Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. If you are using an earlier version (Excel 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Excel, click here: Excel Refuses to Put Page Breaks between Subtotal Groups.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated September 27, 2023)
This tip applies to Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021
Sandy noted that when she inserts subtotals into her worksheet, she usually clicks the insert page break between groups button. It doesn't seem, however, that the page breaks are inserted. When Sandy looks at the worksheet in both Print Preview and Page Break Preview, Excel does not show the page breaks as being present.
The only time that this behavior should occur is if you direct Excel (in the Page Setup options) to fit the printout to a specific number of pages. You can check to see if this is the case in this manner:
Figure 1. The Page tab of the Page Setup dialog box.
The reason that you need to make this change is that if you have your page setup configured to fit your printout to a specific number of pages, Excel basically ignores any page breaks in your worksheet.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (8702) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Excel here: Excel Refuses to Put Page Breaks between Subtotal Groups.
Excel Smarts for Beginners! Featuring the friendly and trusted For Dummies style, this popular guide shows beginners how to get up and running with Excel while also helping more experienced users get comfortable with the newest features. Check out Excel 2019 For Dummies today!
Check boxes, just like those used in Windows dialog boxes, can be a great addition to a worksheet. Here's how to add them ...
Discover MoreMicrosoft routinely adds new functions to Excel, but this may cause problems if your workbook needs to be used by people ...
Discover MoreExcel allows you to work with your data in many different ways. One way is to convert your data to a structured table. ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2023-10-01 04:34:55
Kiwerry
@J. Woolley: thanks for the addendum!
2023-09-30 11:45:57
J. Woolley
For more on this subject, see
https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/Search/results?query=Insert+subtotals
2023-09-30 11:39:43
J. Woolley
@Kiwerry
Perhaps I should have mentioned that page breaks in Normal view only applies to Subtotals if the "Page break between groups" option is enabled as illustrated in Paul's comment.
2023-09-29 18:15:28
Kiwerry
@J. Woolley: thanks very much for the brief but illuminating macro. I particularly liked the Undo mechanism.
2023-09-28 14:17:04
J. Woolley
My Excel Toolbox includes the TogglePageBreaks macro to enable or disable display of page breaks on the active worksheet in Normal view. The keyboard shortcut is Ctrl+T P B. Undo (Ctrl+Z) is supported.
Here is an abbreviated version:
Sub TogglePageBreaks()
Const myName As String = "TogglePageBreaks"
If TypeName(ActiveSheet) <> "Worksheet" Then Beep: Exit Sub
With ActiveSheet
.DisplayPageBreaks = (Not .DisplayPageBreaks)
End With
Application.OnUndo myName, (ThisWorkbook.Name + "!" + myName)
End Sub
See https://sites.google.com/view/MyExcelToolbox
2023-09-28 04:19:05
Kiwerry
Thanks very much, Paul.
The fact that it's an option explains why it didn't appear in the command list - I tend, rightly or wrongly, to associate the word "button" with commands.
2023-09-27 11:49:31
Paul
Hi Kiwerry
The button you are looking for is in the Subtotals dialog box (click in the data to subtotal and click the Subtotal button at the end of the Data tab.
(see Figure 1 below)
Figure 1.
2023-09-27 08:36:35
Kiwerry
Mike,
I doubt that an "Insert Page Break between Groups" button exists. I assume that one simply uses the usual method of insetring a page break, but puts it below a group.
My doubt arose when I looked to see whether it appears in the "All Commands" list of the Customise Quick Access Toolbar dialogue. I couldn't find anything other than simple page break removal/insertion commands.
I would be pleased to be proved wrong if someone knows where such a button can be found.
2023-09-27 07:41:02
Mike J
Where is the 'insert page break between groups button'? I have found online a reference to 'the grouping panel' but I can't find that either. This tip would be very useful.
Got a version of Excel that uses the ribbon interface (Excel 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the menu interface.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. If you are using an earlier version (Excel 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Excel, click here:
Comments