In a method and device for the determination of a magnetic resonance control sequence that includes at least one first pulse arrangement that acts in a spatially selective manner in a first selection direction and a subsequent second pulse arrangement that acts in a spatially selective manner in a second selection direction, viewing volume dimension parameter values are registered that define the spatial extent of a viewing volume to be excited. The first selection direction and the second selection direction are established automatically depending on a length ratio of the spatial extent of the viewing volume to be excited in the different selection directions.