Page Layout - HELP!

[mtpaper]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: intel

I just switched from Windows to Mac. I am self-employed and rely on Excel for the family's income -

I've now encountered the problem whereby Excel 2008 doesn't have View->Page Layout in the traditional format.

If my Print Area is set to begin with cell B5, when I'm in View->PageLayout I should NOT see the first 4 rows, or Column A. What good is View->PageLayout if it isn't WYSIWYG???

I can see the actual print area via File->Print->Preview - but no changes can be made at that screen!

I am now slightly frantic. My gorgeous new iMac is an expensive paperweight if I don't have a useable Excel.

What are people doing?
Does Excel 2004 have the same problem?
Can Excel 2004 run under Leopard?

Thank you in advance
Marion

 

[Bob Greenblatt]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: intel

I just switched from Windows to Mac. I am self-employed and rely on Excel for
the family's income -

I've now encountered the problem whereby Excel 2008 doesn't have View->Page
Layout in the traditional format.

If my Print Area is set to begin with cell B5, when I'm in View->PageLayout I
should NOT see the first 4 rows, or Column A. What good is View->PageLayout if
it isn't WYSIWYG???

I can see the actual print area via File->Print->Preview - but no changes can
be made at that screen!

I am now slightly frantic. My gorgeous new iMac is an expensive paperweight if
I don't have a useable Excel.

What are people doing?
Does Excel 2004 have the same problem?
Can Excel 2004 run under Leopard?

Thank you in advance
Marion

It's not a paperweight. In page layout view you can certainly scroll to
align the print area with the visible layout. In Page set-up you can drag
margins.

People are doing just what you are doing. No, Excel 2004 uses Excel's print
preview, not the operating system's as Excel 2008 does and as suggested by
Apple's standards. Yes, Excel 2004 can run under Leopard. However, I suggest
you just experiment with the page layout tools in the formatting palette and
get used to it. It's a change, but I think for the better.

 

[mtpaper]

I've played more. The complication is that I cannot see any pagebreaks for existing files which I created within Windows.

I can see the dotted line page breaks for new files.

 

[CyberTaz]

Have a look in Excel> Preferences - View, check the box for Page Breaks.
Note that it is a per sheet setting.

HTH |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[mtpaper]

Yes, I'm aware that it is per sheet.

With System Preferences View set to Show Page Breaks:

FOR AN EXISTING FILE FROM WINDOWS, Print Area starts at B5
-- in View Normal I do not see any Page Breaks
-- in View Page Layout I see page breaks (not dotted lines) but they do not take into account my Print Area; ie, Column A and Rows 1-4 are part of page layout

FOR A NEW FILE STARTED ON THE MAC, Print Area starting at B5
- in View Normal, I do see the dotted line; this is workable, but it feels like back-pedaling, or treading water, rather than advancing towards better WYSIWYG
- in View Page Layout, I see the dotted line AND Column A and the extra rows at the top. I don't see any use for this at all yet, as it bears no resemblance to what my page will look like.

I feel as if I've back-tracked in terms of WYSIWYG... Instead of Excel looking BETTER on my Mac, it looks worse, and is harder to work with.