SpreadJS defines a print range in a worksheet by the custom name “Print_Area” whenever the user sets a print area. The main benefits of the “Print_Area” custom name are:

• The print area updates when the user inserts or deletes a row or column.
• The custom name can be used in formula functions.
• The print area updates automatically when a user sets "Print_Area" to a formula.

Interaction with Name Manager

The SpreadJS Name Manager adds a "Print_Area" custom name with the same reference as the set print area. It can be selected in the worksheet by accessing it through the name box dropdown.

The users can also manually create or edit the "Print_Area" custom name like any other custom name through the Name Manager dialog. The custom name is neither culture-related nor case-sensitive.

Interaction with Print Information

The print range fetched from the “Print_Area” custom name sets the values of the following PrintInfo class methods: rowStart, rowEnd, columnStart, and columnEnd.

Conversely, the class methods set up the “Print_Area” custom name in the SpreadJS worksheet. It is recommended to set the print range either through the custom name "Print_Area" or through the PrintInfo methods, and not together.

Examples

The following code sample shows how the “Print_Area” custom name affects the PrintInfo methods.

// Configure Workbook and Worksheet
var spread = new GC.Spread.Sheets.Workbook("ss");
var sheet = spread.getActiveSheet();

var printInfo = sheet.printInfo();

// Print_Area affecting PrintInfo
sheet.addCustomName("Print_Area", "=A1:B5")
console.log(printInfo.rowStart())   // Output: 0
console.log(printInfo.rowEnd())     // Output: 4

sheet.removeCustomName("Print_Area", "")
console.log(printInfo.rowStart())   // Output: -1
console.log(printInfo.rowEnd())     // Output: -1

The following code sample shows how the PrintInfo methods affect the “Print_Area” custom name.

// PrintInfo affecting Print_Area
printInfo.rowStart(1)
// Assume the rowCount of the sheet is 20
sheet.getCustomName("Print_Area")
// Return a NameInfo instance, and the formula is "=2:20"
console.log(printInfo.rowStart())   // Output: 1
console.log(printInfo.rowEnd())     // Output: -1

printInfo.rowEnd(15)
sheet.getCustomName("Print_Area")
// Return a NameInfo instance, and the formula is "=2:16"
console.log(printInfo.rowEnd())     // Output: 15

The following code sample shows how the “Print_Area” custom name and the PrintInfo methods affect each other.

// Print_Area and PrintInfo affecting each other
sheet.addCustomName("Print_Area", "=A1:B5")
console.log(printInfo.rowStart())   // Output: 0
console.log(printInfo.rowEnd())     // Output: 4

printInfo.rowStart(1);
sheet.getCustomName("Print_Area")
// Return a NameInfo instance, and the formula is "=A2:B5"

Interaction with Formulas

SpreadJS provides the ability to use the custom name “Print_Area” in formulas. This helps to apply conditional statements that can create dynamic print areas in a worksheet.

For example, you can enter the formula “=IFERROR(ROWS(Print_Area),"none")” to display the number of rows to print, and display "none" if it does not exist.

You can also update the print area automatically depending on whether values are inserted in a cell as shown in the code example below.

// Configure Workbook and Worksheet
var spread = new GC.Spread.Sheets.Workbook("ss");
var sheet = spread.getActiveSheet();

var printInfo = sheet.printInfo();

// Formula with conditional statement
sheet.addCustomName("Print_Area", "=IF(Sheet1!$A$1,Sheet1!$B$1:$C$5,Sheet1!$D$5:$F$8)")
// Assume A1 is a truthy value
console.log(printInfo.rowStart())
// Output: 0
console.log(printInfo.rowEnd())
// Output: 4

printInfo.rowStart(1);
sheet.getCustomName("Print_Area")
// Return a NameInfo instance, and the formula is "=B2:C5"