How to expand grid?

[bettis1]

I am adding data to an existing sheet and I have had to add a column to the left and rows at the bottom of the sheet. How do I get the grid to include these new areas? Alternatively, how do I remove the entire grid?

Obviously, I am a user with the most basic skills.

Thanks,
Bob

[FDibbins]

Hi and welcome to the forum

Not sure what you mean by "grid"? What are you working with and what are you trying to do?

[bettis1]

I am using Excel for MAC 2011 v. 14.4.2

Bob

[bettis1]

Thanks for the welcome!

The sheet to which I am adding the new data has lines (grid) separating each of the existing cells. However, when I have inserted new columns and rows there are no lines around those cells.

Bob

[FDibbins]

OK I think you mean you have "drawn lines" around all of your data? Are the cells below and to the right of your grid/data a faded blue/grey, compared tro a black border around your data?

If so, you can add borders to your new rows/columns using the button on the Home tab in the Font section. B (bold) I (italics) U (underline) and then a small square with a cross inside it...depending what cell you are in, it will either be mostly dotted with a solid bottom line or all solid lines. Highlight what you want borders around, click the drop-down arrow on that button and play around with the options offered

If hyou dont like what you get, use CTRL Z to undo what you just did.

Likewise, you can use that same button to remove all or some of the borders/grid lines

Hope this helps?

[bettis1]

Yes, the "gridlines" are the guidelines that you normally see in a worksheet to separate the columns and rows. But they didn't show up when I added the new columns and rows. I know how to add the borders but those are different from what I am describing. When I check or uncheck the "grid" box it doesn't seem to have any effect.

[newdoverman]

You may be able to use the Format Painter that is on the Home tab. Click in a cell that has the formatting that you want, click the Format Painter and then with the cursor, click and hold the left mouse button on one of the cells that you want to format and drag to select cells. All cells selected will have the formatting of the "source" cell.

Another way is to click on a cell and click Copy or Ctrl + C then hold down the Ctrl key and select all the cells that you want to have that formatting. When all the cells are selected, click on the arrow under Paste and choose Formatting. All selected cells will then be formatted the same as the original.

If you don't like the results, use Ctrl + Z to undo.

[FDibbins]

hmm when I turn gridlines off in the settings, they all go away, when I turn them on again, they all come back.

Any chance of a SMALL sample workbook (cleaned) showing what the problem is?

[bettis1]

Thanks FDibbins and newdoverman. I think that with your assistance and suggestions here I will be able to work out the problem. I appreciate your prompt assistance.

Bob

[FDibbins]

OK good luck Please keep us posted

[newdoverman]

If the cell borders have been manually formatted, then the toggle for gridlines will only affect the cells without manual border formatting.

[FDibbins]

Good point Ron

[bettis1]

newdoverman,

I think that was the problem. I was trying to update a data file for a volunteer group and I was using an old spreadsheet that they had previously used. I suspect that it was incorrectly formatted in the beginning. The suggestions that I have gotten from you all are working fine. (The next volunteer will have to deal with the modifications that I have made. Such is the price for work at this pay grade)

Bob

[FDibbins]

you'r welcome. If this answered your question, please take a moment to mark the thread as "solved" - it helps keep things neat and tidy lol, and consider adding the reputation to those that helped (see points 2 & 3 below my 1st post to you)

[newdoverman]

Thank you for the feedback.

Good luck with your group.