Grid lines gone...

**BobJones** · 09-16-2011, 08:30 PM

I colored several columns and the grid line colors are gone.

Either the grid is shown on the layer behind the cell color layer, it has the same color as the cells, or they are not displaying at all.

I simply want the normal grid lines when the column color was white to still show through.

**gjlindn** · 09-16-2011, 08:47 PM

Hi Bob, I don't have Excel 2010, but in 2007 and earlier, if you color a block of cells and still need to see cell reference lines, you have to add borders. The space a cell occupies is entirely filled, which is why you can no longer see the gridlines, which are effectively on the background layer. That "layer" cannot be moved forward. I suspect that 2010 has no features for putting the gridlines on top. Sorry!

**MarvinP** · 09-16-2011, 09:01 PM

Hi Bob,
In 2010 the grid lines are found on the View Tab in the Show Group with a checbox of Gridlines. Click that box and see what happens.

If that isn't it then select the range of cells you have colored and click on the Home Tab in the Font Group and pull down the Borders Icon. It is the one just to the right of Underline and to the left of Background color. Click on the "All Borders" and that should do it for you.

**BobJones** · 09-16-2011, 09:09 PM

gjlindin: I figured that was the reason. Is there any way to automate this? (macro to fill in all the cells borders?)

MarvinP: as I said, I can see the "white" cells borders so the options is obviously enabled.

**MarvinP** · 09-16-2011, 09:25 PM

Hey Bob,

The gridline option is like transparent gridlines. If you want to make all of them solid and show, click the top left cell (above the row number 1 and to the left of A) which selects the entire sheet. Then select all borders as discribed above.

**BobJones** · 09-16-2011, 09:32 PM

That did work. But I cannot change the line thickness or dashed properties. It always shows up as a rather thick border ;/

**MarvinP** · 09-16-2011, 09:37 PM

Hi Bob,

Select all cells again and then click Format Cells. There is a tab on that dialog called Borders. You have 12 different styles of borders and in many colors.

See the picture of the Format Cells Dialog on this link
http://gaetc-ejournal.org/tutorials/...ms/borders.htm