XL97: Print Titles with Merged Cells Add Columns or Rows

• Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel 97, when you create print titles on a worksheet, additional columns or rows that are not selected may be added to the print titles.

CAUSE

This behavior may occur when you use the mouse to select columns or rows for print titles, and the selected columns or rows contain merged cells that extend into other columns or rows.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, type a range for print titles in the Sheet tab of the Page Setup dialog box, rather than selecting the range with the mouse. To do this, use the following steps:

1. On the File menu, click Page Setup.

2. Click the Sheet tab.

3. In the appropriate box ("Rows to repeat at top" or "Columns to repeat at left"), type the range that you want to use for print titles. Do not select the range with the mouse.

   For example, if you want column A to be repeated at the left edge of each printed page, type the following text in the "Columns to repeat at left" box:

         $A:$A
   

   If you want rows 1 through 3 to be repeated at the top of every printed page, type the following text in the "Rows to repeat at top" box:

         $1:$3
   

   4. Click OK.

STATUS

This behavior is by design of Microsoft Excel 97.

MORE INFORMATION

When you select cells for print titles by using the mouse, and the column or row you select contains a merged cell that extends into other columns or rows, the other columns or rows are also included in the selection.

For example, if you merge cells A16:D16, and then select column A with the mouse, columns B, C, and D are also selected because the merged cell extends into these columns.

You can merge a group of cells into a single cell in Microsoft Excel 97. To merge a group of cells, use the following steps:

1. Select the cells that you want to merge.

2. On the Format menu, click Cells, and click the Alignment tab.

3. Select the Merge Cells check box, and then click OK.