Applying Word Wrap to columns in Excel
We have to convert a lot of Microsoft Excel sheets to PDF format. Unfortunately, multi-column sheets (for example, 5 columns of contact information: names, addresses, email addresses) take up a lot of real estate, so Adobe PDF usually breaks the sheet into 2 or more pages of columns. One easy way around this is to enable WORD WRAP in Excel, then resize the columns; use Print Preview to remove any borders/padding, and you can get most things to fit across one page.
Here is how to enable Word Wrap in Excel (2003 and 2007 version):
- Hold Control and then click on the top column header (usually has a letter next to it) for each column with content. You want to get all of your columns (with data in them) highlighted.
- Press CONTROL and the 1 key; this will open up the FORMAT CELLS menu box.
- Choose the ALIGNMENT tab, and then put a check next to WRAP TEXT. Press OK. Here is what the menu should look like:

Choose Wrap Text from the MS Excel FORMAT CELLS menu.
Don’t forget to use the PRINT PREVIEW (FILE>PRINT>PRINT PREVIEW) to take a peak at your sheet before printing. You might have to edit the margins to get everything to fit as needed. (Put a check next to SHOW MARGINS at the top menu).
You should now be ready to print to PDF!