Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated June 29, 2020)
This tip applies to Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
Karl expressed frustration with a printing problem. It seems that if he printed a worksheet without borders turned on, it printed fine. If, instead, he printed with borders turned on, then the cell contents and borders would overprint just a bit.
There are several things to check. First, you should always check to ensure that you are using the latest printer driver, and that the printer driver is designed specifically for the make and model of printer you are using.
Second, increase the magnification (zoom) on your worksheet so you can see small details. Then, turn the borders on and display the worksheet in Print Preview. Go back to regular mode, and make any column width adjustments necessary to accommodate the borders. (Borders do occupy space; you may need to adjust column width to allow for them properly.)
If desired, you can use Format | Column | AutoFit to adjust the column width to whatever Excel thinks is necessary for the columns. If the printout will no longer fit on the desired number of pages after adjusting column width, you may need to adjust margins and other print settings to get just the output you want.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (2550) 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: Out of Kilter Borders.
Create Custom Apps with VBA! Discover how to extend the capabilities of Office 365 applications with VBA programming. Written in clear terms and understandable language, the book includes systematic tutorials and contains both intermediate and advanced content for experienced VB developers. Designed to be comprehensive, the book addresses not just one Office application, but the entire Office suite. Check out Mastering VBA for Microsoft Office 365 today!
Want to prevent your worksheet from being printed? You may be out of luck, as a determined person may be able to find a ...
Discover MoreNeed to print out comments, but in a way that you control what is included in the printout? Here's a way you can extract ...
Discover MoreHave you ever noticed that when you print something, there are times that what is printed doesn't exactly match what you ...
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