Page Break Preview in Excel ...

[Jonny Macleseed]

Hi All!

I've done a search online and can't seem to find the answer to this question. I am trying to bring up the 'Page Break Preview' on my Mac Excel (2011, Ver 14.1.4) but can't seem to do this. There doesn't seem to be any way for me to manipulate the page breaks so that I can set the pages as I want them to be set. In fact, the 'Page Break Preview' option doesn't seem to appear anywhere. Am I missing something?

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

[iSaint]

I don't think it's available in the newer versions for Mac. I remember looking for it as well. The Page Layout is what you see now, but without the blue lines where page breaks appear.

[ergdegdeg]

In Excel 2011 at least, you can go to the print dialog and then cancel out of it. At least for me, it then shows the blue lines for page breaks.

[Jonny Macleseed]

Arg, that's somewhat annoying ... is there any way to make the adjustments necessary to put the pages as I like? It seems strange that this feature isn't included seeing as it's been in the Windows version forever ...

[ergdegdeg]

Like I said, if you go to the print dialog and cancel out of it, you can adjust the blue lines that appeared.

[Makosuke]

ergdegdeg told you how to do it, but for reference, if you want to show them without canceling out of the print dialogue, go to the "Layout" tab of the ribbon and check "Breaks" under the "View" segment (second from the left). If you've moved them around and don't like where they ended up, you can also use the "Breaks" button (as opposed to checkbox) under the Page Setup segment (leftmost one); the drop down includes a "Reset all page breaks" item.

That same Ribbon tab also includes the "print to fit" options farther to the right.

I always thought it was hilarious that everyone--including myself until I got so frustrated I went digging in the Ribbon--only knew how to get those to appear by canceling out of a print dialogue. The interface of Office is a complete abomination now, and it's even worse on Windows.

[Jonny Macleseed]

OK, phew! Finally got it to work ... it seems there are a lot of things that need to be 'aligned' in order for this to happen ... if you try following the instructions above per Ms. ergdegdeg's instructions, it may or may not work as I found out on one worksheet tab but not another. It turns out one of the tabs had the 'Fit To' box checked (thus the blue lines did not show) but the other one didn't (the blue lines showed up right away). I've found that setting a 'Print Area' also helps, but boy this was far too complicated and too much effort for this simple function.

I'd like to thank you all for your help and advice however, and for taking the time to respond!

Cheers!

[farrers]

Originally Posted by ergdegdeg

In Excel 2011 at least, you can go to the print dialog and then cancel out of it. At least for me, it then shows the blue lines for page breaks.

This worked like a charm! Once I did this, I could click and drag the page breaks quite easily. Thanks a bunch!

[lipsonferns]

i am a daily excel user. Recently i purchased Macbook pro. My question is why still Microsoft have not fixed the problem of page break preview for mac users. how one can leave this option out. this potential important tool in excel which you need every time when you print. i use it almost whole day long, to fit my things well.
I am very happy with my Macbook pro but i am only upset with this microsoft excel 2008 which is running on it. why the developers left this option. i cant believe. will the problem be fixed in a newer version for mac 2011

[randlord]

If you activate the Layout ribbon and then tweak the scale slider (eg 99%, 98%) the blue dotted lines around the pages appear. Hover over any one and a grabber appears -- you can use it to drag and drop the page breaks.

[Peter Reimann]

Originally Posted by randlord

If you activate the Layout ribbon and then tweak the scale slider (eg 99%, 98%) the blue dotted lines around the pages appear. Hover over any one and a grabber appears -- you can use it to drag and drop the page breaks.

I've been reading all the posts and am still stumped in trying to find a way to simply drag the page breaks to where I want them. You say "activate Layout ribbon" but I cannot find it anywhere (Excel 2008 - Mac) . I would appreciate your help. /thanks

[Makosuke]

Originally Posted by Peter Reimann

I've been reading all the posts and am still stumped in trying to find a way to simply drag the page breaks to where I want them. You say "activate Layout ribbon" but I cannot find it anywhere (Excel 2008 - Mac) . I would appreciate your help. /thanks

The ribbon is in Office 2011.

In 2008 what you want to do is bring up the document you want page breaks in (assuming you're in "Normal" mode under the View menu) and:

Go to "Preferences" under the Excel menu, click the "View" item, and in the "Window options" section at top right, check the box next to "Show page breaks" (the very first item).

Click "OK", and you should have the page breaks showing, which you can now drag if you hover the mouse over them.