Why can't MS just add a watermark function?
December 11, 2012 3:51 PM Subscribe
How can I add a watermark to multiple tabs of an Excel spreadsheet, that can be easily updated each time a copy is printed?
Every month I need to print off 10+ copies of an Excel 2007 spreadsheet with a large number of tabs. Each copy needs to be watermarked with a unique copy number.
As Excel doesn't have a watermarking feature, I've added a watermark to each tab using the print options (Page Setup>Page>Options>Watermarks/Forms).
The problem is that if I group the tabs and update the watermark, only the first tab updates. eg the first tab prints with a Copy 2 watermark, the remaining tabs print marked Copy 1.
I would assume that it simply can't be done, but I managed to get them to mass update in September. If I go back into the September file, I can group the tabs and change the watermark and it prints correctly on every tab. I just can't replicate it in other files.
Is there some trick to it that I'm missing? Or some other obvious solution?
Other things I've tried:
- Adding the watermark as a copy number in the header/footer. This isn't secure enough, as the copy number could be sliced off or scrubbed out.
- Adding the watermark as a picture in the header/footer. The formatting of the document hides too much of the watermark for this to work.
- Adding the watermark as Word Art. This would work great, if I could mass edit the Word Art. Otherwise, it's just as laborious as manually updating the print settings on each tab.
Our printer is a Fuji Multifunction, FX Apeos Port-II C4300, if it's relevant.
Every month I need to print off 10+ copies of an Excel 2007 spreadsheet with a large number of tabs. Each copy needs to be watermarked with a unique copy number.
As Excel doesn't have a watermarking feature, I've added a watermark to each tab using the print options (Page Setup>Page>Options>Watermarks/Forms).
The problem is that if I group the tabs and update the watermark, only the first tab updates. eg the first tab prints with a Copy 2 watermark, the remaining tabs print marked Copy 1.
I would assume that it simply can't be done, but I managed to get them to mass update in September. If I go back into the September file, I can group the tabs and change the watermark and it prints correctly on every tab. I just can't replicate it in other files.
Is there some trick to it that I'm missing? Or some other obvious solution?
Other things I've tried:
- Adding the watermark as a copy number in the header/footer. This isn't secure enough, as the copy number could be sliced off or scrubbed out.
- Adding the watermark as a picture in the header/footer. The formatting of the document hides too much of the watermark for this to work.
- Adding the watermark as Word Art. This would work great, if I could mass edit the Word Art. Otherwise, it's just as laborious as manually updating the print settings on each tab.
Our printer is a Fuji Multifunction, FX Apeos Port-II C4300, if it's relevant.
I do not have your printer, but MY printer (HP Laserjet 3600) permits me to put watermarks in. I don't know if it would work for what you've described above, but I went to Page Setup, and clicked the Options Button in the corner. (Edit: FWIW, I am also using Excel 2010)
posted by China Grover at 4:44 PM on December 11, 2012
posted by China Grover at 4:44 PM on December 11, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
YMMV. Hope your printer has decent paper handling.
posted by ryanrs at 4:22 PM on December 11, 2012