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.
Excel Smarts for Beginners! Featuring the friendly and trusted For Dummies style, this popular guide shows beginners how to get up and running with Excel while also helping more experienced users get comfortable with the newest features. Check out Excel 2019 For Dummies today!
If you need to modify where a worksheet is printed (meaning, which paper tray it should use), Excel doesn't provide a lot ...
Discover MoreGot a bunch of worksheets and you want to save paper by printing multiple worksheets on a single piece of paper? There ...
Discover MoreExcel allows you to repeat rows at the top of every page of a printout. If you want to repeat rows at the bottom of every ...
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