← ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6

Making spreadsheet cells square

Set the column width and row height to the same size so each cell is a square. A block of square cells then looks like a pixel grid.

Part of: ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6 — Representing Data with Numbers — Module 27

Understanding Making spreadsheet cells square in ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6

What it does: Equal width and height make each cell a square, so the block looks like a pixel grid. Selecting all the columns means one setting changes them all, so every cell gets the same width. You do not type anything. You resize the columns and rows so they are the same size. Pixels in a picture are tiny squares, so square cells make the picture look right. You need to change both the column width and the row height so they match.

Common mistakes: The row height must match the column width (25) so the cells are square. A height of 50 makes tall rectangles. Rows have a height, not a width. The line should be 'Set row height to 20' so it matches the column width.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 59–71) and word search (Modules 44–71).

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Learning

Duo

Which setting makes spreadsheet cells look square?

Column width and row height set to different sizesColumn width and row height set to the same size

Matches

Column width = 3, Row height = 10

↓

The width and height are different sizes, so the cells are rectangles, not squares and the picture looks stretched.

Applying

Meanings

Term

column width = row height

Meaning

Set the column width and row height to the same size so each cell is a square. A block of square cells then looks like a pixel grid.

Practice

Select all columns

Testing

Gaps

select all

Check Answer

Spots

2Set column width to 25

3Set row height to 50

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Quick Questions

1. Which setting makes spreadsheet cells look square?

A. Column width and row height set to the same size ✓

B. Column width and row height set to different sizes

Square cells need the same width and height. Then a block of cells looks like a pixel grid.

2. By default, spreadsheet cells are wide and short. What must you do to make them square?

A. Change the column width and row height so they match ✓

B. Type a square shape into each cell

You do not type anything. You resize the columns and rows so they are the same size.

3. Which one will make every column the same width in one go?

A. Select all the columns, then set one column width ✓

B. Set the width of just column A and hope the rest copy it

Selecting all the columns first means one width setting changes them all together.

4. A spreadsheet has columns that are 64 pixels wide and rows that are 20 pixels tall. Are the cells square?

A. Yes, they are both small numbers

B. No, the width and the height are different ✓

Cells are only square when the width and height are the same size, such as 20 and 20.

5. Why do we make the cells square when making pixel art in a spreadsheet?

A. So the cells can hold more text

B. So a block of cells looks like a pixel grid ✓

Pixels in a picture are tiny squares, so square cells make the picture look right.

Match the Pairs

Column width = 3 → Sets how wide the columns are, so every cell in the block is the same width

Row height = 3 → Sets how tall the rows are, so every cell in the block is the same height

To make cells square, the width and height must be the same size → Column width = 3, Row height = 3

Select all the columns first so one width change applies to every column at once → Select columns A to T, then set Column width = 3

Column width = 3, Row height = 10 → The width and height are different sizes, so the cells are rectangles, not squares and the picture looks stretched.

Select column A, then set Column width = 3 → Only column A was selected, so just that one column changed. The other columns stay wide and the grid looks uneven.

Key Term

column width = row height

Set the column width and row height to the same size so each cell is a square. A block of square cells then looks like a pixel grid.

Fill in the Blanks

1. select all columns set column width = 20 set row height = 20

Hint: Type the word for the vertical parts of the sheet that you select before changing their width.}

2. select all columns set column width = 20 set row height = 20

Hint: Type the word for how wide each column is.

3. select all rows set column width = 20 set row height = 20

Hint: Type the word for how tall each row is.

4. set column width = 20 set row height = 20

Hint: Type the same number as the column width so each cell is a square.

5. square cell: column width = row height

Hint: Type the symbol that shows the two sizes are the same.

Spot the Error

Question 1

A Select all the columns

B Set column width to 25

C Set row height to 50

Line C — The row height must match the column width (25) so the cells are square. A height of 50 makes tall rectangles.

Question 2

A Click the select-all box

B Right-click a column letter

C Set column width to 20

D Set row width to 20

Line D — Rows have a height, not a width. The line should be 'Set row height to 20' so it matches the column width.

Question 3

A Select all the columns

B Set column height to 30

C Set row height to 30

Line B — Columns have a width, not a height. The line should be 'Set column width to 30'.

Question 4

A Click the select-all box

B Right-click a column letter

C Choose Resize rows

D Type 20 as the height

Line B — To change the row height you right-click a row number, not a column letter. Column letters are for changing the width.

Question 5

A Click the select-all box

B Right-click a column letter

C Choose Resize columns

D Type 20 as the height

Line D — Resizing columns sets the width. The line should be 'Type 20 as the width'.

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