Borders refers to lines that separate a table into cells, rows, and columns. You’ve seen in other chapters that borders are not unique to tables, and can be applied to characters and paragraphs as well. They also can be applied to other Word document elements, such as text boxes, frames, and graphics. Any of the border tools can be used to control borders in tables. None of the border tools offer Live Preview, although the Borders and Shading dialog box does provide a generic preview.

You have two strategies for working with borders. You can use the holistic approach by launching the Borders and Shading dialog box. For a detailed description of how to apply borders using the Borders and Shading dialog box, see the “Borders and boxes”.

The second strategy uses an ad hoc approach, by using the Borders, Line Style, Line Weight, Pen Color, Draw Table, and Eraser tools in the Design tab, shown in Figure 9-28. Much, if not all, of what you can do using the Borders and Shading dialog box, you can also do using the Borders tool, in combination with the Draw Borders group in the Design tab. Use whichever method works better for you, and it doesn’t have to be the same method or set of tools each time.

You should experiment with the Borders tools to get a feel for how they work. Even if you generally prefer the dialog box approach, the individual tools are great when you want to touch up or polish the look of a table. Keep in mind that you can use Ctrl+Z to remove the last effect applied, and F4 to reapply the most recent effect to a new selection.

When you use the Borders tool, it applies the current style, weight, and color shown in the Draw Borders group. For example, if you use the Borders tool in the configuration shown in Figure 9-29, the line style will be the triple line shown, 21?4 points, and black (which might be hard to see in a book with grayscale pictures). Therefore, to apply a black, 21?4 point triple line to the outside perimeter of the currently selected table cells, rows, columns, or complete table, choose Borders?Outside Borders, as shown in Figure 9-29.

You can also change existing borders using the Draw Table tool. Like the Borders tool, the Draw Table tool also takes its cue from the currently selected style, weight, and color.

To change a particular border to blue without changing the other border attributes, for example, use the style and weight controls to reset those controls so that they match the current border settings. Use the Pen Color control to choose the shade of blue that you want. Finally, click Draw Table to turn the tool on (it will look pushed-in), and then click each of the borders you want dyed blue. Note that the Draw Table tool affects only one border at a time.

To turn the Draw Table tool off, either click it again (it’s a toggle) or press the Esc key.

Using either the Draw Table tool or the Borders tool, it’s possible to place ugly diagonal lines in table cells. Unfortunately, the effect is purely visible, not functional. You cannot place data above and below those lines. Some folks use these ugly lines to indicate that the cells contain no data.

Some might well imagine that emptiness or subtle shading conveys the same information, and somewhat more elegantly and eloquently. It’s all a matter of style and aesthetics. If you want ugly diagonal lines and X’s in your tables (yes, the diagonals can go both ways at the same time), it’s entirely up to you. It’s your table.

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