Building on page setup: a spreadsheet that looks tidy on screen can still print as a mess, with intermediate calculation columns, scratch totals, and gridlines that clutter every cell. Today you take control of what leaves the page, so a supervisor, examiner, or community contact only sees the finished story.
Look at the hours-log example on the board (Date, Start, End, Hours, plus a working Check column). Which columns are for you (working maths, checks, notes) and which should a real reader see on paper or in a PDF? If you already have a spreadsheet for your Something Real project, you can answer with that sheet instead.
Print control is two switches that work independently: what you see while editing, and what a printer or PDF includes. Turning gridlines off on screen does not remove them from print.
Worked example: hours log for a local placement. Columns A–D are the public record. Column E is working only. The print range is {{range:A1:D4}}, and print gridlines are off so the PDF looks finished.
| A | B | C | D | E (working only) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Start | End | Hours | Check |
| 03/03/2026 | 09:00 | 13:00 | 4.0 | OK |
| 04/03/2026 | 09:00 | 17:00 | 8.0 | OK |
| 05/03/2026 | 10:00 | 14:30 | 4.5 | OK |
Follow the steps for your spreadsheet app to toggle gridlines, set a print area that excludes working cells, check print preview, and leave the public range ready. Use the sample hours log (or a matching practice sheet your teacher provides). Name the practice file {{code:hours_log_print_practice}} inside {{code:09_specialism/sm3/}}.
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| I turned gridlines off on screen, but they still appear in print preview | On-screen gridlines and print gridlines are separate. In Excel for the web use {{menu:File -> Print}} and the print gridlines option in print settings. In Google Sheets use {{btn:Show gridlines}} inside {{menu:File -> Print}}. |
| My print area still includes the working column | Clear the print area (Excel) or cancel the print dialog (Sheets), select only the public range including headings, then set the print area or choose {{btn:Selected cells}} again. Confirm in preview before you export. |
| Print preview is blank or shows the wrong sheet | Click once inside the sheet that holds your data, check you are not on an empty sheet tab, then open print preview again. If a print area was set on the wrong range, clear it and reset to {{range:A1:D4}} (or your public range). |
| I cannot find Print Area in Google Sheets | Google Sheets does not use an Excel-style Print Area button. Select the cells, open {{menu:File -> Print}}, open the range dropdown (usually {{btn:Current sheet}}), and choose {{btn:Selected cells}} each time you export. Save a PDF as your lasting evidence. |
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