Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, and 2013. 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: Using Less Paper on Printouts.
I've got a worksheet that has data in only the first column. In fact, I use cells A1:A100 to store this data. When I print it, the printout uses many pages, but only the left side of each page actually had information in it. If you have the same problem, you may be wondering if there is a way to print the data in columns on a single sheet of paper.
Unfortunately, there is no simple command you can use or magic Wizard you can call up to format the information for printing in columns. Instead, you must manually work with the data a little bit. The first approach would be to use the following steps. (These steps assume you have data that is only one column wide by 100 rows deep.)
Your data is now in four columns, without the original data being disturbed. Format your columns to the necessary width, place a page break just before row 26, and print just the first page of your data.
Another option is to utilize the Camera tool, which has been discussed in other issues of ExcelTips. Simply select the information that will appear in the three extra columns, snap the Camera, and place the resulting graphic on the page to be printed.
If you are familiar with other Office tools, you could also copy your entire data table (all 100 rows) to the Clipboard and paste it into Word. You can then format the information in Word to use columns and print as desired. (You can also place headers and footers on your data easier within Word than you can in Excel.)
Finally, you could also look into a third-party add-in or program (such as ASAP Tools) that can handle this type of printing need for you.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (9096) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, and 2013. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Excel here: Using Less Paper on Printouts.
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2014-11-16 05:22:32
Willy Vanhaelen
@Bigger Don
Here is a formula that meets your excellent idea of using just one formula for the entire range.
Highlight B1:D25, enter this formula in B1 and press Ctrl+Enter:
=INDIRECT(ADDRESS(ROW()+25*COLUMN(A1),1))
2014-11-15 11:10:30
Willy Vanhaelen
@ Bigger Don
I was puzzled by your proposed formula so I tried it our but it doesn't work.
+MAX(B:B) should yield 25 in column B, 50 in column C and 75 in column D but in fact it returns the maximum value in each column if column A contains numbers of if it is text, it yields always 0.
So I'll stick with the method in this tip :-)
2014-11-14 05:05:13
Thanks Bigger Don...
You are right. Glad to know the usage of INDIRECT function demonstrated by you.
2014-11-13 11:27:52
Bigger Don
@ Shreepad
Nothing wrong with your suggestions, they're what I would probably use, but here's another method, assuming the data is on the same worksheet. In row 1 of any other column where the column to the left is empty:
=INDIRECT(ADDRESS(ROW()+MAX(B:B),1))
(This is in column C, so "B:B" refers to that empty column.)
Then copy down & across.
Since we know data is in Column A, and Column(A:A) will return 1, it can be lengthened to
=INDIRECT(ADDRESS(ROW()+MAX(B:B),COLUMN($A:$A)))
Then replace "$A:$A" with the data column if different that A.
2014-11-12 06:53:01
Shreepad S M Gandhi
Small correction. Apologies for the inconvenience.
Selecting B2:D2 and dragging down to row 25 will:
Autofill 26 to 50 in B2:B25
Autofill 51 to 75 in C2:C25
Autofill 76 to 100 in D2:D25
Many thanks
2014-11-12 06:50:44
Shreepad S M Gandhi
It's simple Hirendra. Suppose you have 1,2,3,4...100 in cells A1, A2, A3, A4...A100 respectively.
Typing "=A26" in cell B2 returns 26
Typing "=A51" in cell C2 returns 51
Typing "=A76" in cell D2 returns 76
Selecting B2:D2 and dragging down to row 25 will:
Autofill 26 to 50 in B2:B50
Autofill 51 to 75 in C2:C50
Autofill 76 to 100 in D2:D50
That's it.
Now you may just set the print area for the first sheet and save on paper. :)
2014-11-12 02:08:21
Sir I need some explanation regarding the data being in four columns. A1 to A100 one column; B2:D2 down to row 25. in another column. I could not understand the Four Columns. I request to either elaborate or publish an example worksheet. Thanks.
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Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, and 2013. 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: 
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