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Print gridlines and headings in Excel

By Susan Harkins , Special to ZDNet Asia
Thursday, November 12, 2009 10:44 AM

A printout of data can be more useful if you print gridlines and column and row headings. The gridlines help keep you on track.

Microsoft Excel

Print gridlines and headings in Excel

The headings help you identify and find specific values. You can print both with your spreadsheet data, but neither is automatic.

Enable both when printing as follows (versions 2003 and earlier):

Choose Page Setup from the Print menu or choose Print Preview and click Setup.
Click the Sheet tab.
In the Print section, check Gridlines and Row And Column Headings.

Click OK.

In Excel 2007, do the following:

Click the Page Layout tab.
Check Print And Headings under Gridlines.

The next time you print, Excel will print gridlines and headings. You can see the difference in Print Preview. The dotted lines represent the gridlines, and the row numbers and column letters are also visible.

Microsoft Powerpoint

Add patterned lines to PowerPoint AutoShapes

You probably know how to add a pattern to fill an AutoShape, but that's just the beginning. Not only can you fill an AutoShape, you can outline it with a patterned line. The process is simple and the possibilities are almost endless.

Add an AutoShape to a slide. You'll find that option on the Drawing toolbar. Use any AutoShape you like, but start out with something simple.
With the AutoShape selected, choose a contrasting color for the border using the Line Color tool on the Drawing toolbar.

Using the Line Style tool, choose 6 pt. A thick line shows the pattern best. At this point, you have a thick, contrasting border.

Now, you're ready to add a pattern. From the Line Color icon, choose Patterned Lines.
Select a pattern and click OK. The finished product is an AutoShape with a patterned border.

Getting the right look can take a bit of experimentation, but it's worth it.

Microsoft Word

Quick access to Word's horizontal ruler

Word displays a horizontal ruler in several views: Normal, Print, and Web Layout. If it isn't visible, check Ruler on the View menu. When you're done with it, tuck it out of sight by unchecking the Ruler option. The amount of screen space you free up by hiding the ruler is inconsequential.

However, some people find the ruler distracting. In addition, you won't always want it visible. (The rule isn't available in Outline or Master Document views.)

Even with the ruler turned off, it's still available. It's just rolled up under the toolbar--it appears as a thin gray line.

If you know the right setting to check, that thin line quickly rolls down the horizontal ruler:

Choose Options from the Tools menu and click the General tab. In Word 2007, click the Office button, click Word Options, and then select Advanced in the left panel.
In the General Options section, check the Provide Feedback With Animation option.
Click OK.

With the ruler unchecked on the View menu and the above setting checked, position the mouse pointer over the gray line below the toolbar. The animation setting kicks in and like magic, the ruler rolls down. When you move the mouse pointer away from the ruler, it rolls back up. This is an easy way to keep the ruler accessible without having it visible at all times.