Excel 2003 - How to print a large worksheet that is actually readable

[Laphan]

Hi All

Complete newbie so please bear with me.

Basically I've been given a worksheet that uses columns A to BT and although
the columns are quite narrow, ie a lot have a single value in them, when I
try and print this doc in 0.5 margins A4 landscape using the format 1 page
wide and 2 tall I get all of the data, but its far too small to read.

I'm not bothered if the rows go on multiple pages, current worksheet uses 83
rows, but I need all my columns to show.

What the problem seems to be is that the scaling options in Excel are
proportional so when I state 1 page across it doesn't matter how many tall I
do the whole sheet (rows and cols) are proportionally scaled to get all the
columns and rows onto 1 page, which is why it's so small.

Is there any way I can shrink to get the cols on, but leave the rows to flow
onto as many pages as needed so that I don't get the magnifying glass
effect?

Thanks

 

[Bob I]

I would guess that the A to BT is where the scaling is occuring, the 83
rows is an easy fit when you compress the columns to fit. Spread it out
to 3 pages wide or so.

 

[AltaEgo]

As you say, Excel scales everything down in proportion. For example, if you
adjust to 2 wide by 1000 tall, Excel will ignore the "tall" figure and cram
it into two wide. The reverse is also true

You have already set your page to "landscape" and narrowed the margin which
goes some way towards solving this type of problem.

1) Adjusting your column widths to bet fit may assist. See Excel Help on
"Change the column width to fit the contents".
2) If you have any columns (such as headings) that contain multiple words
and are far wider than content below, wrapping text may assist.

-Select the cells you want to change (either one at a time, in groups such
as rows or the whole spreadsheet).
-On the Format menu, click Cells, and then click the Alignment tab.
-Under Text control, select the Wrap text check box, and then click OK.
-For very wide columns, narrow the column width and increase row height
where this change caused some text to not show.