How to create 8 1/2 x 11 fillinable forms in Excel

[diane]

Hi!

I'd like to make an 8 1/2 x 11 fillinable form in Excel. The only
thing I can't figure out is how to size the form to 8 1/2 x 11 with
margins.

Thank you for any help!!
Diane Dennis

 

[J Laroche]

Diane, your description is extremely sketchy, so it's hard to know what you
want exactly. Nevertheless let me offer this tip. After building your form,
select one at a time each cell to be filled by the user, and unlock it with
Format / Cells / Protection, unchecking the first checkbox. When they're all
done, protect the form with Tools / Protection / Protect Sheet, with or
without a password depending on who your target users are.

To navigate the form from one unlocked cell to another use the tab key.

JL
Mac OS X 10.3.7, Office v.X 10.1.6

 

[diane]

Hi JL!

I know and I apologize about the sketchiness. I'm trying to figure out
how to ask the question and communicate what it is I'm trying to figure
out but I'm not having much luck...

When using Word and I start a new document I'm given an 8 1/2 x 11
blank document to create whatever I need to create. Because it's
already 8 1/2 x 11 I know that it'll print on one sheet of paper.

When using Excel and I start a new spreadsheet/workbook it isn't sized
at 8 1/2 x 11, instead it's the equivalent of many, many 8 1/2 x 11
documents side by side and on top of the other. If I use too many
columns to the right or too many rows down then suddenly I have a
spreadsheet that is larger than 8 1/2 x 11.

How can I be certain when creating a document in Excel that it is an 8
1/2 x 11 document?

Does that make more sense?

Thank you!!
Diane

 

[Harvey Waxman]

How can I be certain when creating a document in Excel that it is an 8
1/2 x 11 document?

View > Page Break Preview should do it

Use Page setup under the file menu to be sure of the page dimensions

 

[JE McGimpsey]

Hi JL!

I know and I apologize about the sketchiness. I'm trying to figure out
how to ask the question and communicate what it is I'm trying to figure
out but I'm not having much luck...

When using Word and I start a new document I'm given an 8 1/2 x 11
blank document to create whatever I need to create. Because it's
already 8 1/2 x 11 I know that it'll print on one sheet of paper.

When using Excel and I start a new spreadsheet/workbook it isn't sized
at 8 1/2 x 11, instead it's the equivalent of many, many 8 1/2 x 11
documents side by side and on top of the other. If I use too many
columns to the right or too many rows down then suddenly I have a
spreadsheet that is larger than 8 1/2 x 11.

How can I be certain when creating a document in Excel that it is an 8
1/2 x 11 document?

If you're using XL2004 you can use Page layout view, which will show you
exactly how the sheet will print, including headers and footers. You can
resize the columns and rows as necessary to fit.

Alternatively, in Page Setup, Page tab, Scaling section, change the
settings to 1 page wide by 1 page tall. XL will scale your layout
accordingly.

 

[diane]

Hi!

I'm using Excel X (Office X) rather than 2004... I tried the second
part of your suggestion anyway, hoping it would work on my X version,
this is what I tried:

Page Setup, Page tab, Scaling section, change the settings to 1 page

wide by 1 page tall

But it didn't work, or at least I'm assuming it didn't work because
there's nothing showing pages when I look at the spreadsheet, it still
looks like one big document when I look at it in Excel.

Two questions:

Should I upgrade to 2004?

Are there any good tutorials out there that teach how to layout
forms/documents using Excel X (or 2004)?

Thanks again everyone!
Diane

 

[Bob Greenblatt]

Hi!

I'm using Excel X (Office X) rather than 2004... I tried the second
part of your suggestion anyway, hoping it would work on my X version,
this is what I tried:

wide by 1 page tall

But it didn't work, or at least I'm assuming it didn't work because
there's nothing showing pages when I look at the spreadsheet, it still
looks like one big document when I look at it in Excel.

Two questions:

Should I upgrade to 2004?

Are there any good tutorials out there that teach how to layout
forms/documents using Excel X (or 2004)?

Thanks again everyone!
Diane

After you have selected it to be 1 page wide by one page tall, try printing
it, or looking at it in print preview. Is it not the size you selected? If
no, what are you seeing and what do you want to see?

 

[diane]

Hi Bob!

Yes it does exactly what you stated but ...

What I'm looking for is an indication within the Excel worksheet, like
in Word, where the end or edge of the page and bottom of the page is,
whether it be with a rule or a line down the worksheet where one page
ends and the next begins or something like that.

I'm trying to explain but it's hard... I'm creating an invoice and
the cells/fields need to remain where I set them, size wise, etc. What
I did to test it was I entered a letter in each cell in the first row,
through column NN or so and then down through 100 rows or so. I then
selected those columns and rows and did a print preview.

It kept the page at 8 1/2 x 11 but it also shrunk everything so that
all the columns and rows fit on one page. I kind of need it backwards,
I need to see the one page in Excel while creating the form so that
there's no shrinkage of cells, rows or columns.

Let me know if I'm making sense or not... I'm embroiled in other
battles right now and my computer went to the shop this morning. I'm
already having withdrawal symptoms and it's going to be gone for two
weeks! Dead hard drive...

Have a great day!
Diane Dennis

 

[J Laroche]

It kept the page at 8 1/2 x 11 but it also shrunk everything so that
all the columns and rows fit on one page. I kind of need it backwards,
I need to see the one page in Excel while creating the form so that
there's no shrinkage of cells, rows or columns.

Have a great day!
Diane Dennis

Use Page Break Preview in the View menu.

JL
Mac OS X 10.3.8, Office v.X 10.1.6

 

[Bob Greenblatt]

Hi Bob!

Yes it does exactly what you stated but ...

What I'm looking for is an indication within the Excel worksheet, like
in Word, where the end or edge of the page and bottom of the page is,
whether it be with a rule or a line down the worksheet where one page
ends and the next begins or something like that.

I'm trying to explain but it's hard... I'm creating an invoice and
the cells/fields need to remain where I set them, size wise, etc. What
I did to test it was I entered a letter in each cell in the first row,
through column NN or so and then down through 100 rows or so. I then
selected those columns and rows and did a print preview.

It kept the page at 8 1/2 x 11 but it also shrunk everything so that
all the columns and rows fit on one page. I kind of need it backwards,
I need to see the one page in Excel while creating the form so that
there's no shrinkage of cells, rows or columns.

Let me know if I'm making sense or not... I'm embroiled in other
battles right now and my computer went to the shop this morning. I'm
already having withdrawal symptoms and it's going to be gone for two
weeks! Dead hard drive...

Have a great day!
Diane Dennis

Or, if you are using Excel 2004, you can use page layout view.