Excel not displaying content consistently across versions. Please Help.

Copper Contributor

I'm having issues with Excel not displaying files uniformly on other computers and versions of Office.

I've created this account to try to get answers since 2 days of Google searches resulted in none.

 

In the screenshot below, this is the file as it was created using Office 2007 on a Windows 7 Professional x64 Version 6.1.7600 OS Build 7600 computer. You can see the zoom in the bottom right corner is set to 100%. At the top of the tabs you can also see a tab for DYMO Label which is not present on the next two screenshots.

2007 Office Win 7 x64 Ult Ver 6dot1dot7600 OS Build 7600.JPG

This next screenshot below is the file as it was opened using Office 2019 Home and Student on a Windows 10 Home x64 Version 1803 OS Build 17134.1069 computer. You can see the zoom in the bottom right corner is set to 100%. Aside from very minor differences the display is just about the same as the original above. The column width and heights are identical to the one above.

2019 Office Home and Student Win 10  x64 Home Ver 1803 OS build 17134dot1069.JPG

Now here's where the problem comes in. The screenshot below is the file as it was opened using Office 2019 Professional Plus on a Windows 10 Professional x64 Version 10.0.18362 OS Build 18362 computer. You can see the zoom in the bottom right corner is set to 100% BUT the display is considerably smaller than what's shown on the above two screenshots. Not only is it smaller on the screen BUT the column widths and heights are BIGGER than the original. On some of the other sheets the content is shown as ######### meaning it's too big for the cell even though the cell width and height is bigger than the original where it fits and displays properly.2019 Office Pro Plus Win 10 x64 Pro Ver 10dot0dot18362 OS Build 18362.jpg

All three computers are using 24" monitors and I would assume should all display identically. I have searched and searched on Google for a reason why this is not working on the Office 2019 Pro Plus version and found absolutely nothing. I need this file to be uniform across these platforms but am not knowledged enough to figure out why they are not. I was advised that perhaps I should just install a version of Office that the file is displaying correctly on onto my computer. But I JUST bought and installed the 2019 Office Pro Plus version and can't see spending money on other versions that may or may not correct the display issue on this particular PC. 

 

If anyone can please help me figure this out it would be greatly appreciated. Please also take into account I know nothing technical about computers so please don't use big technical words in your explanations. 

   

 

 

 

 

7 Replies

@HotCakeX  is this the right place for this post? Took quite a while to figure out how to post here so I hope it's the right one. :( 

 

46 views and no helpful answers? Someone must know something that might be helpful.

@LordJay777   First time I've looked at it. I can't explain why nobody else has given you an answer, but I'll share with you the question that kept running through my head as I read your post, and that's this:
WHY is it so important that it display identically on different computers? 

 

From what you say, there's no actual problem with the information; is that right? (OK, the columns are too narrow for one of the displays, but that's still not a matter of inaccuracy of information, failure for Excel to do what it's supposed to do....you can just make the columns wider for everybody.)

 

So, frankly, it sounds like you're making a bigger issue out of this than it warrants, unless you can say a bit more of WHY it is such an issue.  Presumably you're doing this for people who can zoom in or out, scroll around to see the info. It could be that you'd be better off with a different layout, so you're not trying to squeeze so much---graphic PLUS tabular data---into the same display. But help us help you by saying a bit more of the WHY it matters.

@LordJay777 

The default font for the labels is different between the versions.

This will always be different unless you want to invoke a macro when the workbook opens.

OPTIONS\GENERAL. Use This as the default font. & Font size.

 

Also, this would be the same reason the Ribbons are not pinned in both screenshots. It is not controlled by the workbook, but a user option for each installation.

@mathetes It doesn't matter the "Why", that's not your concern. Your help should not be contingent on "why" I need it. But if you absolutely NEED a why in order to help then here goes. 

 

In order for image 3 to be viewed the same as the first two changes have to be made, THEN when saved and shared with the OTHER two people it changes THEIR view and then they have to make adjustments to view it properly and it's all an unnecessary back and forth of making changes that should not have to be made.

 

To reiterate, EVERYONE viewing the document needs to have the same exact view when they open it.

Hope that helps.

@Brian Spiller thanks for the constructive input but unfortunately I don't understand what you're saying. But I do know that the default fonts are the same across all 3 versions so that can't be it. That was the first thing I checked.

Well, I apologize for offending you with the question, @LordJay777.  You and I may approach problem solution differently. I often find that asking "Why" helps get at the underlying objective or purpose, at which point it sometimes (not always) becomes clear that there's another way altogether to meet that purpose.

 

So I'm not sure yet that I understand your underlying need, but it sounds like you have various people viewing the information (including the chart) in some kind of sequence, possibly entering new information, which then makes changes....and going through multiple iterations of these steps. Is it the case that if the displays are different that one or the other might be missing a key component and therefore might misunderstand or misinterpret what they're seeing?

 

What I was trying to suggest with some of my other questions was based on the observation that you've got a LOT of information on that screen, in all kinds of forms--visual and tabular...so I was wondering whether changing the way it's displayed might in fact be a more effective solution. If that's not possible for some reason or other, so be it. And perhaps I asked prematurely, but I was looking to get some "thinking outside the box" going.....

 

Best wishes...