# Microsoft Excel -- annoying dotted lines when you print from your sheet
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-excel-annoying-dotted-lines-when-you-print-from-your-sheet/485593
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [February 12, 2009, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-excel-annoying-dotted-lines-when-you-print-from-your-sheet/485593 "2009-02-12T21:08:27Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)
#### Post date: [February 12, 2009, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-excel-annoying-dotted-lines-when-you-print-from-your-sheet/485593/1 "2009-02-12T21:08:27Z")
Doesn’t happen every single time. But often, when you print from Excel without setting a Print Area, your spreadsheet is left with dotted lines strewn throughout. Especially noticeable with large record sets.
Is there any way to get rid of these lines? The Clear Print Area command doesn’t do it.
Version of Excel is “Excel 2003 - Service Pack 3”.
Thanks in advance.
---
### Author:  [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)
#### Post date: [February 12, 2009, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-excel-annoying-dotted-lines-when-you-print-from-your-sheet/485593/2 "2009-02-12T21:17:11Z")
The dotted lines you see show you where the page breaks occur when you print, or even if you just “print preview.” They are not part of the printed spreadsheet and show up only on your screen.
To get rid of them go to Tools, Options, View, and under Window Options uncheck the box labeled Page Breaks.
---
### Author:  [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)
#### Post date: [February 12, 2009, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-excel-annoying-dotted-lines-when-you-print-from-your-sheet/485593/3 "2009-02-12T22:33:56Z")
Or maybe you have Gridlines checked?
Go to File-\> Page Setup -\> Sheet, and uncheck the Gridlines box.
---
### Author:  [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)
#### Post date: [February 12, 2009, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-excel-annoying-dotted-lines-when-you-print-from-your-sheet/485593/4 "2009-02-12T22:39:05Z")
> [@Leaffan](#):
>
> Or maybe you have Gridlines checked?
Gridlines are gray rather than dotted, and they will be there whether or not you have printed anything.
---
### Author:  [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)
#### Post date: [February 12, 2009, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-excel-annoying-dotted-lines-when-you-print-from-your-sheet/485593/5 "2009-02-12T23:34:27Z")
You kow what else works? Closing the file, and opening it back up again 😃
---
### Author:  [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)
#### Post date: [February 13, 2009, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-excel-annoying-dotted-lines-when-you-print-from-your-sheet/485593/6 "2009-02-13T01:11:46Z")
> [@bordelond](#):
>
> You kow what else works? Closing the file, and opening it back up again 😃
So does closing the file and \*not \*opening it back up again :rolleyes: