Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Excel 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Excel, click here: Printing an Entire Workbook by Default.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated April 5, 2025)
This tip applies to Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
When you choose to print in Excel, the Print dialog box has controls that allow you to specify many things about the print job. The controls in the Print What area of the dialog box allow you to indicate whether you want to print the selected worksheets, the selection, or the entire workbook. The option in the Print What area normally defaults to Active Worksheets, but what if you want it to default so the entire workbook is printed?
Unfortunately, Excel does not remember what you select in the Print What area from one print job to the next; it always resets the default. The easiest way to always print the entire workbook, however, it to make a simple little macro like this:
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Excel 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Excel, click here:
Sub PrintItAll()
ActiveWorkbook.PrintOut
End Sub
You can then create a button on a toolbar and assign this macro to that button. When you want to print the entire workbook, just click on the button. Easy and quick.
Note:
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (2001) applies to Microsoft Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Excel (Excel 2007 and later) here: Printing an Entire Workbook by Default.
Dive Deep into Macros! Make Excel do things you thought were impossible, discover techniques you won't find anywhere else, and create powerful automated reports. Bill Jelen and Tracy Syrstad help you instantly visualize information to make it actionable. You’ll find step-by-step instructions, real-world case studies, and 50 workbooks packed with examples and solutions. Check out Microsoft Excel 2019 VBA and Macros today!
Would you like to have a worksheet automatically printed when a particular cell contains a specified value? You can ...
Discover MoreIf you need to modify where a worksheet is printed (meaning, which paper tray it should use), Excel doesn't provide a lot ...
Discover MoreIf you want to save paper on a printout, you might consider printing multiple pages on a single piece of paper. This can ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
Got a version of Excel that uses the menu interface (Excel 97, Excel 2000, Excel 2002, or Excel 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments