer on which the object appears (thumbnails only)

Custom Scale

Select this option and then click Scale to select or enter a scale for the image (thumbnails only)

View

 

Standard Views

Select from any of the standard Vectorworks views for the image (thumbnails only)

Component

Select which 2D/3D component view of symbols and plug-in objects to display in the worksheet cell; the options available depend on the Standard Views selection

Rotation

If Top/Plan view is selected, enter the number of degrees to rotate the image (thumbnails only)

Render Mode

For any view except Top/Plan, select the render mode for the image (Wireframe, Shaded, or Hidden Line); Top/Plan view is always rendered in Wireframe mode. Applies to thumbnails only.

Margin

 

Units

Enter the units to use for the Size of the margin around the image (points, millimeters, or inches)

Size

Enter the size of the margin around the image, in the specified Units

Formatted worksheet in the worksheet window

 

Formatted worksheet placed on the drawing

The Attributes palette

 

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