What you will build
Complete “Resize and auto-fit columns” using the visible Task, Long description, Status sample so each action and the final state can be checked against the source data.
Learning objectives
Open the practice workbook
Practice in your own copy
Make your own Google Sheets copy with the same data, formulas, formatting, filter and frozen header. The original remains unchanged.
Sign in to Google. If the original is not publicly shared, download the full workbook and import it into Google Sheets, or paste the example data into your own sheet.
Hands-on practice
Step 1: Inspect columns A:C. Column B (Long description) is intentionally too narrow in this before-state, so its longer values are clipped while the source data itself is still intact.
Step 2: Click the B column header to select the whole column. Right-click the B header, move the pointer onto Resize column, then click it.
Step 3: In the Resize column B dialog, move the pointer onto Fit to data and select it. Then click OK to let Google Sheets calculate the width from the longest value in column B.
Step 4: Verify the result: all values in column B are fully visible, columns A and C remain compact, and the Task / Long description / Status values are unchanged.
Checkpoint
| Task | Long description | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Brief | Confirm scope with the project owner before editing | Done |
| Dataset | Prepare a clean source table for the exercise | Working |
| QA | Verify every visible result before sharing | Planned |
Checkpoint for “Resize and auto-fit columns”: the Task, Long description, Status columns and sample records must still match this table after the lesson action.
Common mistakes and fixes
Checkpoint: row 2 must still read Brief | Confirm scope with the project owner before editing | Done; row 3 must still read Dataset | Prepare a clean source table for the exercise | Working; row 4 must still read QA | Verify every visible result before sharing | Planned.
Independent practice
Add one row with the same schema, repeat the action, verify the new row behaves correctly, then remove it to restore the sample.
Key takeaways
- ✓Inspect the longest visible content before resizing.
- ✓Open the column-header context menu and choose Resize column.
- ✓Use Fit to data for automatic width based on content.
- ✓Keep short columns compact.
- ✓Verify the source values are unchanged after resizing.
Check your understanding
Answer four questions about the practice sheet.
Next lesson
Continue in recommended learning order with Wrap text and align cells.