XL5: Printer Setup Option Doesn't Affect Selected Sheet

ID: Q115342

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 5.0, 5.0c

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel, when you select a printing option such as Orientation, Duplex Printing, or Paper Size by using the Printer Setup button in the Print dialog box instead of the Page Setup dialog box, the printing option does not affect the selected worksheet.


CAUSE

This behavior is by design in Microsoft Excel. There are two ways to change the printer settings:

  • The Page Setup method changes the printer settings only for the current document.


  • The Printer Setup method changes the printer settings only for new documents that you create in Microsoft Excel and other applications that use the same printer driver.


Page Setup Method

When you use the Page Setup button in the Print dialog box to select a printing option such as Orientation, and you then choose the Options dialog box, the change you make affects only the selected sheets in the active workbook.

Printer Setup Method

When you use the Printer Setup button in the Print dialog box to select a printing option, such as Orientation, the change that you make affects new documents that you create in Microsoft Excel, and any other applications that print in Microsoft Windows. This change has the same effect as when you select the option by choosing the Printers icon in the Control Panel.


WORKAROUND

To change a printing option in the selected worksheet in the active workbook, do the following:

  1. From the File menu, choose Page Setup.


  2. In the Page Setup dialog box, select the Page tab, and choose the Options button.


  3. In the printer dialog box (the title of the dialog box is the name of the selected printer), select any of the available printing options, or choose any buttons to display more printing options.


To change a printing option for new documents only, and for all applications in Microsoft Windows, do the following:
  1. From the File menu, choose Print.


  2. In the Print dialog box, choose Printer Setup.


  3. From the Printer list, select the printer you want to use, and then Choose the Setup button.


  4. In the printer dialog box (the title of the dialog box is the name of the selected printer), select any of the available printing options, or choose any buttons to display more printing options.


Note that the same dialog box is displayed when you follow either of the above procedures; however, the results of the two procedures are different.


REFERENCES

For more information about the Print command, choose the Search button in Help and type:

Print Command (File Menu)

Additional query words: 5.00a 5.00c truetype graphic orientation portrait quality source

Keywords : xlwin
Version : WINDOWS:5.0,5.0c
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type :


Last Reviewed: August 31, 1999
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