You may create multiple custom views quite easily. In Project 2013 apply the custom zoom and other view enhancements you need. On the Task Ribbon click the drop down under the Gantt Chart button and select Save View. Give the view a name. You can then return to the standard Gantt Chart view and then select the same button and re-set the standard view.

thanks!!! i guess you couldnt do this in 2007?

also, i'm having trouble controlling my printing settings, which i didn't back in 2007 version - i am forcing printing to occur on one page and specifyinh start and end dates. The problem i'm having is that the end date is not actually being picked up in the print. Not sure what's going on but I wonder if it is actually including the entire task that falls on the cutoff line.

it's hard to explain, but i'll describe the scenario - My last task is a year long, say from Jan 2016 to Dec 2016. I have specified that the end date of my printing range is Feb 2016 but in both the preview and the resultant print I am still getting the entire task...any ideas?