XL: All PageSetup Settings Are Recorded into Macro

• Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 5.0, 5.0c
• Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 5.0, 5.0a
• Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
• Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel, if you record a Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications macro that includes a Page Setup command, all of the Page Setup settings are recorded.

Because of this, you may find that running a recorded Visual Basic PageSetup function may take an unusually long amount of time, up to two minutes or more (depending on the speed of your computer). Also, the screen may flicker or blink repeatedly while the function is being executed.

CAUSE

If you record a Page Setup in a Visual Basic macro, all the settings are recorded due to the way in which page setup information is returned to the macro recording system.

The flickering occurs due to the way in which the PageSetup function updates the sheet's different Page Setup settings. The amount of flickering is related to the number of Page Setup settings you change with the PageSetup function: changing more settings results in more flickering.

WORKAROUND

After you record a Visual Basic PageSetup function, you will probably want to eliminate unneeded settings from the PageSetup function.

To prevent the flickering, set the Application.ScreenUpdating property to False before executing your PageSetup function. Then, when the PageSetup function has completed, you can set the Application.ScreenUpdating property back to True to reenable screen redraws.

MORE INFORMATION

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language being demonstrated and the tools used to create and debug procedures. Microsoft support engineers can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific needs. If you have limited programming experience, you may want to contact the Microsoft fee-based consulting line at (800) 936-5200. For more information about the support options available from Microsoft, please see the following page on the World Wide Web:

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The second Visual Basic code example shows one way in which you can prevent the screen from flickering or blinking while a PageSetup function is being executed.

Example One - Recording a Page Setup

1. Create a new workbook.

2. Activate a worksheet in the workbook.

3. On the Tools menu, point to Record Macro, and click Record New Macro.

   In Microsoft Excel 97 and Microsoft Excel 98, click the Tools menu, point to Macro, and then click Record New Macro.

4. In the Record New Macro dialog box, select the Options button. In the language section, make sure that the "Visual Basic" option button is selected. (Ignore this step in Microsoft Excel 97 and Microsoft Excel 98.)

5. In the "Store in" section, make sure the "This Workbook" option button is selected.

6. Click OK to begin recording.

7. On the File menu, click Page Setup.

8. In the Page Setup dialog box, click OK.

9. On the Tools menu, point to Record Macro, and then click Stop Recording.

10. Activate the new Visual Basic module. Your recorded subroutine should appear similar to the following (comments have been added for explanation--they are not actually recorded).

           Sub Macro1()
               With ActiveSheet.PageSetup            ' This is the first part.
                   .PrintTitleRows = ""
                   .PrintTitleColumns = ""
               End With
               ActiveSheet.PageSetup.PrintArea = ""  ' This is the second part.
               With ActiveSheet.PageSetup            ' This is the third part.
                   .LeftHeader = ""
                   .CenterHeader = "&A"
                   .RightHeader = ""
                   .LeftFooter = ""
                   .CenterFooter = "Page &P"
                   .RightFooter = ""
                   .LeftMargin = Application.InchesToPoints(0.75)
                   .RightMargin = Application.InchesToPoints(0.75)
                   .TopMargin = Application.InchesToPoints(1)
                   .BottomMargin = Application.InchesToPoints(1)
                   .HeaderMargin = Application.InchesToPoints(0.5)
                   .FooterMargin = Application.InchesToPoints(0.5)
                   .PrintHeadings = False
                   .PrintGridlines = True
                   .PrintNotes = False
                   .CenterHorizontally = False
                   .CenterVertically = False
                   .Orientation = xlPortrait
                   .Draft = False
                   ' On a Macintosh computer, omit the following line.
                   .PaperSize = xlPaperLetter
                   .FirstPageNumber = xlAutomatic
                   .Order = xlDownThenOver
                   .BlackAndWhite = False
                   .Zoom = 100
               End With
           End Sub
    
    

1. The first part is a With-End With section which sets the PrintTitleRows and the PrintTitleColumns.

2. The second part sets the PrintArea.

3. The third part is a With-End With section, which sets all of the other settings.

   Sub Macro1()
       With ActiveSheet.PageSetup
           .PrintTitleRows = "$1:$3"
           .PrintArea = "$A$4:$C$100"
           .Orientation = xlLandscape
       End With
   End Sub

Also, note that the entire PageSetup procedure can be incorporated into a single With-End With section. It is not necessary for the PrintArea, PrintTitleRows, or PrintTitleColumns settings to be changed separately from the other settings; it is only recorded that way.

Example Two - Preventing Screen Flicker While PageSetup Executes

The following subroutine demonstrates one way in which you may prevent the screen from flickering while a PageSetup function is being executed.

   Sub PreventScreenFlicker()

       ' This line turns off screen updating.
       Application.ScreenUpdating = False
       ' Apply each of the following properties to the active sheet's Page
       ' Setup.
       With ActiveSheet.PageSetup
           .PrintTitleRows = "$1:$3"          ' Set print title rows.
           .PrintTitleColumns = "$A:$C"       ' Set print title columns.
           .LeftHeader = ""                   ' Set the left header.
           ' More commands could appear before the End With. They are not
           ' shown here in order to keep the example short.
       End With                              ' End of With section.
       ' Re-enable screen updating. This line is optional; you may not need
       ' or want to re-enable screen updating.
       Application.ScreenUpdating = True
   End Sub

If screen updating is not turned off, as each line in the With section (.PrintTitleRows, .PrintTitleColumns, and so forth) is executed, the screen may flicker slightly.