Trouble applying borders in Excel

Running Excel in Office 2003 on Windows XP Home

I have a column with about 20 rows in it. I would like to place a border
(black line) at the bottom of each cell. If I drag my mouse over all 20
cells, they highlight. I then go to format>cells>border and select the
bottom line option. It applies it to only one of the 20 cells even though
all were highlighted. If I click the first cell then Shift-Click the last
cell, they all highlight but again using the format>>>> only one cell gets
the bottom border.

If I click on the first cell, then CTRL-click on each of the other 19 cells
one at a time, they are all highlighted and then the format>>>> process
will provide a bottom border on all cells.

Why do I have to individualy click on every one of the 20 cells to get them
included in the formatting?

I don't want to format the entire column A or any cells to the right of
column A.

What am I missing? I've spent hours and much frustration over something
that's probably straight-forward.

Thanks.

Chet

Hi

With your range selected and the border dialog box in front of you, select
the border that goes horizontally through the centre of the cell
--
XL2002
Regards

William

[email protected]

"CGB" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:%[email protected]...
| Running Excel in Office 2003 on Windows XP Home
|
| I have a column with about 20 rows in it. I would like to place a border
| (black line) at the bottom of each cell. If I drag my mouse over all 20
| cells, they highlight. I then go to format>cells>border and select the
| bottom line option. It applies it to only one of the 20 cells even though
| all were highlighted. If I click the first cell then Shift-Click the last
| cell, they all highlight but again using the format>>>> only one cell gets
| the bottom border.
|
| If I click on the first cell, then CTRL-click on each of the other 19
cells
| one at a time, they are all highlighted and then the format>>>> process
| will provide a bottom border on all cells.
|
| Why do I have to individualy click on every one of the 20 cells to get
them
| included in the formatting?
|
| I don't want to format the entire column A or any cells to the right of
| column A.
|
| What am I missing? I've spent hours and much frustration over something
| that's probably straight-forward.
|
| Thanks.
|
| Chet
|
|

But I want the one that goes across the bottom. That's not the problem.
The problem is I can't get it to apply to ALL the CELLS in the highlighted
area.......only one, UNLESS I individually highlight the cells.

Chet

"William" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi
>
> With your range selected and the border dialog box in front of you, select
> the border that goes horizontally through the centre of the cell
> --
> XL2002
> Regards
>
> William
>
> [email protected]
>
> "CGB" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:%[email protected]...
> | Running Excel in Office 2003 on Windows XP Home
> |
> | I have a column with about 20 rows in it. I would like to place a
border
> | (black line) at the bottom of each cell. If I drag my mouse over all 20
> | cells, they highlight. I then go to format>cells>border and select the
> | bottom line option. It applies it to only one of the 20 cells even
though
> | all were highlighted. If I click the first cell then Shift-Click the
last
> | cell, they all highlight but again using the format>>>> only one cell
gets
> | the bottom border.
> |
> | If I click on the first cell, then CTRL-click on each of the other 19
> cells
> | one at a time, they are all highlighted and then the format>>>> process
> | will provide a bottom border on all cells.
> |
> | Why do I have to individualy click on every one of the 20 cells to get
> them
> | included in the formatting?
> |
> | I don't want to format the entire column A or any cells to the right of
> | column A.
> |
> | What am I missing? I've spent hours and much frustration over something
> | that's probably straight-forward.
> |
> | Thanks.
> |
> | Chet
> |
> |
>
>

Hi CGB,

If you follow William's suggestion, you should achieve your desired result.


---
Regards,
Norman



"CGB" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> But I want the one that goes across the bottom. That's not the problem.
> The problem is I can't get it to apply to ALL the CELLS in the highlighted
> area.......only one, UNLESS I individually highlight the cells.
>
> Chet
>
> "William" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> Hi
>>
>> With your range selected and the border dialog box in front of you,
>> select
>> the border that goes horizontally through the centre of the cell
>> --
>> XL2002
>> Regards
>>
>> William
>>
>> [email protected]
>>
>> "CGB" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:%[email protected]...
>> | Running Excel in Office 2003 on Windows XP Home
>> |
>> | I have a column with about 20 rows in it. I would like to place a
> border
>> | (black line) at the bottom of each cell. If I drag my mouse over all
>> 20
>> | cells, they highlight. I then go to format>cells>border and select the
>> | bottom line option. It applies it to only one of the 20 cells even
> though
>> | all were highlighted. If I click the first cell then Shift-Click the
> last
>> | cell, they all highlight but again using the format>>>> only one cell
> gets
>> | the bottom border.
>> |
>> | If I click on the first cell, then CTRL-click on each of the other 19
>> cells
>> | one at a time, they are all highlighted and then the format>>>>
>> process
>> | will provide a bottom border on all cells.
>> |
>> | Why do I have to individualy click on every one of the 20 cells to get
>> them
>> | included in the formatting?
>> |
>> | I don't want to format the entire column A or any cells to the right of
>> | column A.
>> |
>> | What am I missing? I've spent hours and much frustration over
>> something
>> | that's probably straight-forward.
>> |
>> | Thanks.
>> |
>> | Chet
>> |
>> |
>>
>>
>
>

OK, I'll give it a try. It didn't sound right or I didn't understand. I'll
fool around some more.

Chet

"Norman Jones" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi CGB,
>
> If you follow William's suggestion, you should achieve your desired
result.
>
>
> ---
> Regards,
> Norman
>
>
>
> "CGB" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > But I want the one that goes across the bottom. That's not the problem.
> > The problem is I can't get it to apply to ALL the CELLS in the
highlighted
> > area.......only one, UNLESS I individually highlight the cells.
> >
> > Chet
> >
> > "William" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> >> Hi
> >>
> >> With your range selected and the border dialog box in front of you,
> >> select
> >> the border that goes horizontally through the centre of the cell
> >> --
> >> XL2002
> >> Regards
> >>
> >> William
> >>
> >> [email protected]
> >>
> >> "CGB" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> >> news:%[email protected]...
> >> | Running Excel in Office 2003 on Windows XP Home
> >> |
> >> | I have a column with about 20 rows in it. I would like to place a
> > border
> >> | (black line) at the bottom of each cell. If I drag my mouse over all
> >> 20
> >> | cells, they highlight. I then go to format>cells>border and select
the
> >> | bottom line option. It applies it to only one of the 20 cells even
> > though
> >> | all were highlighted. If I click the first cell then Shift-Click the
> > last
> >> | cell, they all highlight but again using the format>>>> only one cell
> > gets
> >> | the bottom border.
> >> |
> >> | If I click on the first cell, then CTRL-click on each of the other 19
> >> cells
> >> | one at a time, they are all highlighted and then the format>>>>
> >> process
> >> | will provide a bottom border on all cells.
> >> |
> >> | Why do I have to individualy click on every one of the 20 cells to
get
> >> them
> >> | included in the formatting?
> >> |
> >> | I don't want to format the entire column A or any cells to the right
of
> >> | column A.
> >> |
> >> | What am I missing? I've spent hours and much frustration over
> >> something
> >> | that's probably straight-forward.
> >> |
> >> | Thanks.
> >> |
> >> | Chet
> >> |
> >> |
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
>
>

I did what William said and it does indeed put a border at the bottom of the
cell. Why? Why doesn't it put the line through the middle of the cell as
it shows on the button you use to select?

I've been selecting the button showing the line at the bottom of the cell ,
or clicking in the bottom of the white box to get a line at the bottom of
the cell. That doesn't work for the range I selected. What does that do?

The white box does have "text" written in that white box twice but I only
have one line of text in the cell.

Chet

"CGB" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:%[email protected]...
> OK, I'll give it a try. It didn't sound right or I didn't understand.
I'll
> fool around some more.
>
> Chet
>
> "Norman Jones" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Hi CGB,
> >
> > If you follow William's suggestion, you should achieve your desired
> result.
> >
> >
> > ---
> > Regards,
> > Norman
> >
> >
> >
> > "CGB" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> > > But I want the one that goes across the bottom. That's not the
problem.
> > > The problem is I can't get it to apply to ALL the CELLS in the
> highlighted
> > > area.......only one, UNLESS I individually highlight the cells.
> > >
> > > Chet
> > >
> > > "William" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > > news:[email protected]...
> > >> Hi
> > >>
> > >> With your range selected and the border dialog box in front of you,
> > >> select
> > >> the border that goes horizontally through the centre of the cell
> > >> --
> > >> XL2002
> > >> Regards
> > >>
> > >> William
> > >>
> > >> [email protected]
> > >>
> > >> "CGB" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > >> news:%[email protected]...
> > >> | Running Excel in Office 2003 on Windows XP Home
> > >> |
> > >> | I have a column with about 20 rows in it. I would like to place a
> > > border
> > >> | (black line) at the bottom of each cell. If I drag my mouse over
all
> > >> 20
> > >> | cells, they highlight. I then go to format>cells>border and select
> the
> > >> | bottom line option. It applies it to only one of the 20 cells even
> > > though
> > >> | all were highlighted. If I click the first cell then Shift-Click
the
> > > last
> > >> | cell, they all highlight but again using the format>>>> only one
cell
> > > gets
> > >> | the bottom border.
> > >> |
> > >> | If I click on the first cell, then CTRL-click on each of the other
19
> > >> cells
> > >> | one at a time, they are all highlighted and then the format>>>>
> > >> process
> > >> | will provide a bottom border on all cells.
> > >> |
> > >> | Why do I have to individualy click on every one of the 20 cells to
> get
> > >> them
> > >> | included in the formatting?
> > >> |
> > >> | I don't want to format the entire column A or any cells to the
right
> of
> > >> | column A.
> > >> |
> > >> | What am I missing? I've spent hours and much frustration over
> > >> something
> > >> | that's probably straight-forward.
> > >> |
> > >> | Thanks.
> > >> |
> > >> | Chet
> > >> |
> > >> |
> > >>
> > >>
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

Hi CGB

What you were doing was placing a border around the range - my suggestion
placed a border around all the cells within the range which I think is what
you were seeking to achieve.

--
XL2002
Regards

William

[email protected]

"CGB" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
| I did what William said and it does indeed put a border at the bottom of
the
| cell. Why? Why doesn't it put the line through the middle of the cell
as
| it shows on the button you use to select?
|
| I've been selecting the button showing the line at the bottom of the cell
,
| or clicking in the bottom of the white box to get a line at the bottom of
| the cell. That doesn't work for the range I selected. What does that do?
|
| The white box does have "text" written in that white box twice but I only
| have one line of text in the cell.
|
| Chet
|
| "CGB" <[email protected]> wrote in message
| news:%[email protected]...
| > OK, I'll give it a try. It didn't sound right or I didn't understand.
| I'll
| > fool around some more.
| >
| > Chet
| >
| > "Norman Jones" <[email protected]> wrote in message
| > news:[email protected]...
| > > Hi CGB,
| > >
| > > If you follow William's suggestion, you should achieve your desired
| > result.
| > >
| > >
| > > ---
| > > Regards,
| > > Norman
| > >
| > >
| > >
| > > "CGB" <[email protected]> wrote in message
| > > news:[email protected]...
| > > > But I want the one that goes across the bottom. That's not the
| problem.
| > > > The problem is I can't get it to apply to ALL the CELLS in the
| > highlighted
| > > > area.......only one, UNLESS I individually highlight the cells.
| > > >
| > > > Chet
| > > >
| > > > "William" <[email protected]> wrote in message
| > > > news:[email protected]...
| > > >> Hi
| > > >>
| > > >> With your range selected and the border dialog box in front of you,
| > > >> select
| > > >> the border that goes horizontally through the centre of the cell
| > > >> --
| > > >> XL2002
| > > >> Regards
| > > >>
| > > >> William
| > > >>
| > > >> [email protected]
| > > >>
| > > >> "CGB" <[email protected]> wrote in message
| > > >> news:%[email protected]...
| > > >> | Running Excel in Office 2003 on Windows XP Home
| > > >> |
| > > >> | I have a column with about 20 rows in it. I would like to place
a
| > > > border
| > > >> | (black line) at the bottom of each cell. If I drag my mouse over
| all
| > > >> 20
| > > >> | cells, they highlight. I then go to format>cells>border and
select
| > the
| > > >> | bottom line option. It applies it to only one of the 20 cells
even
| > > > though
| > > >> | all were highlighted. If I click the first cell then Shift-Click
| the
| > > > last
| > > >> | cell, they all highlight but again using the format>>>> only one
| cell
| > > > gets
| > > >> | the bottom border.
| > > >> |
| > > >> | If I click on the first cell, then CTRL-click on each of the
other
| 19
| > > >> cells
| > > >> | one at a time, they are all highlighted and then the format>>>>
| > > >> process
| > > >> | will provide a bottom border on all cells.
| > > >> |
| > > >> | Why do I have to individualy click on every one of the 20 cells
to
| > get
| > > >> them
| > > >> | included in the formatting?
| > > >> |
| > > >> | I don't want to format the entire column A or any cells to the
| right
| > of
| > > >> | column A.
| > > >> |
| > > >> | What am I missing? I've spent hours and much frustration over
| > > >> something
| > > >> | that's probably straight-forward.
| > > >> |
| > > >> | Thanks.
| > > >> |
| > > >> | Chet
| > > >> |
| > > >> |
| > > >>
| > > >>
| > > >
| > > >
| > >
| > >
| >
| >
|
|

Gotcha,

That's what was happening. My defense: I don't think it's very intutitive.
Now if a week from now I can just remember the logic......
I'll save this correspondence for future reference.

Next problem I have is figuring out how to sort across columns. I'll
address that in a later post. It's getting late here!

Many thanks.

Chet


"William" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:uV%[email protected]...
> Hi CGB
>
> What you were doing was placing a border around the range - my suggestion
> placed a border around all the cells within the range which I think is
what
> you were seeking to achieve.
>
> --
> XL2002
> Regards
>
> William
>
> [email protected]
>
> "CGB" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> | I did what William said and it does indeed put a border at the bottom of
> the
> | cell. Why? Why doesn't it put the line through the middle of the cell
> as
> | it shows on the button you use to select?
> |
> | I've been selecting the button showing the line at the bottom of the
cell
> ,
> | or clicking in the bottom of the white box to get a line at the bottom
of
> | the cell. That doesn't work for the range I selected. What does that
do?
> |
> | The white box does have "text" written in that white box twice but I
only
> | have one line of text in the cell.
> |
> | Chet
> |
> | "CGB" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> | news:%[email protected]...
> | > OK, I'll give it a try. It didn't sound right or I didn't understand.
> | I'll
> | > fool around some more.
> | >
> | > Chet
> | >
> | > "Norman Jones" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> | > news:[email protected]...
> | > > Hi CGB,
> | > >
> | > > If you follow William's suggestion, you should achieve your desired
> | > result.
> | > >
> | > >
> | > > ---
> | > > Regards,
> | > > Norman
> | > >
> | > >
> | > >
> | > > "CGB" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> | > > news:[email protected]...
> | > > > But I want the one that goes across the bottom. That's not the
> | problem.
> | > > > The problem is I can't get it to apply to ALL the CELLS in the
> | > highlighted
> | > > > area.......only one, UNLESS I individually highlight the cells.
> | > > >
> | > > > Chet
> | > > >
> | > > > "William" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> | > > > news:[email protected]...
> | > > >> Hi
> | > > >>
> | > > >> With your range selected and the border dialog box in front of
you,
> | > > >> select
> | > > >> the border that goes horizontally through the centre of the cell
> | > > >> --
> | > > >> XL2002
> | > > >> Regards
> | > > >>
> | > > >> William
> | > > >>
> | > > >> [email protected]
> | > > >>
> | > > >> "CGB" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> | > > >> news:%[email protected]...
> | > > >> | Running Excel in Office 2003 on Windows XP Home
> | > > >> |
> | > > >> | I have a column with about 20 rows in it. I would like to
place
> a
> | > > > border
> | > > >> | (black line) at the bottom of each cell. If I drag my mouse
over
> | all
> | > > >> 20
> | > > >> | cells, they highlight. I then go to format>cells>border and
> select
> | > the
> | > > >> | bottom line option. It applies it to only one of the 20 cells
> even
> | > > > though
> | > > >> | all were highlighted. If I click the first cell then
Shift-Click
> | the
> | > > > last
> | > > >> | cell, they all highlight but again using the format>>>> only
one
> | cell
> | > > > gets
> | > > >> | the bottom border.
> | > > >> |
> | > > >> | If I click on the first cell, then CTRL-click on each of the
> other
> | 19
> | > > >> cells
> | > > >> | one at a time, they are all highlighted and then the format>>>>
> | > > >> process
> | > > >> | will provide a bottom border on all cells.
> | > > >> |
> | > > >> | Why do I have to individualy click on every one of the 20 cells
> to
> | > get
> | > > >> them
> | > > >> | included in the formatting?
> | > > >> |
> | > > >> | I don't want to format the entire column A or any cells to the
> | right
> | > of
> | > > >> | column A.
> | > > >> |
> | > > >> | What am I missing? I've spent hours and much frustration over
> | > > >> something
> | > > >> | that's probably straight-forward.
> | > > >> |
> | > > >> | Thanks.
> | > > >> |
> | > > >> | Chet
> | > > >> |
> | > > >> |
> | > > >>
> | > > >>
> | > > >
> | > > >
> | > >
> | > >
> | >
> | >
> |
> |
>
>