Tip of the week # 495
7 October 2016


Print the lines between rows and columns to make reading easier (Microsoft Excel) *

In Excel, borders can add visual interest to a worksheet, as well as make the data easier to read. As you know, the lines that you see between the rows and columns don't appear when you print the worksheet. You can obviously add borders around the cells, but did you know that there is a very simple and quick way to make the gridlines appear in your printed worksheets?

Here's how:

  1. Select the sheet(s) you want to print.
  2. On the Page Layout tab, in the Sheet Options group, tick the Print check box.

The gridlines will only be printed if the cell contains data. If you want to print gridlines around empty cells, you must set a print area to include those cells.

  1. Select the cells including the empty cells you want to print the gridlines of.
  2. On the Page Layout tab, click on the Print Area button and select Set Print Area.

By the way, both the Print Gridlines as well as Print Area settings are saved along with your workbook, so you might at some point want to clear the options.

And finally, any borders that you added manually will be printed instead of the gridlines.


* Unless stated otherwise, these tips were written for Microsoft Office 2010.