Use custom views in Excel to save specific worksheet layouts

Excel's Custom View settings make it easy to see specific information in a cluttered spreadsheet or create different layouts for your data. You can use it to create custom headers or footers, create a print-friendly version of your spreadsheet, or you can create a view where frozen panes or split rows are enabled.

The first thing you'll want to do is create the view that you want to save as a custom view. For example, let's say in some cases you want to be able to hide a series of rows in your custom view. First, create a custom view for when all rows and columns are displayed:

1. Open your worksheet and go to the View tab and click Custom Views .
2. In the dialog that appears, click Add .
3. Type a name for your Custom View (eg. “Full View”). Make sure Hidden rows, columns and filters settings is checked.

Next, create custom view settings for when specific columns or rows are hidden:

1. Select the rows or columns you want to hide, right click on them and click Hide .
2. Back to Custom Views dialog and click Add .
3. Type a name for your custom View (eg. “Hidden View”). Again, make sure Hidden rows, columns and filters settings is checked.
4. You can now easily switch between the two views by clicking Custom Views and double-clicking the display configuration you want to see.

To see the process in action, watch the video below:

To remove a custom view, return to the Custom View dialog, click the view you want to remove, and click the Remove button.

What other scenarios can you use custom views for?

• Zoom in on a certain part of the worksheet using the Zoom to Selection feature on the View tab.
• Freeze the top row in your worksheet using the Freeze Panels> Freeze top row feature on the View tab.
• View two workbooks side by side using the View Side by Side feature on the View tab.
• You can combine various options in a custom view:turn off grid lines, headers and formula bar, zoom selection and freeze top row, for example.

Unfortunately, the Custom View setting doesn't work if you want to toggle different formatting features on font option, highlight, etc.

Are you using Excel's custom views? Have you found any creative uses for the feature? Let us know in the comments.