Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Word 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Word, click here: Easily Changing Print Order.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated June 27, 2020)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
Bob wonders if there is an easy way to switch from normal print order to reverse print order and back again. He understands it can be changed in the Print dialog box, but he is looking for a command he can place on the toolbar, instead.
The easiest way to implement a macro approach would be to create two macros. One is used to set normal print order, and the other is used to set reverse print order:
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Word 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Word, click here:
Sub ForwardPrint()
Options.PrintReverse = False
End Sub
Sub ReversePrint()
Options.PrintReverse = True
End Sub
The macros are very, very simple and can be assigned to individual toolbar buttons. If you prefer to implement a solution that uses a single macro (so you only need to use one toolbar button), then the following may work just fine:
Sub SwapPrint()
With Options
If .PrintReverse = True Then
.PrintReverse = False
MsgBox ("Now printing in normal order")
Else
.PrintReverse = True
MsgBox ("Now printing in reverse order")
End If
End With
End Sub
This approach toggles the PrintReverse property, so it switches between normal and reverse order. The macro also displays a dialog box that indicates the current printing order.
Note:
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (590) applies to Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Word (Word 2007 and later) here: Easily Changing Print Order.
Learning Made Easy! Quickly teach yourself how to format, publish, and share your content using Word 2021 or Microsoft 365. With Step by Step, you set the pace, building and practicing the skills you need, just when you need them! Check out Microsoft Word Step by Step today!
Need to stop the printing of a long document? Here's how to stop Word, along with why stopping Word may not be the only ...
Discover MoreIf you go to print a document and find out that your quotation marks aren't printing properly, there could be a number of ...
Discover MoreNeed to print a copy of a document but you don't care if it looks as "pretty" as you want the final printout to look? You ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
Got a version of Word that uses the menu interface (Word 97, Word 2000, Word 2002, or Word 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.
Visit the WordTips channel on YouTube
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments