Microsoft KB Archive/74652

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Deleting Horizontal Lines that Appear on Protected Documents

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 2.x, 3.0, 4.0
 * Microsoft Excel for OS/2 versions 2.2 and 3.0
 * Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 2.x, 3.0, 4.0

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SUMMARY
Microsoft Excel underlines all unlocked cells on a worksheet or macro sheet when the document has been protected by choosing Protect Document from the Options menu, and when the Gridlines option has been turned off in the dialog box that appears when you choose Display from the Options menu.

MORE INFORMATION
In Microsoft Excel version 2.x, the unlocked cells will display underlines in the document, in print preview, and on the printed output.

In Microsoft Excel versions 3.0 or 4.0, the unlocked cells will display underlines in the document, but will neither display the underlines in print preview nor print them out.

The difference between the two workarounds below is that in Workaround 1 with Microsoft Excel versions 3.0 and 4.0, your row and column headings will not display. Microsoft Excel version 2.x will still display the row and column headings. Workaround 2 will display the row and column headings and can only be used with Microsoft Excel versions 3.0 or 4.0.

Workaround 1
To keep the underlines from displaying, previewing or printing in Microsoft Excel versions 2.x, 3.0 or 4.0, do the following:


 * 1) Activate your document.
 * 2) From the Options menu, choose Display and select the Gridlines check box.
 * 3) Set the Gridline & Heading Color options to white and choose OK.

Workaround 2
To keep the underlines from displaying in Microsoft Excel versions 3.0 or 4.0:


 * 1) Activate your document.
 * 2) Select the entire document by pressing CTRL+SHIFT+SPACEBAR.
 * 3) Unprotect your document by choosing Unprotect Document from the Options menu.
 * 4) From the Format menu, choose Border.
 * 5) Select Bottom and set the color option to match your worksheet background. Choose OK.
 * 6) Reprotect your document by choosing Protect Document from the Options menu and typing a password if preferred. Choose OK.