Borders are printed black when "Black and White" is selected in the Page Setup dialog box in Excel for Mac (183148)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Excel 2004 for Mac
  • Microsoft Excel X for Mac
  • Microsoft Excel 2001 for Mac
  • Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition
This article was previously published under Q183148

SYMPTOMS

When you print in Microsoft Excel, all borders are printed black regardless of the color you used to format them. For example, a border formatted with white is printed black.

CAUSE

This problem occurs if the Black And White check box on the Sheet tab in the Page Setup dialog box is selected. When you select the Black And White check box, any border color you apply around an object or cell is printed black.

WORKAROUND

To print without borders, remove the border. To do this, use one of the following methods depending whether you want to remove the border from text or from an AutoShape.

Method 1: Removing the border around cells

  1. Select the Cells with borders that you want to remove. On the Format menu, click Cells.
  2. In the Format Cells dialog box, click the Borders tab.
  3. In the Line Style box, click None.
  4. Click the Outline button, and then click OK.

Method 2: Removing the border around AutoShapes

  1. Double-click the border of the object that contains the border you want to remove.

    The Format AutoShape or Format Text Box dialog box appears.
  2. On the Colors and Lines tab, click No Line in the Color list under Line, and then click OK.

STATUS

This behavior is by design of Microsoft Excel.

MORE INFORMATION

On black-and-white printers, Microsoft Excel prints colors as gray shades. You can reduce the amount of time required by Microsoft Excel to print a worksheet that contains colors by printing colors in black and white. When you print a worksheet by using only black and white, Microsoft Excel prints fonts and borders formatted in color in black.

REFERENCES

Excel X and later versions

For more information about troubleshooting cell borders, click Excel Help on the Help menu, type troubleshoot formatting cells, click Search, and then click a topic to view it.

For more information about troubleshooting borders around drawing objects, click Excel Help on the Help menu, type troubleshoot drawing objects, click Search, and then click a topic to view it.

Excel 2001

For more information about troubleshooting cell borders, click the Office Assistant, type troubleshoot formatting cells, click Search, and then click a topic to view it.

For more information about troubleshooting borders around drawing objects, click the Office Assistant, type troubleshoot drawing objects, click Search, and then click a topic to view it.

Note If the Assistant is hidden, click the Office Assistant button on the Standard toolbar.

Excel 98

For more information about troubleshooting cell borders, click Contents And Index on the Help menu (or on the Balloon Help menu if you are using a version of the Macintosh operating system earlier than 8.0), click the Index button in Microsoft Excel Help, type borders, cells, and then click Show Topics. Select the Troubleshoot formatting cells topic, and then click Go To. If you cannot find the information that you need, ask the Office Assistant.

For more information about troubleshooting borders around drawing objects, click Contents And Index on the Help menu (or on the Balloon Help menu if you are using a version of the Macintosh operating system earlier than 8.0), click the Index button in Microsoft Excel Help, type borders, drawing objects, and then click Show Topics. Select the Troubleshoot adding borders, fills, shadows, and 3-D effects to drawing objects topic, and then click Go To. If you cannot find the information that you need, ask the Office Assistant.

Note If the Assistant is hidden, click the Office Assistant button on the Standard toolbar.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:1/8/2005
Keywords:kbprb kbprint KB183148
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