Questions about shading and gridlines

[Julie P.]

Hi, I am using Excel 97. Whenever I try to shade or pattern a group of
cells, the gridlines disappear. Is there anyway I can prevent this?

Also, if I accidentally delete the gridlines, which option under "format" >
"cels" > "borders" restores them? I tried each line thickness, but none seem
to match the original.

Thanks!

 

[Dave Peterson]

There are gridlines that you can show via: tools|options|view tab
(and you can print via: file|page setup|sheet)

And there are borders that you can apply via Format|cells|border tab.

If you apply a fill color, you'll hide the gridlines.

But I could get a very close match (it looked exact to me) if I used:

Format|cells|border tab
25% gray
and the thin line at the bottom right of the style box.

Personally, the first thing I do is turn off gridlines. If I want borders, I'll
apply them myself. I have more control over how they look (especially in header
rows). And I can choose the style and color that I want.

 

[Julie P.]

There are gridlines that you can show via: tools|options|view tab
(and you can print via: file|page setup|sheet)

Hi Dave. thanks again. The problem for me is sometimes the grid lines
disappear, usually because I paste something in, or because I change the
borders or shading. And then I don't know how to get them back. Sometimes I
can hit "undo", but sometimes it is too late to do that.

And there are borders that you can apply via Format|cells|border tab.

If you apply a fill color, you'll hide the gridlines.

But I could get a very close match (it looked exact to me) if I used:

Format|cells|border tab
25% gray
and the thin line at the bottom right of the style box.

I will try this, but how do you select the percent gray? I use Excel 97, and
there is no option to change the percent.

 

[Julie P.]

Hi Dave. thanks again. The problem for me is sometimes the grid lines
disappear, usually because I paste something in, or because I change the
borders or shading. And then I don't know how to get them back. Sometimes I
can hit "undo", but sometimes it is too late to do that.

ok, I just found out that clearing the formats will solve this problem, at
least for when it is caused by pasting something in from the outside. Doing
"undo" will solve it if it caused by formatting borders and shading, but
only if you do it right away. if you do it too late, apparently you are
screwed.

 

[Dave Peterson]

When you have Format|Cells|border tab showing, you can use the color dropdown
box. Let your cursor linger over those colors.

For me, I'll see a tooltip of 25% gray for the 4th one down in the far right
column. (But it could be different for you--if you've changed colors in that
workbook.)

You may want to try paste special|values to keep from copying formats.

 

[Julie P.]

When you have Format|Cells|border tab showing, you can use the color dropdown
box. Let your cursor linger over those colors.

For me, I'll see a tooltip of 25% gray for the 4th one down in the far right
column. (But it could be different for you--if you've changed colors in that
workbook.)

Hi again David. Sorry for a very belated reply. I just tried it, and I found
it. It's in a different place for me, but I guess the problem was I always
click too fast to notice the present shading.

You may want to try paste special|values to keep from copying formats.

also, tried this, and it works too. It seems easier doing it this way than
clearing the formats afterward, but either way works. And to think I've been
hand typing everything into these cells all this time, instead of pasting,
in order to avoid this problem! I should have asked here first.

J.