I would like to urge you to add a NOPRINTROW and a NOPRINTCOL function to 
OpenOffice.  I'll explain what I mean below, and include the details of what I 
do now (in hopes that it helps).  I've never seen what I do in print, but 
because of how frequently I use it, I'd be very surprised if many others 
didn't find such functions to be almost indispensible once they found them.
 
The first spreadsheet program I used (ancient shareware: ExpressCalc) had a 
function called NOPRINT.  I could put it in a cell by itself, or use it inside 
another function (like IF(G15=0,NOPRINT,"")).  Either way, if any cell in a 
given row evaluated to "NOPRINT", then that row would not be printed when I 
printed the spreadsheet.
 
This function was very handy whenever I wanted to build a re-usable table that 
might allow for 100 rows of data entry & related calculations, but in which 
not all rows are likely to be filled every time.  For instance, I might have 
an invoice sheet listing 30 different possible items, but I only want the 5 
that happen to have quantities filled in to actually show up on the printout.
 
Unfortunately, I've never found a similar function in any other spreadsheet 
program.  However, in Excel97, I can achieve the same result using a couple of 
macros, some predefined range names, and a "Print" button that runs the 
macros.  I define a convenient column with the range name "NOPRINT", the cell 
that I want to appear (after printing) at the upper-left corner of the screen 
as "PRESTART", and the cell that I want to be active when printing is finished 
as "START".  If there happen to be any columns I don't want printed, I define 
them in a fourth range name called "COLNOPRINT".  Finally, in the NOPRINT 
column, I put the NA() function on each row that I never want printed, and I 
use an IF() statement that evaluates to NA() unless the row should be printed.
 
Then, the macros basically do this:
1) Unprotect the sheet.
2) Go to the PRESTART and START cells to get to the view I want to return to.
3) Create a "TempView" view for later use.
4) Hide any columns included in a COLNOPRINT range.
5) Find all cells in the NOPRINT column that evaluate to NA(), and hide those 
rows.
6) Print the sheet.
7) Return to the "TempView" view (to undo all the things hidden in this 
process).
8) Delete the "TempView" (so it doesn't interfere with future use and other 
sheets)
9) Protect the sheet.
 
The macros are as follows:
'
'==============================================================================
' FindRange Function
' Macro from MS Excel Tech support 5/1/96 by Paul Peck
' to find if a range exists
'
'
Function FindRange(r)
    Dim x As Range
    On Error Resume Next
    Set x = ActiveSheet.Range(r)
    On Error GoTo 0
    If Not (x Is Nothing) Then FindRange = True
End Function
'
'==============================================================================
' Print_Valid Macro
' Macro recorded & edited 11/24/99 by Tim Deaton
'
'
Sub Print_Valid()
    On Error GoTo ErrorMsg
    ActiveSheet.Unprotect
    'set up & create the view to return to when finished
    If FindRange("PRESTART") Then
        Application.Goto Reference:="PRESTART", Scroll:=True
    End If
    If FindRange("START") Then
        Application.Goto Reference:="START"
    End If
    ActiveWorkbook.CustomViews.Add "TempView", True, True
    'Hide any columns that should not be printed
    If FindRange("COLNOPRINT") Then
        Application.Goto Reference:="COLNOPRINT"
        Selection.EntireColumn.Hidden = True
    End If
    'select "noprint" range, then "n/a" cells, then hide "n/a" rows
    Application.Goto Reference:="NOPRINT"
    Selection.SpecialCells(xlFormulas, 16).Select
    Selection.RowHeight = 0
    'delete any defined print range so the entire visible area will print
    If FindRange("Print_Area") Then
        ActiveWorkbook.Names("Print_Area").Delete
    End If
    'view, then print the sheet
    ActiveWindow.SelectedSheets.PrintOut Copies:=1, Preview:=True
    'return to the view you started with, then delete that view name
    ActiveWorkbook.CustomViews("TempView").Show
    ActiveWorkbook.CustomViews("TempView").Delete
    ActiveSheet.Protect
    Exit Sub
ErrorMsg:
    Msg = Str(Err) & ": " & Error(Err)
    MsgBox Msg, vbCritical
    Resume Next
End Sub
'
'==============================================================================
' Print_Valid_Plus Macro
' Macro recorded & edited 12/15/99 by Tim Deaton
'
'
Sub Print_Valid_Plus()
    On Error GoTo ErrorMsg
    'unprotect all sheets in workbook
    For i = 1 To Sheets.Count
        Sheets(i).Unprotect
    Next i
    'call Print_Valid() procedure to setup & print the sheet
    Print_Valid
    'protect all sheets in the workbook
    For i = 1 To Sheets.Count
        Sheets(i).Protect
    Next i
    Exit Sub
ErrorMsg:
    Msg = Str(Err) & ": " & Error(Err)
    MsgBox Msg, vbCritical
    Resume Next
End Sub
'

Usually when I need a NOPRINT function, I also need to protect the sheet to 
protect various pre-defined formulas.  But the macros use VIEWs, they have 
to "Unprotect" all sheets in the workbook and then "Protect" them at the end 
of the process.  Therefore, if I have multiple sheets in the workbook, the 
PRINT button has to run the "PrintValidPlus" macro.  Otherwise, I have the 
button run the "PrintValid" macro.
 
In order for this to work well, I have to define the range names as local ONLY 
to this sheet.
   ("Sheetname!Rangename")
Otherwise, I could only use this technique on one sheet in a workbook.
 
It would be very helpful if I could do the same with views, but Excel doesn't 
offer that option.  Starting with Excel97, all views are global to the entire 
workbook -- a very bad idea in my opinion.
 
I hope I've explained this in enough detail and yet clearly enough that some 
of your spreadsheet developers will agree that it's needed, and will build it 
into the spreadsheet program.
 
In any case, thanks for taking the time to read and understand what I've 
written.
 
Sincerely,
Tim Deaton
timdeaton@twave.net (home email)
 
P.S.  I first sent this message to discuss@openoffice.org in May 2004.  I 
think that went into a forum somewhere, but I can't find it, so I don't know 
what happened to it.