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: Changing Paper Size for a Complete Workbook.

Changing Paper Size for a Complete Workbook

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated December 14, 2019)
This tip applies to Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003


Bob has a workbook that has about fifteen worksheets in it, and he needs to change the page format for all the worksheet from Letter to A4. There is a quick way to make the change by following these steps:

  1. Right-click any worksheet tab. You'll see a Context menu appear.
  2. Choose Select All Sheets. All the worksheet tabs should now be selected.
  3. Choose Page Setup from the File menu. Excel displays the Page Setup dialog box.
  4. Make sure the Page tab is displayed. (See Figure 1.)
  5. Figure 1. The Page tab of the Page Setup dialog box.

  6. Using the Paper Size drop-down list, choose A4.
  7. Click OK.
  8. Right-click any worksheet tab. You'll again see a Context menu.
  9. Choose Ungroup Sheets.

That's it; the paper size is now set for all the worksheets. There is a drawback to this approach, however: If individual worksheets have differing page setup settings (different orientations, margins, headers, footers, etc.), then following these steps will set them all the same. If you only want to change the paper size and don't want to change any other settings, your only recourse is to use a macro to do the change.

Sub AllSheetsA4()
    Dim sht As Variant

    For Each sht In ActiveWorkbook.Sheets
        sht.PageSetup.PaperSize = xlPaperA4
    Next
End Sub

The macro steps through each sheet in the workbook, changing only the PaperSize property so that the sheet will print on A4 paper.

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 (2896) 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: Changing Paper Size for a Complete Workbook.

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

An Automatic Two Spaces after a Period

Should you put two spaces after a sentence or just one? Ask different people and you will get different answers. To Word ...

Discover More

Running Macros in the Background

Want to run a macro in Excel, but not sure if doing so will tie up your computer? Here's how macro processing really happens.

Discover More

Editing Comments and Notes

Comments and notes can be very helpful in a worksheet. After they are added, you may want to change what they contain. ...

Discover More

Program Successfully in Excel! John Walkenbach's name is synonymous with excellence in deciphering complex technical topics. With this comprehensive guide, "Mr. Spreadsheet" shows how to maximize your Excel experience using professional spreadsheet application development tips from his own personal bookshelf. Check out Excel 2013 Power Programming with VBA today!

More ExcelTips (menu)

Setting Default Print Margins

Don't like the print margins that Excel uses by default? You can change the default by changing the workbook on which ...

Discover More

Setting Page Margins

When getting ready to print your worksheet, you may want to take a moment to check what margins Excel will use on the ...

Discover More

Changing Page Margins

If your worksheet is destined to be printed, you'll need to be concerned with how it appears on the page. One layout ...

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 8 - 6?

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.