Borders Issues... Not getting what I asked for

Question

Level 1

6 points

Borders Issues... Not getting what I asked for

I am trying to make the switch to Numbers, but have run into a problem with the borders.

I've searched through the Help options and the Discussions, but haven't found an answer.

All I want to do is put a border at the bottom of some cells (single cells in some cases, multiple cells in others).

With single cells, when I select the cell I want, then click the button showing a border on the bottom of the cell under "Cell Borders" in the Inspector window, and choose black as my color I end up with a black border around the entire cell.
(side question - is there a way to make the border color default to black??)

With multiple cells, when I select the row that I want, then click the same button and color as above, I end up with a black border on the bottom of the row, but with a grey border around the other 3 sides of all of the cells in the row.

I've made sure the other border buttons are all off, but I get the same result.
I've tried closing the file, reopening it and trying again, and I end up with the same result.
I've tried using the Border buttons in the Format bar and end up with the same result.

I've set my view to "Basic (No Grid)" so the grey border problem is not from the format grid.

Help!!

Message was edited by: Hurangeshu

Message was edited by: Hurangeshu

MBP 2.6GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2 GB RAM, Mac OS X (10.5.6), / G4 (AGP), 1.4 GHz PowerPC, 1.12 GB RAM, 10.5.6 / 16GB iPhone

Posted on Mar 10, 2009 2:32 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Ashka

Level 4

3,891 points

Mar 10, 2009 5:04 PM in response to Hurangeshu

You can set all borders to none by selecting the table (in the sidebar is easiest) then set the line style button to None or use the Basic no grid Style as you are..

Light grey borders show when the table is selected to make it easier to work with but the grey does not print and is invisible when the table is Not selected.

Select the column, row, cell, block of cells or the whole table you want a border on.

Inspector table > select the button with the part of the cell on that is the same as you want a border on First if not selected first the cell will gain a grey border so just select that cell and set the line to none again.. Mouse over will bring up tool tips to help and a double blue line will show on your table which border is selected.

Next change the line box > thin is set to .25 and the width box is blank, if you want a thicker line set to the black line > Set the next box to the width wanted > Select the colour button and set the colour.
You cannot set black as default ~ grey is.

It really does work OK 🙂
S.

Reply

Answer 2

Hurangeshu Author

Level 1

6 points

Mar 10, 2009 5:40 PM in response to Ashka

Setting the whole table to "None" seems to have done it. Now the line only shows up where I want it.

Is there any way to put a border on the top and bottom of a cell? I can't find a button for that and when I click on the bottom button, the top button turns off and vice-versa.

Reply

Answer 3

Ashka

Level 4

3,891 points

Mar 10, 2009 8:18 PM in response to Hurangeshu

No, there isn't an option for top & bottom borders together.
If I want a top and bottom border on a row that is not going to to change much I'll often use the outside border option and ignore the borders at each end of the row.
S.

Reply

Answer 4

Hurangeshu Author

Level 1

6 points

Mar 11, 2009 11:56 AM in response to Hurangeshu

Ok, thanks for the help.

I'm extremely disappointed in the limitations of Numbers, though. Sad. I expect so much more from Apple.

Reply

Answer 5

Ashka

Level 4

3,891 points

Mar 11, 2009 1:13 PM in response to Hurangeshu

I'm not,
I love all the options with the multiple smaller tables which are graphics, inserting text boxes, free floating comments, pictures.
Excel does't come anywhere near having what I use everyday in Numbers.
If you need a monolithic grid use an excel type app otherwise give Numbers a good workout 🙂

Reply

Answer 6

Mar 13, 2009 5:59 PM in response to Hurangeshu

Hurangeshu wrote:
Is there any way to put a border on the top and bottom of a cell? I can't find a button for that and when I click on the bottom button, the top button turns off and vice-versa.

Not a single button, but it's not difficult. In the Table Menu, select Allow Border Selection. Click on the top cell border (if you get the entire row, click a second time to get just the short border). Then hold down the Command Key and click the bottom border. With both selected, and any other borders that you want to set to the same parameters, click the controls on the Format Bar and set line type, weight and color. You're done. This isn't the same sequence that you may be used to, but it works well and is certainly no reason to avoid the program.

Jerry

Reply

Answer 7

Hurangeshu Author

Level 1

6 points

Mar 16, 2009 12:07 AM in response to Jerrold Green1

Thanks for chiming in, but that doesn't seem to work either. With "Allow Border Selection" on, and holding down Command, only one border at a time works. Every time I click the bottom border, the top border turns off and vice versa.

Reply

Answer 8

Ashka

Level 4

3,891 points

Mar 16, 2009 12:42 AM in response to Hurangeshu

Don't click the line till you have the correct curser symbol showing ~ bit like an equals sign with a double ended arrow through it for the row borders, sideways for the column borders.
select one border > hold down command key > select the next border. Do not click anywhere else except for selecting borders or to set line, width and colour on the format bar.
S.

Reply

Answer 9

Barry

Level 9

60,023 points

Mar 17, 2009 5:53 PM in response to Jerrold Green1

An alternative:

Assume Top and Bottom borders are desired for a group of cells in Row 3.

Since the top border of cells in Row 3 is also the bottom border of cells in Row 2...

Select the cells in Row 3. Click the button for Bottom border.

Select the cells in Row 2 that are in the same columns as the ones now having a Bottom border. Click on the button for Bottom border.

Regards,
Barry

Reply