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: Using Multiple Print Settings.

Using Multiple Print Settings

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated January 20, 2024)
This tip applies to Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003


If you have multiple areas that you print in a worksheet, you may get tired of repeatedly specifying what area you want to print and then printing it. Such a task is well suited to being done with a macro. The macro can take care of specifying a print area and then actually printing the information.

For instance, let's assume that you have two print ranges defined in your worksheet: Range1 and Range2. Further, Range1 should be printed in portrait orientation and Range2 should be printed in landscape orientation. The following macros can be used to print each of the print ranges:

Sub PrintRange1()
    ActiveSheet.PageSetup.PrintArea = Range("range1").Address
    ActiveSheet.PageSetup.Orientation = xlPortrait
    ActiveWindow.SelectedSheets.PrintOut
End Sub
Sub PrintRange2()
    ActiveSheet.PageSetup.PrintArea = Range("range2").Address
    ActiveSheet.PageSetup.Orientation = xlLandscape
    ActiveWindow.SelectedSheets.PrintOut
End Sub

These are very simple macros, but you get the idea—all you need to do is set up the print job in the macro, and then print from the macro itself. You could even attach the macros to toolbar buttons or to a menu option, as described in other issues of ExcelTips.

If you prefer to not use macros, you could also use the custom views feature of Excel. Simply set the print area, orientation, margins, and other settings desired. Then define this as a custom view. To define a custom view, follow these steps:

  1. Choose Custom Views from the View menu. Excel displays the Custom Views dialog box. (See Figure 1.)
  2. Figure 1. The Custom Views dialog box.

  3. Click on Add. Excel displays the Add View dialog box.
  4. Enter a descriptive name for the view you are defining.
  5. Make sure the Print Settings check box is selected.
  6. Click OK.

You can continue to define and save additional views, as desired. Your custom views are saved with your workbook, and you can later use them to print what you want. (Just display the custom view and then print your worksheet.)

Note:

If you would like to know how to use the macros described on this page (or on any other page on the ExcelTips sites), I've prepared a special page that includes helpful information. Click here to open that special page in a new browser tab.

ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (2703) 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: Using Multiple Print Settings.

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. ...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Printing a Style Sheet

Styles are a fantastic way to format your documents easily and consistently. At some point you may want to print out a ...

Discover More

Converting an Unsupported Date Format

Excel makes it easy to import information created in other programs. Converting the imported data into something you can ...

Discover More

Endnotes in a Separate Document

When you add endnotes to a document they are normally positioned (as one would expect) at the end of the document. You ...

Discover More

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!

More ExcelTips (menu)

Printing an Entire Workbook by Default

Need to print an entire workbook? It's as easy as adding a single line of code to your macros.

Discover More

Changing Orientations within a Single Printout

Excel allows you to print out information in either portrait or landscape orientation, but what if you need both types of ...

Discover More

Adjusting Comment Printouts

Need 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 More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is one more than 9?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)


This Site

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.

Newest Tips
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

View the most recent newsletter.