Calc: Add Space Between Columns?

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#1

Hello Fello Liberators!

Any idea how to easily add space BETWEEN columns in a Calc Spreadsheet?

(Not cell padding, but actually space between the columns? Like .25" between selected columns?)

Without adding mini-blank columns?

Puzzled.

Thank you!

MG

Edit: Question used to have this text below, but it was not useful as point was made that this comment applied to Writer and not Calc:

There seemed to be an easy way to do this in previous versions, see:

But, I can’t find this same functionality in Version: 6.1.3.2 (x64).

#2

There seemed to be an easy way to do this in previous versions, see: …

That question is tagged writer.

#3

You’re right…Thank you! Any idea how to add Space between columns in Calc?

#4

Any idea how to add Space between columns in Calc?

No other than

adding mini-blank columns

#5

Thanks Mike. Was afraid of that… but at least it puts me back on track.

#6

Quoting @ABitConfused: “Any idea how to add Space between columns in Calc?”
Every single pixel in the viewed range of a spreadsheet or printed from the sheet is located in a cell’s area. Columns are made from cells. Thus there is no way to create any space between the columns literally. It’s different if you are talking of the impression you get of the contents of two columns.
Let’s assume the left column is containing numbers with default alignment which is RightAligned, and the right column is containing texts (character strings) also with default alignment which is LeftAligned then. If you want to get a visual split between the columns there are basically two ways:
-1- Make the columns no longer being adjacent. Insert an empty column and give it the width you want.
-2- Use the attributes you can set with Format Cells... under Borders > Padding. If you set a right padding of 2.5 mm for the left column and a left padding of 2.5 mm for the right column (e.g.) you get a visual straight river of 5.0 mm betweent the contents. of both columns.

(For TextTable in Writer it’s very similar - with the exception that there is no comparable default alignment. Columns defined for pages or sections in Writer documents are different from table columns in all respects.

===Edit1 2019-01-08 22:09 CET===
Since the thread was closed prematurely, imo, I reopened it.
I also attach this document to demonstrate the second approach as it was intended.

#7

Thank you Lupp. I like option 2, but I also like to use Cell Borders…and the padding goes inside the border, not outside, so you don’t get the “river” effect…

;(

#8

I cannot clearly understand what you mean by “inside the border”. Did you try?

#9

Let say’s you have a cell with the word “Happy” in it and you add a 5 pt border all around…
And you Put it next to an adjacent cell and do the same thing…

Now you get your visual river.

But, if you ALSO have a colored border around the cell…in order to make a little rectangle or box…the padding applies to the content INSIDE the cells, but not to the border itself…so the borders of two adjacent cells even with padding touch each other…and there is no river between them.

This is why I was hoping for a “Space” between columns option, but Lupp explains why that is not really likely as above. Spreadsheets are made of pixels which are in cells. “In between” means nothing, for there is nothing really there in Spreadsheet land…

Which is why adding mini-columns between cells may be the only option, of one wants space between columns that have cells that contain borders – as padding will not create this effect border to border.

See what I mean?

#10

It used the terms as found in the recent version 6.1.4 when I referred to formatting attributes. What now is called Padding was called Spacing to Contents in earlier versions. This attribute addressed by both these terms depending on the version is completely different from Line > Width: so named for a long time now.

#11

Quoting @ABitConfusedv: “But, if you ALSO have a colored border around the cell…in order to make a little rectangle or box…the padding applies to the content INSIDE the cells, but not to the border itself…so the borders of two adjacent cells even with padding touch each other…and there is no river between them.”

Well, I now see that I obviously missed this explanation. I now understand what was tried to achieve. It was a too unexpected approach for me.
And: I don’t think you can do such things in Writer (for what kind of columns ever, or in any previous version as claimed in the question). Please supply an example it it’s otherwise.

#12

Thank you for your insights and input!

#13

Summary:

For cells without borders…padding two adjacents cells will create the desired visual effect of a “space” between the columns. Format —> Cells ----> Borders Tab —> Padding (Add around 5 pts left and right or all around to adjacent cells)

For cells WITH borders, seems the only option is to add some small narrow columns between the columns one
wants the space as the padding creates space inside the border, but the border goes all the way to the edge of the cell, so there is no visual gap between the cells. Just insert some spacer columns between the columns and make them narrow for a narrow gap or wide for a wider gap.

Thank you to all who pitched in!

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