Setting print area question

[kevs]

Sometimes I have lots of columns, but only want to print a few of them.
It's tedious, but I know I can hide columns I don't want to print. But is
there anyway to just set the print area for three non-contiguous columns
so that they would look contiguous on the paper?

I tested this and it did not work. The preview showed one column on first
few pages, the second column selected on its own page after that...

Thanks Kevs

 

[J.E. McGimpsey]

Sometimes I have lots of columns, but only want to print a few of them.
It's tedious, but I know I can hide columns I don't want to print. But is
there anyway to just set the print area for three non-contiguous columns
so that they would look contiguous on the paper?

I tested this and it did not work. The preview showed one column on first
few pages, the second column selected on its own page after that...

If you're always needing to hide the same columns, it needn't be
tedious at all - hide your columns once, then choose View/Custom
Views... and give your view a name. Check both the print and the
hidden rows/columns checkboxes.

Next time you need to print only those rows, choose View/Custom
Views, select your view and click Show - all done.

 

[kevs]

If you're always needing to hide the same columns, it needn't be
tedious at all - hide your columns once, then choose View/Custom
Views... and give your view a name. Check both the print and the
hidden rows/columns checkboxes.

Next time you need to print only those rows, choose View/Custom
Views, select your view and click Show - all done.

Thanks Great ideas. I got the first one, JE, let me ask you about the custom
views.

I made my custom view, I selected two columns and called it "subject and
location columns only"

Then I come back later and choose this custom view, and click show.

And what happens is that those two columns get highlighted or selected blue.
All other columns are still there - just not selected.

Ok, but when I go to print preview, even after clicking set print area, it
does not show these printing together contiguously. It just did not work.
In fact, I would hope it would just show those two columns (without the
other columns there) Unless I screwed up Harvey's idea of new worksheet
seems faster. (I'm sure I probably didn't get it right)

 

[J.E. McGimpsey]

Thanks Great ideas. I got the first one, JE, let me ask you about the custom
views.

I made my custom view, I selected two columns and called it "subject and
location columns only"

Then I come back later and choose this custom view, and click show.

And what happens is that those two columns get highlighted or selected blue.
All other columns are still there - just not selected.

Ok, but when I go to print preview, even after clicking set print area, it
does not show these printing together contiguously. It just did not work.
In fact, I would hope it would just show those two columns (without the
other columns there) Unless I screwed up Harvey's idea of new worksheet
seems faster. (I'm sure I probably didn't get it right)

Here's what I did:

Assume I want only Columns A and J to print, and I want them to
print contiguously.

1) Hide Columns B:I (and K:x if those columns have data. If desired,
you can change the Print Area or set other print options via Page
Setup.

2) Choose View/Custom Views..., Click Add and name my new view
PrintView, then click OK. All the settings extant at the time you
clicked OK are saved in the custom view.

Now, I unhide all my columns, add, subtract, multiply,divide, fold,
spindle, and mutilate the data in them. When I want to print, I
choose View/Custom Views..., select PrintView and click Show - if
you have only one custom view, it's literally a 2-click operation.
And when I print, only columns A and J print out, contiguously.

I find it's a *huge* time-saver in complex models - I often create a
project-specfic toolbar with buttons for the different custom views
so the user can flip between them at will with only a single click.

 

[kevs]

Here's what I did:

Assume I want only Columns A and J to print, and I want them to print
contiguously.

1) Hide Columns B:I (and K:x if those columns have data. If desired, you can
change the Print Area or set other print options via Page Setup.

2) Choose View/Custom Views..., Click Add and name my new view PrintView, then
click OK. All the settings extant at the time you clicked OK are saved in the
custom view.

Now, I unhide all my columns, add, subtract, multiply,divide, fold, spindle,
and mutilate the data in them. When I want to print, I choose View/Custom
Views..., select PrintView and click Show - if you have only one custom view,
it's literally a 2-click operation. And when I print, only columns A and J
print out, contiguously.

I find it's a *huge* time-saver in complex models - I often create a
project-specfic toolbar with buttons for the different custom views so the
user can flip between them at will with only a single click.

Yes JE:
It seemed to work this time, and I was able to set the print area after
bringing up the new custom view -- and it previewed well for printing.
Beyond that is still seems bit faster to do the copy and make new worksheet,
but I have not played with both methods enough yet. I do think this is
great stuff to know. Thanks!
Kevs

 

[kevs]

Yes JE:
It seemed to work this time, and I was able to set the print area after
bringing up the new custom view -- and it previewed well for printing.
Beyond that is still seems bit faster to do the copy and make new worksheet,
but I have not played with both methods enough yet. I do think this is
great stuff to know. Thanks!
Kevs

Hey JE check it out. Your custom view may be the better thing after all,
I'm not sure.

I just made new worksheet with copy and paste idea, but here is the problem
with that: you put a lot of time setting it up, headers, footers etc,
margins etc., but then when you go back to the master document (workbook) to
add/subtract stuff, it WILL NOT BE REFLECTED, in your new worksheet, you
will have to do all the copy paste thing again. Hence it's only a good idea
if you want a fast and quick print of non contiguous columns.

With you idea of custom view, is it different, in sense that once you have a
custom view, you are still working off your master workbook, which reflects
all new changes etc?? Thanks!
Kevs

 

[J.E. McGimpsey]

Hey JE check it out. Your custom view may be the better thing after all,
I'm not sure.

Happens occasionally <g>.

As you pointed out, it's important to be sure what you're trying to
do - if you don't want the changes to your "print copy" to be saved
in the workbook, then creating a new book/sheet is certainly the way
to go.

If you just want to be able to view, print and work with the
workbook in different ways, depending on the task, then Custom Views
is, IMO, far superior.