How to: Resize Columns in Tables
You can manually change the width of a table column in Table Designer by resizing it or you can automatically resize a column to fit its widest entry. For example, you can widen the Data Type column if it contains user-defined data type names that are too long to see in their entirety.
Note
A new version of Table Designer appears for databases in the SQL Server 2012 format. This topic describes the old version of Table Designer, which you use with databases in earlier formats of SQL Server.
In the new version, you can change a table definition through a graphical interface or directly in a script pane. If you use the graphical interface, the table’s definition is automatically updated in the script pane. To apply the SQL code in the script pane, choose the Update button. For more information about the new version, see How to: Create Database Objects Using Table Designer.
Note
Your computer might show different names or locations for some of the Visual Studio user interface elements in the following instructions. The Visual Studio edition that you have and the settings that you use determine these elements. For more information, see Customizing Development Settings in Visual Studio.
To manually change the width of a column
Position the pointer along the right border of the column header for the column that you want to resize. The cursor changes from an arrow to a splitter pointer.
Note
This works on the tables in the Visual Database Tools, such as the Properties window, as well as your database tables and queries.
Drag the column border to the left to reduce its width or to the right to increase its width.
Release the mouse button.
To resize a column to fit the widest entry
Position the pointer along the right border of the column header for the column that you want to resize. The cursor changes from an arrow to a splitter pointer.
Note
This works on the tables in the Visual Database Tools, such as the Properties window, as well as your database tables and queries.
Double-click the splitter pointer.