Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Excel in Microsoft 365. 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: Increasing the Capacity of AutoCorrect.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated April 11, 2020)
This tip applies to Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Excel in Microsoft 365
Ken regularly uses AutoCorrect to replace short mnemonics with longer text blocks (sometimes much longer). When adding an AutoCorrect entry, Ken noted that the With box appears to have a limit of approximately 1,400 characters. There have been a few rare instances when Ken wanted to have AutoCorrect replace with more characters than this limit, and he wondered if there was a way to increase the capacity of the "With" side of an AutoCorrect entry.
The short answer is that no, there isn't a way. The longer answer indicates there must be some misunderstanding on Ken's part, as the longest text string we could place in the text box was 254 characters; Excel just won't accept more than that in the With box.
Whether the limit is 254 or 1,400 characters, the workaround is the same, however: Break the AutoCorrect entry up into two (or more) smaller entries. If you would have put the larger entry under, let's say, the mnemonic BP27 (for "boilerplate 27"), you could put the divided entries under the names BP27a and BP27b. You could then type the desired mnemonics, in order, and get them automatically corrected to the enlarged text blocks.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (10484) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Excel in Microsoft 365. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Excel here: Increasing the Capacity of AutoCorrect.
Comprehensive VBA Guide Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) is the language used for writing macros in all Office programs. This complete guide shows both professionals and novices how to master VBA in order to customize the entire Office suite for their needs. Check out Mastering VBA for Office 2010 today!
As you are entering data in a worksheet, Excel can monitor what you type and make corrections for common mistakes. One ...
Discover MoreType some information into a worksheet, and you may notice that Excel automatically capitalizes some of your information. ...
Discover MoreWhen you enter a day name into a cell, Excel automatically capitalizes it. If you want to modify this behavior, follow ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
Got a version of Excel that uses the ribbon interface (Excel 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the menu interface.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2024 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Excel in Microsoft 365. 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:
Comments