Adding Gridlines to a Table

Summary: You can easily add borders to your table cells. This tip shows you how. (This tip works with Microsoft Word 6, Word 95, Word 97, Word 2000, Word 2002, and Word 2003.)

The table feature in Word is very powerful, and it is great for presenting certain forms of data. Some of the later versions of Word also include auto-formatting features that allow you to quickly format a table, including the addition of grid lines. Unfortunately, if you want to add your grid to only a portion of your table (not all the cells), then you must apply the grid manually. You can add a grid to any portion of your table in the following manner:

Select the cells in the table which you want to be included within your grid.
Choose the Borders and Shading option from the Format menu. You will see the Borders and Shading dialog box in Word 97 and later versions. (Click here to see a related figure.) It is the Cell Borders and Shading dialog box in Word 95. (Click here to see a related figure.)
Make sure the Borders tab is selected (it should be, by default).
Click on Grid in the Preset box (upper-left corner).
Change any individual line styles, as desired.
Click on OK.

Tip #108 applies to Microsoft Word versions: 6 | 95 | 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003

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Adding Gridlines to a Table