Setting page margins

The page margins define where on the page Excel will print the worksheet. By default, the top and bottom margins are set at 1 inch in Excel XP, while the left and right margins are set at 0.75 inch. Margin settings can be changed to whatever you want. Different margins can be defined for each worksheet in the workbook.

To change the margins in the Page Setup dialog box:

• Select the correct worksheet.
• Choose FilePage Setup from the menu bar.
  
  
• Select the Margins tab.
  
  
• Use the spin box controls to define the settings for each page margin—top, bottom, left, right, header, and footer.
• Click OK to change the margin settings.

Changing page orientation and paper size

The Page tab of the Page Setup dialog box lets you change page orientation (portrait or landscape) and paper size (e.g., letter size or legal size). The default paper size in Excel XP is 8.5 x 11 inches with a portrait orientation, which prints up and down on the long side of the page. A landscape orientation, on the other hand, prints up and down on the short side of the page.

To change page orientation:

• Select the correct worksheet.
• Choose FilePage Setup from the menu bar.
• Click the Page tab.
  
  
• Choose an orientation—portrait or landscape—for the worksheet.
• Select a paper size from the list of available paper size options that appear in the list box.
• Click the paper size.
• Click OK to accept the page settings.

The Page tab of the Page Setup dialog box lets you shrink the spreadsheet data so it fits on a specified number of pages when you print. Click the Fit to: option button, then enter the desired number of pages wide and pages tall.

The Page tab of the Page Setup dialog box lets you define the resolution of the print job. Print quality is measured in dpi, or dots per inch. A higher dpi provides a better print quality.

Creating headers and footers

Headers and footers can be added to any worksheet, although they are not required. A header is any information that appears at the top of each page, while a footer prints at the bottom of the page. If you want a header or footer inserted onto a page, you'll have to define them. Excel XP defaults to no header and no footer.

To create a header:

• Choose FilePage Setup from the menu bar.
• Select the Header/Footer tab in the Page Setup dialog box.
  
  
• Click the Header drop-down list and select and of the predefined headers.
  
  
  
  OR
• Click the Custom Header button to create your own header. Follow the instructions in the Header dialog box to make your entry.

• Click OK to return to the Page Setup dialog box.

To create a footer:

• Choose FilePage Setup from the menu bar.
• Select the Header/Footer tab in the Page Setup dialog box.
• Click the Footer drop-down list and select one of the predefined footers.
  
  
  
  OR
• Click the Custom Footer button to create your own footer. Follow the instructions in the Footer dialog box to make your entry.

You can insert placeholder buttons into both the header and footer to format text and insert page numbers, dates, times, file names, and tab names. Excel replaces these placeholders with the information each represents when the worksheet is printed. Follow the instructions in the header and footer dialog boxes.

Creating sheet settings

The Sheet tab in the Page Setup dialog box provides additional print options you may want to add to your worksheet.

Print area

By default, Excel prints from A1 to the last occupied cell in a worksheet. You can specify a different range of cells to print.

Print titles

This option prints column and row labels on each page of the printout. Specify these rows or columns in the Rows to Repeat at Top and Columns to Repeat at Left text boxes.

Print: Gridlines

This determines whether gridlines are printed. However, turning off gridlines does not affect their appearance in Normal view.

Print: Black and white

If you used colors in your worksheet but don't want to waste the ink in your color printer, use black and white.

Print: Draft quality

Choose draft quality to print the worksheet without gridlines or graphics.

Print: Row and column headings

Click this option to include row numbers and columns letters in your printed document.

Page order

This determines the order in which worksheets are printed.

Challenge!

• Create a spreadsheet with whatever information you want to include in it.
• Set the page margins to print 0.5-inch from the top, bottom, left, and right.
• Change the page orientation to portrait.
• Change the paper size to legal.
• Create a header that shows a page number.
• Create a custom footer that shows the date in the center section.
• Set print gridlines for the sheet to "yes".