How to edit border lines in Textedit tables?

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dymar Author

Level 1

34 points

How to edit border lines in Textedit tables?

I haven't found a way to make any kind of changes to table border lines in Textedit (Mavericks).

Is there a way?

Thanks.

MacBook Pro, OS X Mavericks (10.9.5)

Posted on Mar 26, 2018 9:31 AM

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Answer 1

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VikingOSX

Level 10

123,962 points

Mar 27, 2018 7:20 AM in response to dymar

The floating table palette pops on the screen after you select Format : Table… in El Capitan 10.11.6 — which is what I am using.

Since TextEdit does not incorporate proper word processing tables, you cannot select an entire row, or column with a single click. Each cell must be double-clicked individually for selection, or additively, by holding down the shift or command key.

With a cell or cells selected, reducing the cell border from its default 1 to 0 will remove the left, right, and top border line — if there are cells below the selection. If the selection is the bottom row, then it will remove the left, right, and bottom cell borders. Experiment.

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Answer 2

VikingOSX

Level 10

123,962 points

Mar 26, 2018 11:47 AM in response to dymar

When you insert a table in Text Edit, a floating table panel appears, which on a cell-by-cell basis, will allow you to change the default cell border from 1 to 0. That removes the individual cell border lines. You cannot select the entire table as this disables the cell border size control.

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Answer 3

dymar Author

Level 1

34 points

Mar 26, 2018 12:13 PM in response to VikingOSX

Thanks. I don't see a floating table panel. Was that possibly added in a later OS than Mavericks (10.9.5)?

I do see that right-clicking in a table brings up a rudimentary set of options that include some for border lines.

I'll have to play around with those. So far seems kind of tricky (e.g., lines appearing only on 3 sides of a cell).

Also, doesn't appear you can select cells (i.e., >1) in a 'column'(?) When I try to, the selection moves horizontally as well as vertically. So even though multiple cells can be selected, they may not be the ones you want (if you want those in a particular column only).

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Answer 4

dymar Author

Level 1

34 points

Mar 26, 2018 5:38 PM in response to BobHarris

Right, that's what I see, but only after first right-clicking & selecting 'Table' from the pop-up menu.

Isn't a 'floating' object one you don't have to select -- i.e., one that would appear automatically just from hovering the mouse/trackpad pointer over the object (table, in this case)?

I take it there's no way to 'select a column' in Textedit tables?

Thanks.

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Answer 5

BobHarris

Level 9

57,011 points

Mar 26, 2018 5:09 PM in response to dymar

This is from Snow Leopard 10.6

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How to edit border lines in Textedit tables?

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