How to Set Multiple Print Areas and Exclude Columns in Excel
Question details
The user needs to print separate, nonadjacent cell ranges in an Excel inspection form while ensuring that specific marker columns used by macros are excluded from the printout.
- Product
- Excel
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Preparing an Excel spreadsheet for printing where specific columns must be hidden or excluded without deleting the macro marker data.
- Observed behavior
- The user wants to establish a printing layout that automatically skips over the helper columns and only outputs the desired noncontiguous ranges.
Before printing, switch to Page Break Preview mode to easily identify the exact columns you want to exclude and ensure your printer settings are correctly configured.
Set Nonadjacent Print Areas Using the Ctrl Key
You can select multiple separate ranges using the Ctrl key to set them as a combined print area, which automatically excludes the columns in between.
This is the most direct method to exclude specific columns from a print job without altering the worksheet's structure or hiding columns manually. Keep in mind that Excel will typically print each noncontiguous area on a separate page.
Click and drag to highlight the first block of cells you want to include in your printout.
Hold down the 'Ctrl' key on your keyboard, then click and drag to highlight the second block of cells, skipping the columns you want to exclude. Repeat this for any additional ranges.
Navigate to the 'Page Layout' tab on the Excel ribbon, click on 'Print Area' in the Page Setup group, and select 'Set Print Area' from the drop-down menu.
Hide Helper Columns Before Printing
If you want all data to print continuously on a single page, hiding the unwanted columns before setting a single print area is an effective alternative.
Easily Set Multiple Print Areas in WPS Spreadsheet
WPS Office provides an intuitive Page Layout interface for setting custom print areas, allowing you to easily exclude helper columns. It is completely free and seamlessly handles complex print jobs.
- 1. Open Your Workbook: Launch WPS Spreadsheet and open the file containing your inspection form.
- 2. Select Multiple Ranges: Highlight your first cell range. Hold down the 'Ctrl' key and select the other ranges you need, skipping the helper columns.
- 3. Apply Print Area: Go to the 'Page Layout' tab on the top ribbon, click on 'Print Area', and choose 'Set Print Area'.
- 4. Preview and Print: Click on 'Print Preview' to verify that the excluded columns are not visible, then proceed to print.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Excel print my nonadjacent print areas on separate pages?
By default, Excel treats noncontiguous selections as separate print jobs, placing each on a new page. If you need them on the same page, the best workaround is to temporarily hide the columns you want to exclude and set a single, continuous print area.
How do I clear a print area I have already set?
To remove a print area, navigate to the Page Layout tab on the ribbon, click the Print Area button, and select 'Clear Print Area' from the drop-down list. This resets the sheet to print all active cells.
Can I add more cells to an existing print area?
Yes. Simply select the new cells you wish to include, go to the Page Layout tab, click on Print Area, and select 'Add to Print Area'. Note that this option only becomes available after an initial print area has been set.
Will hiding columns affect the macros running on my spreadsheet?
In most cases, hiding columns will not affect macro functionality unless the macro explicitly requires the columns to be visible to execute certain actions. The data in hidden columns remains fully accessible to formulas and VBA scripts.
