Tips For End Users of Excel 2003 and 2007

Author: Nick Pegley
Here are some tips for end users of Excel, both the 2003 and 2007 versions. In this article, you will learn how to print a portion of a spreadsheet, print column headings on each page, and change the default font - in both versions of the application.

Excel 2007 - Printing a Portion of a Spreadsheet.

First, select the cell range you would like to print. Then, under "Page Layout," go to the print area icon; select "Set Print Area." Next, print out the worksheet. Finally, select "Clear Print Area" and the entire worksheet will print next time (instead of just the selected area). There is also a section at the end of the article which describes the format painter.

Printing Column Headings on Each Page.

First, go to "Page Layout Menu" and click the "Print Titles" icon; then click the "Sheet" tab. Then, to print column headers on every page, enter the rows containing column labels under "Print titles" under "Rows to repeat." When ready, click "Print."

Changing the Default Font.

In Excel 2007, the default font and size is Calibri 11.

First, click "Microsoft Office" and then click "Excel Options." When creating new workbooks in the "Popular" category, click the font you want to use in the "Use this font" box, then enter the font size you'd like to use in the "Font Size" box.

NOTE: you must restart Excel to use the new default selection, affecting only newly created workbooks.

Excel 2003 - Printing Part of a Spreadsheet.

To begin, select the cell range you'd like to print. For the next step, in the file menu, go to "Print Area." Then click "Set Print Area." After, print the worksheet. When saving, your print area is also saved.

Printing Column Headings on Each Page.

If you have spreadsheet data spanning several pages and want column headings on each, this will help:

First click "Page Setup" on file menu, then click the "Sheet" tab. Next, to print column labels on each page, enter the rows that contain column labels under "Print titles" in the "Rows to repeat at top box." Finally, click "Print."

Changing the Default Font

First, click "Options" on the "Tools" menu. Then click a font in the "Standard font" box on the "General" tab. Finally, click a font size in the "Size" box.

NOTE: You must restart Excel to begin using this new default font and font size. This new default will be effective for new workbooks you create - existing workbooks are not affected.

What is the Format Painter?

Those who prefer to do simple Word documents might not be the heaviest Style users. If you'd like to reuse styles you're already created in a document, the Format Painter is an excellent tool. In order to apply a paragraph style from one paragraph to another one: first put the cursor somewhere in the styled paragraph, then click the Format Painter (Ctrl + Shift + C).

Click the paragraph where you'd like to apply the style. If you'd like to apply the style to multiple paragraphs, just double-click the Formet Painter. Then click in every subsequent paragraph in order to apply this same style.