I have an Excel file with a few tables that I need to send as a PDF, but the columns keep getting cut off when I try to print it. Any idea how to make it look right?
Yes, that is an annoying problem, and to be fair it is usually print scaling, not the PDF step. In Excel, set the orientation to Landscape and choose Fit All Columns on One Page in the Print settings. Then use File then Save As and pick PDF as the file type. I would check Print Preview first to see exactly what will be cut off.
- In Excel go to Page Layout, switch orientation to Landscape if your table is wide.
- Under Scale to Fit, set Width to 1 page (leave Height on Automatic).
- Then File > Save As and pick PDF, or just print to PDF.
That scaling setting is what stops the columns getting cut off.
In Excel, select the table, set the print area, then choose Landscape and “Fit All Columns on One Page” under Page Layout > Scale to Fit. Check Print Preview first, and avoid shrinking the whole sheet too far or the text will be tiny.
In Excel, set the page to Landscape, choose the correct print area, then use “Fit All Columns on One Page” before saving as PDF. Check Print Preview and adjust margins or column widths if needed. Avoid “Fit Sheet on One Page” for long tables, as it can make the text honestly too small to read.
@cameron2002 That is exactly what I do when sending vendor schedules, and leaving the height on automatic is a great tip so it doesn’t squish everything. I also like to narrow teh margins just a bit if the text looks too tiny. Do you usually use the print to PDF option or just save as?
@Rando72836 I mostly use Save As and pick PDF, since it keeps the page setup exactly as I previewed it. Print to PDF works fine too though. One thing that helps me is dragging the margins in a bit, because Excel cuts more off than you’d expect around the edges.
Go into Page Layout, set it to Landscape, then use Print Area to pick just your tables, and check “Fit to 1 page wide” under scaling before you export to PDF. Fixes the chopped columns every time for me.
in Excel, set the print area first, then go to Page Layout and change scaling to “Fit All Columns on One Page.” Landscape orientation and narrow margins usually help with wide tables too. Check the print preview before saving as PDF, did that stop the cutoffs?
Honestly the quickest fix is in Page Layout: set Orientation to Landscape, then under Scale to Fit change Width to 1 page. Then File, Save As, PDF. Did that clear it up or are you on a Mac?