Putting Spreadsheet Names in Headers or Footers

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated February 18, 2021)

When you print your spreadsheet, it is often a good idea to include the spreadsheet name in the header or footer. This allows you, at a later date, to recall the name of the file in which the spreadsheet is stored. In fact, some of the headers and footers predefined in Excel include the spreadsheet file name. To include spreadsheet file names in your custom header or footer, follow these steps:

  1. Choose Page Setup from the File menu. This displays the Page Setup dialog box.
  2. Make sure the Header/Footer tab is selected. (See Figure 1.)

    3. Figure 1. The Header/Footer tab of the Page Setup dialog box.

  3. Click on either Custom Header or Custom Footer, depending on where you want the spreadsheet file name to appear. This displays either the Header or Footer dialog box. (See Figure 2.)

    4. Figure 2. The Header or Footer dialog box.

  4. Position the insertion point in the Left, Center, or Right box, depending on where in the header or footer you want the spreadsheet file name placed.
  5. Click on the file name tool (it looks like a piece of paper with the Excel logo on it). This places the characters &[File] at the insertion point. This is where the spreadsheet file name will be located.
  6. Click on OK to close the Header or Footer dialog box.
  7. Click on OK to close the Page Setup dialog box.

ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (2638) applies to Microsoft Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

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