Numbers adding white lines to PDF

Question

Level 1

11 points

Numbers adding white lines to PDF

Does anyone know how to remove white lines that keep showing when I convert a numbers document to a PDF? I have colored bars that show solid in numbers, but when I convert it to PDF the gridlines still show up as faint white lines. I do have cells that I am using in the spreadsheet, but they do not have borders. I need help figuring out how to eliminate the white lines when converting to PDF. It seems that Numbers just chooses to add them.

iMac, OS X El Capitan (10.11.5)

Posted on Jul 2, 2016 12:09 PM

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Answer 1

Barry

Level 9

60,023 points

Jul 2, 2016 11:27 PM in response to fleshparade1

HI fp,

What you are seeing is the cell borders in rows 2 and 3.

Here are screen shots of a three row, four column Numbers table made to resemble yours, and of a pdf image of the same table, produced using Print > PDF > Open PDF in Preview.

From Numbers:

From Preview:

From Preview (re'printed' after noticing I hadn't change the text colour to white in A2) 😊

How produced:

For each row:

Select the whole row of cells by clicking the row reference tab for that row from the list to the left of the table.
Open the Format Inspector, and choose Cell
Choose Fill > Color fill, then click on the color wheel beside the well to open the Colors panel.

Use the sliders (or other method) to select the colour you want for fill in that row*
In the Cell Borders section, click the All borders button (top right). Set the borders to the same colour as the fill.
Repeat for the other rows.

Touch ups:

The last colour you apply to All borders will be used for the border between two rows. To switch colours on only that border, choose the upper row and the button for Bottom borders, or choose the lower row and the button for Top borders, then make the change.

*The eye dropper tool can be used to select a colour from the screen. Click on the tool, then drag the magnifier that opens to place the center dot on the colour you want to select. Click, and that colour fills the large well beside the dropper and is applied to the fill or border well of the selected cells, depending which you were currently working on.

To save a colour for future use, click on the color well to the left of the dropper, then drag the colour to one of the smaller squares in the palette to the right of the dropper, Drop the colour on a square, and it will replace the existing square in the palette.

Regards,

Barry

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Answer 2

Barry

Level 9

60,023 points

Jul 3, 2016 10:30 PM in response to fleshparade1

Here's a second go, this time setting all borders in the three rows to "No border".

Unfortunately, this method does produce thin white lines that I was able to see in the PDF (lower image).

In Numbers:

Printed to PDF:

"I find it odd that Numbers would prevent you from creating solid color blocks without lines."

The colour blocks are 'solid' within each cell, but there are four cells in each row above. Each is a separate element, and is coloured separately, as are the borders between each cell and its neighbours.

Here's a third go, this one using merged cells, all four in rows 1 and 2, the first three in row 3, with the fourth left separate to reserve the position of "Cost."

Row 3 was left unmerged. Numbers would not let me merger three cells in this row, and I did not explore further.

In Numbers:

Printed to PDF:

In general, my recommendation regarding merging cells is "Don't do it."

Merged cells prevent sorting the table, and have had other negative effects reported. They are seldom necessary.

Should merging the cells produce the result you want, you need to be aware that this can cause issues that may outweigh the benefit. Keep your eyes open for possible related issues, and b prepared to back out gracefully if and insurmountable ones arise.

Regards,

Barry

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Answer 3

Yellowbox

Level 7

21,945 points

Jul 8, 2016 5:39 AM in response to fleshparade1

Hi fleshparade,

Are those colour fills in Table Cells?

Are the coloured rows within the Table Name?

Are you using a Text Box as a Title above the Table?

Please post a screen shot with the Numbers Table selected so that we can see Row and Column Labels. For example,

Please reply with your overall aim. I do not understand why "IT Support" and "Onsite & Help Desk" are part of the Table. Perhaps "Hourly Options" and "Cost" should be in Row 1 (a Header Row).

Don't merge cells! Merging is rarely a solution, as Barry said.

More information will lead to a solution 🙂.

Regards,

Ian

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Answer 4

fleshparade1 Author

Level 1

11 points

Jul 8, 2016 6:52 AM in response to Yellowbox

Hello Ian,

Are those colour fills in Table Cells? Yes, not merged, just filled

Are the coloured rows within the Table Name? No

Are you using a Text Box as a Title above the Table? No, it's the first row of the table

Here is a screenshot:

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Answer 5

Yellowbox

Level 7

21,945 points

Jul 8, 2016 7:41 AM in response to fleshparade1

Hi fleshparade,

Thanks for your reply. Will this work for you?

A Text Box above the Table.

That leaves the Table free to do its job (calculate).

Another idea (and forgive me if I have misunderstood the hierarchy of your overall aim)

Document name is "IT SUPPORT"

Sheet (Tab) name is "Onsite & Help Desk"

Table Name is "Price List USD"

Regards,

Ian.

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Answer 6

fleshparade1 Author

Level 1

11 points

Jul 8, 2016 8:10 AM in response to Yellowbox

Hi Ian,

Unfortunately that setup won't work. Each page will have multiple tables. The long color borders help separate them.

I've included an example without any company specific information as a reference below. Each section has options below and then the corresponding price to the far right.

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Answer 7

Barry

Level 9

60,023 points

Jul 6, 2016 11:58 AM in response to fleshparade1

Hi fp,

If exporting to Excel and creating the PDF from there,does work, I'd suggest using the Provide Numbers Feedback item in the Numbers menu in Numbers to file a bug report.

If exporting to Excel and creating the PDF from there,does not work, I'd suggest using the Provide Prview Feedback item in the Preview menu in Preview to file a bug report.

In either case, briefly describe the issue and the steps to reproduce it, and reference this discussion at Apple Support Communities:

Numbers adding white lines to PDF

Regards,

Barry

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Answer 8

fleshparade1 Author

Level 1

11 points

Jul 3, 2016 8:53 AM in response to Barry

Thanks for the suggestion Barry. However, when I try this method the lines become more prominent even though I've matched the colors precisely with the eye dropper tool. The lines are still white in the PDF and are more visible. Any other options? I find it odd that Numbers would prevent you from creating solid color blocks without lines.

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Answer 9

fleshparade1 Author

Level 1

11 points

Jul 5, 2016 7:50 AM in response to Barry

Thanks for all the suggestions Barry. Still no luck on my end. The lines still show up when I convert to PDF after trying all the methods you mentioned. I'm also unable to merge some of the cells for some odd reason. The green blocks have merge cells greyed out when I attempt to merge them.

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Answer 10

Barry

Level 9

60,023 points

Jul 5, 2016 11:42 PM in response to fleshparade1

With me, the greyed 'merge cells came on the third row I attempted to merge.

Have you tried both routes to making a PDF? I've just used the Print > PDF > open PDF in Preview route. There's also File > Export > PDF.

Other than that, I'm pretty much out of ideas.

Regards,

Barry

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Answer 11

fleshparade1 Author

Level 1

11 points

Jul 6, 2016 7:48 AM in response to Barry

Yes, I've tried every option including different quality options when exporting. Still no luck. I may just have to export to excel and see if I have the same problem there, or if that will fix the issue. I can't believe Apple is making something so simple, so difficult. Thanks for all of your suggestions! I appreciate your input.

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