How To Print Chart On Excel: A Comprehensive Guide
Whether you're creating a presentation, report, or simply want a hard copy of your data, printing a chart from Excel is a common task. This guide will walk you through the process, covering everything from basic printing to advanced customization options.
Step 1: Select Your Chart
The first step is to select the chart you want to print. Simply click on the chart to highlight it. If you have multiple charts on your sheet, make sure you've selected the correct one.
Step 2: Access the Print Options
There are a couple of ways to access the print options:
- The "File" Menu: Click on the "File" tab at the top of the Excel window. Then, select "Print" from the left-hand menu.
- The Quick Access Toolbar: Click on the "Print" icon in the Quick Access Toolbar (typically located in the top left corner of the window).
Step 3: Customize Your Print Settings
The "Print" dialog box gives you full control over how your chart is printed. Here are some key settings:
- Printer: Select the printer you want to use.
- Pages: Choose whether to print all pages, specific pages, or a range of pages.
- Print Area: If you want to print only a specific portion of the chart, use the "Print Area" setting to define the area you want to print.
- Orientation: Select "Portrait" for vertical printing or "Landscape" for horizontal printing.
- Scaling: Adjust the scaling options to fit the chart to a single page, adjust to paper size, or set a custom scaling percentage.
- Margins: You can adjust the top, bottom, left, and right margins to control how much space is around the chart.
- Headers and Footers: Add headers and footers to your printed chart.
Step 4: Preview Your Print
Before you actually print, it's a good idea to preview your settings. Click on the "Preview" button in the "Print" dialog box to see how your chart will look on the printed page.
Step 5: Print Your Chart
Once you're happy with the settings, click on the "Print" button to print your chart.
Advanced Printing Tips for Charts in Excel
Here are some more advanced tips for printing charts in Excel:
- Print Only the Chart: If you only want to print the chart itself without any other content from your spreadsheet, right-click on the chart, select "Format Chart Area," and then go to the "Size & Properties" section. Check the box for "Print Object."
- Print Multiple Charts on One Page: You can print multiple charts on one page by adjusting the "Scaling" and "Margins" settings in the "Print" dialog box.
- Print with a Gridline: If you want to include gridlines on your printed chart, right-click on the chart, select "Format Chart Area," and then go to the "Gridlines" section. You can then choose to print all gridlines, major gridlines, or minor gridlines.
- Print with a Legend: If you want to include a legend on your printed chart, right-click on the chart, select "Format Chart Area," and then go to the "Legend" section. You can then choose to print the legend inside or outside the chart.
- Print with Titles: To ensure your chart titles print, make sure they are part of the chart and not just text boxes on your spreadsheet.
Conclusion
Printing charts in Excel is a straightforward process. By following these steps, you can quickly and easily print high-quality charts for any purpose. Remember to use the print preview to ensure that your chart is printed as you expect it to appear.