Volatile print area

[stevepain]

I have created a range, such that the columns within the range extend a
time progresses - i.e. in July, you only see columns of up to an
including July information.
When I enter the range name in the page setup - define print are
dialog box, and do print preview, the correct area is set as prin
area. However, I want the print area to automatically update when w
move onto the next month, and when I return to page setup, the rang
name is lost, replaced by the cell references of the range.

Any ideas how to keep that print area as a range?

Thanks,

Stev

 

[Ron de Bruin]

Hi Steve

Why don't you clear you print area (File>Print Area...Clear)
It will print everything on the sheet then

 

[stevepain]

Ron,

Thanks for your response - however I fear you have missed the point o
what I was trying to achieve.

I want to print a range of columns that over time (as the month
change) increases to include the latest month.

I have defined the range, and when I enter the range name into th
print area dialouge box, it sets the print area accordingly.

However, when I return to the print area dialogue box, my range nam
has been replaced by the cell references generated by the range name
and it has to be retyped to update. I would like to ensure that th
range name is always the print area, and that as the months go by th
extra columns are added to the range.

Hope this makes sense - any suggestions

 

[Dave Peterson]

I don't think you can change this behavior.

But you may want to try this workaround--it seemed to work ok for me.

Insert Name Define
Names in workbook box: 'sheet 1'!print_area

(Print_Area is the name that excel uses to keep track of the print area. But
make sure you include that sheet name in the name. Doing so makes the name a
sheet level name and that means you can use this on other sheets and it won't
confuse you or excel!)

Refers to box: ='sheet 1'!yournamehere

Then if you want to use a different name for the print range, you can just
change what that print_area names refers to (via insert|Name|define).

 

[stevepain]

Thanks Dave, that seems to work.
Strange characteristic that the print area reverts back to the cel
references in the first place - but I guess that's one of the quirk
that has been sent to challenge us

 

[stevepain]

Thanks Dave, that seems to work.
Strange characteristic that the print area reverts back to the cel
references in the first place - but I guess that's one of the quirk
that has been sent to challenge us

 

[Dave Peterson]

Do you use VBA?

If you do, take a look at VBA's help for .printarea. You'll see that it's a
string. So behind the scenes, excel is storing that as the address--not the
range (or named range).

So it's not as surprising as it would seem at first blush.