Excel, a data analysis powerhouse, often leaves users puzzled about revealing gridlines on worksheets and charts. However, users often struggle with displaying gridlines in their worksheets or charts. So, how can you show gridlines in Excel? This article provides a step-by-step guide on how to show gridlines in Excel in two easy ways, including how to display specific gridlines and those in charts and pivot tables.
What is Gridline?
In Excel, gridlines are like gentle guides that help us navigate through the sea of cells in our worksheet. They're those faint, unobtrusive lines that separate and organize our data, making it easier to read and manage. Think of them as the gentle lines on a notebook's pages, providing structure to your information canvas. While they're not as bold as the borders, gridlines serve an equally important role in keeping our Excel world organized. So, let's dive into the world of gridlines, and I'll show you how to make them work perfectly for you in your Excel journey.
How to Show Gridlines in Excel?
Now, let's dive into the various methods and situations for showing gridlines in Excel before printing. Whether you're working on a complex financial model or a simple data table, Excel offers flexible options to display gridlines effectively. Let's explore these techniques step by step to learn how to show gridlines in Excel.
Type 1: In Excel Worksheet
1. Show Gridlines (View Tab)
Before printing an Excel worksheet, it's essential to ensure that gridlines are visible for clarity. Here's a simple method to achieve this:
Step 1: Open your Excel worksheet and navigate to the "View" tab.
Step 2: In the "Show" section, check the "Gridlines" option. This action will instantly display your worksheet with gridlines.
This method is exceptionally user-friendly, making it accessible even to those with minimal Excel experience. With just a few clicks, you can effortlessly show gridlines, enhancing the readability of your document.
2. No Fill Background Color
Another effective approach to showing gridlines in Excel is by adjusting the fill color. Here's how it works:
Step 1: Select the entire sheet that you want to work on.
Step 2: Go to the "Home" tab and locate the "Font" section.
Step 3: Click on the "Fill Color" icon to open the drop-down menu and then select "No Fill".
This method is preferred when you want to customize the appearance of your worksheet. It provides a clean and polished look without the distractions of colored backgrounds. Users may find this particularly useful when creating professional documents or presentations. However, it's essential to ensure readability, especially with detailed data, as the absence of fill color may affect the visual contrast between cells.
Type 2: Specific Cells in Excel
Showing gridlines on specific cells within your Excel spreadsheet is a valuable technique for emphasizing critical data or creating clear divisions within your document. To achieve this, follow these straightforward steps:
Step 1: Begin by selecting the cells in which you want to display gridlines.
Step 2: Next, right-click anywhere within the highlighted area. A context menu will appear; from this menu, select the "Format Cells" option.
Step 3: Navigate to the "Border" tab. In this tab, you can show gridlines in Excel in color fill. To make your gridlines visible, simply change their color from white to black. Alternatively, you can use this method to assign any color of your choice to the gridlines, providing you with a high degree of flexibility.
Step 4: Make sure the presets are set according to what border you need. Once done, click OK to complete customizing your cell borders.
This method is particularly useful when you need to draw attention to specific data points or sections within your Excel worksheet. It's preferred by users who require precise control over the appearance of gridlines and is especially handy in scenarios where certain data needs to stand out. While the steps are straightforward, some users might face difficulties in choosing the right gridline color or may forget to highlight the cells before formatting.
Type 3: In Excel Chart
Adding gridlines to your Excel chart can be a helpful visual aid when you want to align data points precisely or make your chart easier to read. Here's a comprehensive step-by-step guide:
Step 1: Begin by clicking anywhere on the chart to which you want to add chart gridlines.
Step 2: Now, navigate to the Design tab, which you can find in the Chart Layouts group. Click on "Add Chart Element," then point your mouse to "Gridlines." A list of gridline options will appear. Click on the specific gridlines option you want to display. As you hover your mouse over each option, a preview of the gridlines display will appear.
This method is preferred by users who require better chart clarity or when the chart's context demands distinct gridlines. While the process is straightforward, some users might forget where to find this option in the Excel ribbon or may not be familiar with the different gridline styles.
Type 4: In Excel Pivot Table
Showing gridlines in Excel pivot tables can make your data stand out and improve readability. By applying a table style, you can easily restore gridlines and enhance the overall look of your pivot table. Here's how you can do it step by step:
Step 1: Ensure that the active cell is located within the pivot table you want to format.
Step 2: Now, go to the ribbon and select the "Table Design" tab. You'll notice three arrows on the right side of the PivotTable Style gallery.
Step 3: Click on the bottom arrow to expand the full gallery of styles, offering various formatting options.
Step 4: Choose any style from the drop-down menu, except for the first style at the top. Styles located further down in the gallery often provide more formatting choices.
Step 5: To add even more clarity to your pivot table, select the checkbox for "Banded Rows" on the left side of the PivotTable Styles gallery. This will introduce light gridlines and alternating row shading in dark styles.
It's ideal for users who need to present pivot table data professionally or make complex datasets easier to interpret. Some users might initially struggle to locate the "Design" tab or understand the purpose of table styles, but with practice, this technique becomes a valuable tool for pivot table customization.
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FAQs
Q1. How to change the color of gridlines in Excel?
Step 1: Begin by clicking on the File tab.
Step 2: Select Options from the menu that appears.
Step 3: Inside the Excel Options dialog box, navigate to the Advanced section.
Step 4: Scroll down until you reach the Display options for this worksheet section.
Step 5: Find the Gridline color drop-down menu and choose your desired color for the gridlines.
Step 6: To confirm your selection, click OK to close the dialog box.
Q2. How to print gridlines in Excel?
Step 1: Head to the Page Layout tab located in the Excel ribbon.
Step 2: In the Sheet Options group, look for the Print option under Gridlines and ensure it's checked.
Step 3: Now, when you proceed to File > Print, you'll notice that the gridlines are included in the print preview.
Mastering Gridlines in Excel
Excel’s gridlines are a powerful feature for data analysis, but their use can sometimes be confusing. This article has provided a comprehensive guide on how to show gridlines in Excel in two simple ways. As a bonus, consider using WPS Office as an alternative—it offers seamless gridline control, enhancing your Excel experience. Download WPS Office and elevate your data analysis game!
