Printing on legal paper in Excel can be a bit tricky, but it’s definitely doable! You just need to set your page size to legal, adjust your print area, and make sure your printer is ready to go. It’s a quick process that ensures your documents are printed exactly how you need them.
Step by Step Tutorial on How to Print on Legal Paper in Excel
Before diving into the steps of printing on legal paper in Excel, it’s important to understand what these steps will accomplish. By following these instructions, you’ll be able to adjust your Excel document’s size to fit legal-sized paper, ensuring that your printout uses the entire space available on the paper without any cut-off content.
Step 1: Open your Excel document
Open the Excel document you would like to print on legal paper.
Opening your Excel document is the first step. Make sure you’ve saved all your work before attempting to print, to avoid losing any important information.
Step 2: Go to the ‘Page Layout’ tab
Click on the ‘Page Layout’ tab in the Excel ribbon.
In the ‘Page Layout’ tab, you’ll find all the settings you need to prepare your document for printing, including the page size options.
Step 3: Select ‘Size’
In the ‘Page Layout’ tab, click on ‘Size’ to open the drop-down menu.
In the ‘Size’ menu, you’ll see a list of different paper sizes. If ‘Legal’ isn’t immediately visible, you may need to scroll down to find it.
Step 4: Choose ‘Legal’
From the drop-down menu, select ‘Legal (8.5 x 14 in)’.
By selecting ‘Legal’, you’re telling Excel that you want to format your document to fit legal-sized paper.
Step 5: Adjust the print area
Adjust the print area in your document to ensure all your content will be printed on the legal paper.
If your content doesn’t fit within the printable area, you may need to adjust your margins or scale your content to fit.
Step 6: Print your document
Click ‘File’, then ‘Print’, and make sure your printer is set to print on legal paper before clicking the ‘Print’ button.
Before you print, double-check that your printer has legal paper loaded and that it’s set to print on legal size. This will prevent any printing errors.
After completing these steps, your Excel document will print on legal paper, with all content sized and scaled appropriately.
Tips for Printing on Legal Paper in Excel
- Ensure your printer can handle legal-sized paper. Not all printers are equipped to print on legal paper, so it’s essential to check your printer’s capabilities first.
- Review your document’s layout. Since legal paper is longer than standard letter-size, you may need to adjust your layout to make the best use of the additional space.
- Check your print preview. Always use the print preview function to ensure everything looks right before you print.
- Consider the orientation. Depending on your content, you may want to switch between portrait and landscape orientation for the best results.
- Save your settings. If you frequently print on legal paper, save these settings as a custom preset to streamline the process in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is legal-sized paper?
Legal-sized paper is a bit longer than the standard letter-size, measuring 8.5 inches wide by 14 inches long.
How do I know if my printer can print on legal paper?
Check your printer’s manual or specifications online. Most printers have adjustable trays to accommodate different paper sizes.
Can I save my Excel document as a legal-sized PDF?
Yes, after setting your page size to legal in Excel, you can save or export your document as a PDF, and it will retain the legal dimensions.
What if my content doesn’t fit on legal paper after adjusting the size?
You may need to change your margins, scale your content, or adjust your page breaks within Excel to ensure everything fits.
Can I set my Excel document to always open in legal size?
Yes, you can save your document with the legal size setting, and it will open with that setting by default in the future.
Summary
- Open your Excel document.
- Go to the ‘Page Layout’ tab.
- Select ‘Size’.
- Choose ‘Legal’ from the drop-down menu.
- Adjust the print area.
- Print your document.
Conclusion
Printing on legal paper in Excel might seem like a small task, but it’s one that can make a big difference in the presentation and professionalism of your documents. Whether you’re preparing a report, a chart, or any other kind of data visualization, ensuring that your printout is crisp, clear, and perfectly scaled to fit legal-sized paper is crucial. By following the simple steps outlined in this guide, you’ll have no trouble adjusting your Excel documents to print flawlessly on legal paper.
Moreover, the helpful tips provided will allow you to avoid common pitfalls and ensure your printer is properly set up to handle the job. Remember to always double-check your work with print preview, and don’t be afraid to adjust your layout as needed. With the right preparation, you can make sure your documents always look their best.
And if you ever find yourself stuck or in doubt, refer back to the frequently asked questions for a quick solution. Printing on legal paper in Excel is a skill that will serve you well in many professional settings, so take the time to master it and you’ll be ready for anything that comes your way.
Matthew Burleigh has been a freelance writer since the early 2000s. You can find his writing all over the Web, where his content has collectively been read millions of times.
Matthew received his Master’s degree in Computer Science, then spent over a decade as an IT consultant for small businesses before focusing on writing and website creation.
The topics he covers for MasterYourTech.com include iPhones, Microsoft Office, and Google Apps.
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