20. Spreadsheets - Setting Orientation (IGCSE ICT 0417)

Objective

Be able to set the orientation of a spreadsheet to portrait or landscape.

Introduction

The orientation of a spreadsheet determines whether it displays more content vertically (portrait) or horizontally (landscape). Choosing the correct orientation is crucial for readability and efficient use of space, especially when dealing with large datasets or charts.

Setting the Orientation

The process for setting the orientation varies slightly depending on the spreadsheet software being used (e.g., Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, LibreOffice Calc). However, the general steps are similar.

Microsoft Excel

1. Go to the Page Layout tab on the ribbon.
2. In the Page Setup group, click on Orientation.
3. Select either Portrait or Landscape from the dropdown menu.

Google Sheets

1. Go to File in the menu bar.
2. Select Print.
3. In the Print settings section, find the Orientation dropdown menu.
4. Select either Portrait or Landscape.
5. Click Next and then Print.

LibreOffice Calc

1. Go to Format in the menu bar.
2. Select Page Setup....
3. In the Sheet Layout tab, find the Orientation dropdown menu.
4. Select either Portrait or Landscape.
5. Click OK.

Understanding Portrait and Landscape

Portrait: In portrait orientation, the shorter side of the paper is vertical, and the longer side is horizontal. This is the standard orientation for most documents and spreadsheets.

Landscape: In landscape orientation, the longer side of the paper is vertical, and the shorter side is horizontal. This is useful for displaying wide charts or tables that would otherwise be cut off in portrait orientation.

When to Use Each Orientation

Orientation	Use Case
Portrait	Most standard spreadsheets, especially those with less data or simpler layouts.
Landscape	Spreadsheets with many columns, wide charts, or tables that require more horizontal space to be fully displayed.

Practice

Open a new spreadsheet in your preferred software and practice setting the orientation to both portrait and landscape. Observe how the layout of the spreadsheet changes.