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How to Make Print Selection the Default in Excel for Mac
Question details
The user wants to permanently set Print Selection as the default printing mode in Excel for Mac to avoid having to manually choose this option for every print job.
- Product
- Excel for Mac
- Device & OS
- macOS
- Scenario
- Repeatedly printing a specific highlighted range of cells rather than the entire active worksheet.
- Observed behavior
- Excel for Mac does not provide a built-in option to permanently change the default print mode to Print Selection; it always resets to printing the active sheet.
Ensure you know how to access the Print dialog on your Mac (Cmd + P) and verify that your desired cells are fully highlighted before proceeding to print.
Manually Choose Print Selection for Each Print Job
Since there is no permanent built-in setting in Excel for Mac, the standard method is to manually select this option when initiating a print.
Excel for Mac resets its print dialog back to 'Active Sheets' by default. To print just the highlighted cells, you must instruct the print dialog each time.
Click and drag your mouse to highlight the specific cells or range you want to print.
Press Cmd + P on your keyboard or navigate to File > Print in the top menu bar.
In the print dialog box, locate the print options dropdown or radio buttons and select 'Selection' instead of 'Active Sheets'.
Click the Print button to output only the cells you previously highlighted.
Automate Print Selection Using a VBA Macro
Use a VBA script to create a custom macro that automatically prints only your selected range, bypassing the standard print dialog.
Try WPS Office for a Seamless Spreadsheet Experience on Mac
If limitations in Excel for Mac disrupt your workflow, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible, and free alternative with intuitive printing controls and full support for all major Microsoft Excel formats.
- 1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the installation package designed for macOS.
- 2. Install WPS Office: Open the downloaded package and follow the on-screen prompts to drag the application to your Mac's Applications folder.
- 3. Open Your Spreadsheets: Launch WPS Spreadsheet and open your existing Excel files to easily manage your data and print settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I permanently set a Print Area instead of using Print Selection?
Yes. If you always print the exact same cells, you can highlight them and go to Page Layout > Print Area > Set Print Area. This will lock the print boundary to those specific cells for future prints, but it will not dynamically adapt to new selections.
Why doesn't Excel for Mac save my previous print dialog settings?
By design, Excel for Mac resets certain print settings, such as 'Print Selection', back to the default 'Active Sheets' after a print job is completed to prevent users from accidentally printing partial data in subsequent jobs.
Can I use AppleScript to automate the Print Selection process?
Advanced Mac users can utilize AppleScript to simulate the keystrokes or menu clicks required to choose 'Print Selection' in the dialog box, though using a built-in VBA macro like `Selection.PrintOut` is generally more reliable.
Is it possible to set Print Selection as default on the Windows version of Excel?
No, Excel for Windows also defaults to printing the Active Sheet. However, Windows users often find it easier to add a 'Print Selection' macro to the Quick Access Toolbar for faster access.
