How to adjust list column widths in printouts?

[Spence]

I can adjust the width of columns in an observing list, in the program, but the width of the printed columns looks to be unaffected. Landscape printing at the right edge of the paper gets truncated.

I tried exporting the list as a text file, but when I open it in Word, it does not show the list, as seen in the program. Instead, it shows some Object Information / Also known as data.


  Night Observing List.txt (Size: 315 bytes / Downloads: 3)

[PMSchu]

Hi Spence,

Try pasting the Observing List into Excel instead of Word. I think you'll get more control over the column widths that way.

Hope this helps,

Phil S.

[Spence]

Phil,
I imported the program .txt export file into Excel, but still get the unexpected data shown in the attachment to the original post.

[theskyhound]

On the Print/Copy observing list dialog, check the box in the Font section where it says "Automatically select the font size to fit page." It will adjust the font size so that all columns will be displayed. The width of each column is automatically determined to fit the text, in most cases.

[Spence]

Auto fit page is checked. Tried printing with Arial 16 and 11.

I was trying to make a one-page night's observing list, one object of any type per line. I used the brief notes column for basic data. 

Examples from Turn Left at Orion:
For a variable star: TL pg, Mag range, period.
For 3 components of a multiple star: TL pg, Mag1+Mag2, sep", PA / +Mag3, sep", PA / +Mag4, sep", PA.

Checked Default Columns are
Primary Desig
Alternate Desig
Obj class
Const
Size
Pocket Sky Atlas
Mag/opacity
2000 Astrometric
Ideal EP
Notes Brief.

List text export does not match.

See attachments.
   

  List scanned prints.pdf (Size: 936.78 KB / Downloads: 6)

  List export.txt (Size: 243 bytes / Downloads: 3)

[theskyhound]

Hello,

If you have the box checked, then it will use the Arial font, but automatically adjust the size, so you don't have direct control of the font size in that case.

Ok, I see the problem now. The issue is with the Brief column. That column holds a maximum number of characters, and should be sized to fit them all in. But it appears to be failing to do that properly. In addition to making it wider, I may need to preview the whole list and determine the longest string in the brief column. That way it won't take up so much space if not needed.

[Spence]

Thanks. The other print column widths do not adjust. I noticed the font size chosen only applies to the printed text above the list.

Also, please investigate the export file data contents problem.

[PMSchu]

Hi Spence,

When I transferred data into Excel, I used the Copy function rather than creating an intermediate .txt file. Was your .txt file in the proper format for Excel to determine the columns correctly? Excel would expect a .csv file, I believe.

It looks like Greg has found your problem and has a fix already.  Good news

Phil S.

[Spence]

Phil,
I can import the txt file into Excel, but the contents are not the observing list.

See attached.

  List export - excel.txt (Size: 258 bytes / Downloads: 2)

[PMSchu]

Spence,

Have you tried a Copy followed by a Paste directly into Excel? Can you export your OL as a .stx file to the Forum? I can give it a shot with Excel. I'm using Excel 2007, so maybe it's just dumb enough to work.

Phil S.