Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated May 9, 2023)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021
If you work where there is a good size copy machine, you already know what it means to collate something. With a copier, it means the multi-page document you are copying is placed in complete sets that can be used right away. It is the same in Word. If you have a document that consists of five pages, and you are printing multiple copies, you can either print them collated or normal. When they are collated, they are in page 1—5 order for each of the five sets. If they are not collated, five copies of the first page are printed, then five of the second, and so on.
To control collating, follow these steps if you are using Word 2007:
Figure 1. The Print dialog box.
If you are using Word 2010 or a later version the steps are a bit different because Microsoft got rid of the Print dialog box. Follow these steps, instead:
Figure 2. Printing Options Pane
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (8057) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Collating Copies.
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