Getting rid of dotted lines in Excel can be a bit of a nuisance, but it’s actually quite simple once you know how. These lines often appear when you’re working with page breaks. They are there to guide you, but if you prefer a cleaner look for your spreadsheet, removing them is just a few clicks away. In the following steps, I’ll walk you through how to do just that.
Step by Step Tutorial on How to Get Rid of Dotted Lines in Excel
Before we dive into the steps, it’s important to understand that we’re talking about page break lines here. These are the lines that Excel uses to show you where the pages will end if you print your document. They can be helpful, but if you’re not planning to print, they can also be distracting. Let’s get rid of them!
Step 1: Open Excel Options
Open the Excel Options dialog box by clicking on ‘File’ then ‘Options’.
When you open the Excel Options dialog box, you’ll see a lot of different settings that you can adjust. These settings allow you to customize how Excel works for you.
Step 2: Click on ‘Advanced’
In the Excel Options dialog box, click on the ‘Advanced’ tab on the left side.
The ‘Advanced’ tab is where you’ll find more detailed settings that you can adjust. It’s like the control center for how Excel behaves.
Step 3: Scroll Down to ‘Display options for this worksheet’
Under the ‘Advanced’ tab, scroll down until you find the ‘Display options for this worksheet’ section.
This section contains settings that are specific to the worksheet you’re currently working on.
Step 4: Uncheck ‘Show page breaks’
Uncheck the box next to ‘Show page breaks’ to remove the dotted lines from your worksheet.
Once you uncheck this box, the page break lines will disappear from your worksheet, giving you a cleaner look.
After you’ve completed these steps, your Excel worksheet will be free of those pesky dotted lines, and you’ll have a much tidier workspace. The changes will apply immediately, and you’ll be able to work without the distraction of those lines.
Tips on How to Get Rid of Dotted Lines in Excel
- Remember that these dotted lines are different from cell borders, so this method won’t affect any borders you’ve set up in your spreadsheet.
- If you want to bring back the page break lines, just go back into options and re-check ‘Show page breaks’.
- These settings apply per worksheet, so you’ll need to repeat these steps for each worksheet where you want to remove the lines.
- If you’re working with a large number of worksheets and want to apply this setting to all of them, consider creating a template with page break lines turned off.
- Keep in mind that removing page break lines won’t affect how your document prints. It only changes what you see on your screen.
Frequently Asked Questions on How to Get Rid of Dotted Lines in Excel
What are the dotted lines in Excel?
The dotted lines in Excel are page break lines that show where the page will end if you print your document.
Will removing the dotted lines change the way my document prints?
No, removing the dotted lines won’t change the way your document prints. It only changes the visual layout on your screen.
Can I remove the dotted lines from multiple worksheets at once?
No, Excel’s settings for page break lines are specific to each worksheet, so you’ll need to change the settings for each one individually.
Are these dotted lines the same as cell borders?
No, these dotted lines are not the same as cell borders. Cell borders are the lines that you can add around cells to create a grid or frame them.
Can I customize which dotted lines appear?
No, the ‘Show page breaks’ option is an all-or-nothing setting. You can’t choose to show some page breaks and hide others.
Summary
- Open Excel Options
- Click on ‘Advanced’
- Scroll down to ‘Display options for this worksheet’
- Uncheck ‘Show page breaks’
Conclusion
Remember, those dotted lines in Excel are there to help you visualize where pages will end when printing. However, if you’re not planning on hitting ‘Print’, they can be more of an eyesore than anything else. By following the steps outlined above, you can easily remove them and enjoy a cleaner-looking spreadsheet.
If you find yourself missing those dotted guides, fear not; it’s just as easy to bring them back. And if you’re working on multiple worksheets, just rinse and repeat the process. With a few clicks, you’re in control of your Excel environment.
Now that you know how to get rid of dotted lines in Excel, your worksheets will be sleeker and more visually appealing. And hey, if you ever decide to print, you can always bring those lines back with just as much ease. Happy Excel-ing!
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read over 50 million times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.