Specifying the Y Value in X of Y Page Numbering

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated April 22, 2023)
This tip applies to Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, Excel in Microsoft 365, and 2021


1

Dawn has workbooks with multiple tabs (worksheets) in them. She uses "Page of Pages" (X of Y) numbering in the page footers. She notes that she used to be able to print entire workbooks at once and have the numbering come out correctly, with the Y value being the number of pages in each worksheet. Since upgrading to Excel 2016, the Y value on her printouts is always the total number of pages in the workbook, not the number of pages in each worksheet. She wonders if there is a setting in Excel that determines how the Y value is counted (per worksheet or per workbook).

There is no setting that we've been able to locate. Instead, it appears that Excel determines both the X and Y values based on the current print job, not on worksheets or the entire workbook. In other words, if your workbook contains three worksheets, and you print all three, the X and Y values will be different than if you choose to print only the second or the second and third worksheets.

The solution to this is to use a small, simple macro that steps through all the worksheets in a workbook and prints the worksheets individually. As far as Excel is concerned, then, you are performing multiple print jobs, thus the Y value will get reset on a worksheet-by-worksheet basis. Here's the macro:

Sub PrintProperly()
    Dim sht As Worksheet
    For Each sht In ActiveWorkbook.Worksheets
        sht.PrintOut copies:=1
    Next sht
End Sub

Assign the macro to a shortcut key or to a button on the Quick Access Toolbar, and you'll be able to invoke it easier.

Note:

If you would like to know how to use the macros described on this page (or on any other page on the ExcelTips sites), I've prepared a special page that includes helpful information. Click here to open that special page in a new browser tab.

ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (12454) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, Excel in Microsoft 365, and 2021.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

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What is seven minus 1?

2023-04-22 20:57:36

Tomek

You just have to remember that certain print attributes are defined per each worksheet. This applies to headers and footers.
On a positive note, you can define headers and footers for several sheets at once, just make sure they are all selected before defining the header/footer. that way they will be consistent.


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