User Defined Borders in Text Documents

You can apply a variety of different cell borders to selected cells in a Writer table and to the whole table. Other objects in text documents can have user defined borders, too. For example, you can assign borders to page styles, to frames, and to inserted pictures or charts.

  1. Select the cell or a block of cells in a Writer table.

  2. Choose Table - Properties.

  3. In the dialog, click the Borders tab.

  4. Choose the border options you want to apply and click OK.

The options in the Line arrangement area can be used to apply multiple border styles.

Selection of cells

Depending on the selection of cells, the area looks different.

Selection

Line arrangement area

One cell selected in a table that has more than one cells, or cursor inside a table with no cell selected

one cell border

A one cell table, the cell is selected

one selected cell border

Cells in a column selected

column selected border

Cells in a row selected

row selected border

A whole table of 2x2 or more cells selected

block selected border


Default settings

Click one of the Default icons to set or reset multiple borders.

Examples

Select a block of about 8x8 cells, then choose Format - Cells - Borders.

default icons for borders

Now you can continue to see which lines the other icons will set or remove.

User defined settings

In the User defined area, you can click to set or remove individual lines. The preview shows lines in three different states.

Repeatedly click an edge or a corner to switch through the three different states.

Line types

Image

Meaning

A black line

solid line for border

A black line sets the corresponding line of the selected cells. The line is shown as a dotted line when you choose the 0.05 pt line style. Double lines are shown when you select a double line style.

A gray line

gray line for border

A gray line is shown when the corresponding line of the selected cells will not be changed. No line will be set or removed at this position.

A white line

white line for border

A white line is shown when the corresponding line of the selected cells will be removed.


Examples

  1. Select a single cell in a Writer table, then choose Table - Properties - Borders.

  2. Select a thick line style.

  3. To set a lower border, click the lower edge repeatedly until you see a thick line.

setting thick lower border

Note Icon

All cells in a Writer table have at least a left and a lower line by default. Most cells on the table perimeter have more lines applied by default.


Warning Icon

All lines that are shown in white in the preview will be removed from the cell.


Defining Borders for Characters

Defining Borders for Pages

Defining Borders for Paragraphs