Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated April 24, 2021)
This tip applies to Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021
Barbara has a worksheet that she needs to print out periodically. Sometimes she needs to only print three columns of data and other times she needs to print more. When she prints only three columns they fit very nicely on a page printed in portrait orientation. When she prints more columns then she needs to print in landscape orientation. Barbara wonders if there is a way she can set up Excel so that it automatically switches from portrait to landscape based upon the number of columns she wants to print.
Perhaps the easiest way to handle this type of printing is to add a little macro that runs just before printing. If the print area is set so that it contains 1, 2, or 3, columns, then the printout is done in portrait orientation. Any other number of columns and landscape orientation is used. Here is the macro; you should add it to the ThisWorkbook module:
Private Sub Workbook_BeforePrint(Cancel As Boolean) With ActiveSheet.PageSetup If Range(.PrintArea).Columns.Count > 3 Then .Orientation = xlLandscape Else .Orientation = xlPortrait End If End With End Sub
Of course, it may be more beneficial (and flexible) if you simply use the Custom Views feature of Excel. You can specify a view that includes your three columns or any number of columns you want. You can even have the view include print settings, so the orientation of the page would be included in the view. Follow these steps to set up the views:
Figure 1. The Add View dialog box.
Now, whenever you want to print different ways, you just call up the view you want and choose to print—everything else is already set for you.
Note:
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (10365) 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: Automatic Selection of Portrait or Landscape.
Comprehensive VBA Guide Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) is the language used for writing macros in all Office programs. This complete guide shows both professionals and novices how to master VBA in order to customize the entire Office suite for their needs. Check out Mastering VBA for Office 2010 today!
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