Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, and 2013. If you are using an earlier version (Excel 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Excel, click here: Static Sizes for Comment Boxes.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated September 9, 2020)
This tip applies to Excel 2007, 2010, and 2013
Jean-Marc is having a problem with comment boxes in his workbooks. It seems that every time he opens an Excel workbook in which he previously inserted comments, those comments have changed size. For example, if he inserts a 2" by 2" comment (or places a picture inside a comment box), the next time he opens the workbook only half the picture shows in a much larger comment box. Jean-Marc is wondering if there is a way to make the comment boxes retain the same size as he originally sets them.
The solution seems to be related to how the comment is created. How you view comments is controlled by three option buttons in the Display group of the Advanced option of the Excel Options dialog box. If you choose to view Comments & Indicators, then the sizes of your comments should remain static. If you choose to view only the indicators, then Excel chooses how and where to display the comment each time it is redisplayed.
If you don't want your comments to always be visible, but you still want them to retain their sizes, then the only option is to develop a macro that will do the resizing for you.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (9424) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, and 2013. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Excel here: Static Sizes for Comment Boxes.
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2019-10-24 16:47:25
Allan
I too don't like the cell comment box moving and changing at random.
I found this on the internet. It works. Con: Must do this for each comment.
1) Right click the cell with your comment and choose 'edit comment'.
2) Click on the border of the comment box (your cursor needs to look like a skinny cross with arrows on each arm), then right click and choose 'format comment'.
3) On the Alignment tab, tick 'Automatic size'.
The comment box will now automatically expand and contract to fit whatever text you enter.
On the same options window, there's a Properties tab.
If this shows the default Object positioning condition (i.e. the comment box) is 'Don't move or size with cells'.
Change this to 'Move and size with cells'. This will solve the comment box positioning issue.
2018-08-11 11:28:59
J. Woolley
You might be interested in these macros for managing comments:
http://www.contextures.com/excelcommentmacros.html
2014-10-18 05:18:50
Peter
Hi.
I have a similar problem with my comments, which I create using the context menu that comes up when I right-click the cell involved. My comments seem to shrink, by which I mean that when I roll over a commented cell I created some time ago, the comment, more often than not, will not show the full text of the comment, and I have to open the context menu to edit and re-size the comment to make it all visible. My comments also inevitably seem to separate from their cells. I have an ever-growing worksheet. When I add rows, causing a commented cell in another row to move, the comment does not move. I constantly end up with comments that do not show their full text and open far away from their cells.
Thank you.
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Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, and 2013. If you are using an earlier version (Excel 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Excel, click here:
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