Print Layout Guide for Numbers 3 on Mac

A workaround for the missing Layout View and Print View in Numbers 3 for Mac OS X 10.9.x. This was written on 16th May 2014 for Numbers 3.2. If later versions of Numbers 3 bring back Layout View and/or Print View, you can ignore this User Tip.

Make your own layout guide and Save As Template. There are several steps, but the process is quicker than the explanation! And if you Save As Template, you need only do this once.

The screen shots in this User Tip are for A4 paper, landscape, 297 mm by 210 mm.

1. Start with a blank template with your preferred Table. Mine is a Custom Table.

2. Set the Page (paper) size and Orientation. Menu > File > Print... to go to Print Preview. The panel on the right is Print Setup.

3. Set the Page Margins. Drag the Print Setup panel up to see the margin settings.

Click on Done to return to your document.

4. Show the rulers: Menu > View > Show Rulers (command r).

From the vertical ruler, drag an alignment guide to line up with zero on the horizontal ruler.

From the horizontal ruler, drag an alignment guide to line up with zero on the vertical ruler.

You may need to select the table and use the arrow keys to nudge it to the alignment guides. Top and Left margins now marked.

5. Now for the bottom margin.

Insert > Shape > Line, and rotate to make it horizontal. Now for the fiddly bit. Drag the line to where you think is the bottom margin (by the vertical ruler). Check this with Menu > File > Print... If the line appears on another page, it is too far down. Try again.

(When you click on Done in Print Preview, the rulers will be gone. Command r to show them again.)

Trial and error will produce this (50% zoom to make the screen shot smaller):

6. Repeat for the right margin:

7. Insert a Rectangle shape and set to No Fill. Drag it to position and resize to line up with those marks. You may want to give a little leeway by making it fit slightly inside the right and bottom margins:

Use the arrow keys and/or Format Panel > Arrange > Size to fine tune the rectangle.

8. Delete the temporary line shapes (drag across them to select, then command click on the rectangle to deselect it).

Check with File > Print.. to see if everything fits on one page.

Drag the blue alignment guides back to their rulers to delete them (if you wish).

9. Save As Template.

Now you have a rectangle to show the page margins as a guide when you arrange objects before printing to paper. Delete the rectangle when you are happy with your layout, then print to paper.