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 Less Paper on Printouts.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated April 1, 2023)
This tip applies to Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
I've got a worksheet that has data in only the first column. In fact, I use cells A1:A100 to store this data. When I print it, the printout uses many pages, but only the left side of each page actually had information in it. If you have the same problem, you may be wondering if there is a way to print the data in columns on a single sheet of paper.
Unfortunately, there is no simple command you can use or magic Wizard you can call up to format the information for printing in columns. Instead, you must manually work with the data a little bit. The first approach would be to use the following steps. (These steps assume you have data that is only one column wide by 100 rows deep.)
Your data is now in four columns, without the original data being disturbed. Format your columns to the necessary width, place a page break just before row 26, and print just the first page of your data.
Another option is to utilize the Camera tool, which has been discussed in other issues of ExcelTips. Simply select the information that will appear in the three extra columns, snap the Camera, and place the resulting graphic on the page to be printed.
If you are familiar with other Office tools, you could also copy your entire data table (all 100 rows) to the Clipboard and paste it into Word. You can then format the information in Word to use columns and print as desired. (You can also place headers and footers on your data easier within Word than you can in Excel.)
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (3215) 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 Less Paper on Printouts.
Professional Development Guidance! Four world-class developers offer start-to-finish guidance for building powerful, robust, and secure applications with Excel. The authors show how to consistently make the right design decisions and make the most of Excel's powerful features. Check out Professional Excel Development today!
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 MoreIf you want to automatically print a particular area of your worksheet at a specific time of day, you'll love this tip. ...
Discover MoreNeed to print an entire workbook? It's as easy as adding a single line of code to your macros.
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.
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:
Comments