WD97: Merged Table Cells and Rows Do Not Print Bottom Border

• Microsoft Word 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

When you merge cells vertically, if the cells contain a left and right border in the last row of a table, the bottom part of the left and right border will not be printed, even though it shows up correctly in print preview.

NOTE: This behavior occurs only when the merged cells span more than one page. Note also that a bottom horizontal border is not printed when merged cells span a page break. This is a different issue from the one described in this article.

CAUSE

When you vertically merge cells with a left and right border, the bottom part of the left and right border is not "pushed down" so that the border applies to the bottom of the new cells.

RESOLUTION

To correct this problem, install Microsoft Word 97 Service Release 1 (SR- 1).

NOTE: This will not correct the problem where the horizontal border of a merged cell does not print if the merged cell spans a page break.

To work around this problem, after merging the cells, follow these steps to remove and reapply the border settings:

1. Select the merged cells.

2. On the Format menu, click Borders And Shading.

3. Click the Borders tab.

4. Under Setting, click to select None.

5. Make sure the Apply To area is set to Cell.

6. Click OK.

7. Make sure that the cell is still selected.

8. On the Format menu, click Borders And Shading.

9. Click the Borders tab.

10. Under Setting, click the settings that you want to use for the border.

11. Click OK.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Word 97 for Windows. This problem was corrected in Microsoft Word 97 SR-1.

For additional information about SR-1, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q172475
   TITLE     : OFF97: How to Obtain and Install MS Office 97 SR-1

MORE INFORMATION

This problem only occurs if the height of the cells is relatively small.

REFERENCES

For more information about merging table cells, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE ID: Q157478
   TITLE     : WD97: What's New in Word 97

NOTE: If the Assistant is hidden, click the Office Assistant button on the Standard toolbar. If Word Help is not installed on your computer, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q120802
   TITLE     : Office: How to Add/Remove a Single Office
               Program or Component