# Word help: Text in background of a cell in a table **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 24, 2005, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word-help-text-in-background-of-a-cell-in-a-table/296006 "2005-03-24T05:08:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2005, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word-help-text-in-background-of-a-cell-in-a-table/296006/1 "2005-03-24T05:08:06Z")
I’m translating a Word document, and the person who prepared it (despite not being aware that you can use tabs to make things line up, rather than just putting lots of spaces) has somehow contrived to put a sort of pale text as the background of a cell in a table. I can’t figure out how to get access to this so that I can edit it (which I have to do as it’s in French). Help! ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2005, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word-help-text-in-background-of-a-cell-in-a-table/296006/2 "2005-03-24T05:35:00Z")
Could you put the word file in question up for us to see? ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2005, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word-help-text-in-background-of-a-cell-in-a-table/296006/3 "2005-03-24T06:37:21Z")
Check out [http://www.metrodemontreal.com/test.doc](http://www.metrodemontreal.com/test.doc) . (For some reason it asks for a login but it appears to work if you just hit enter without entering anything.) ---
**Author:** ![Apricot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bcef8e/32.png) [@Apricot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apricot)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2005, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word-help-text-in-background-of-a-cell-in-a-table/296006/4 "2005-03-24T07:05:33Z")
I think it’s a watermark in the header or footer. ---
**Author:** ![Apricot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bcef8e/32.png) [@Apricot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apricot)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2005, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word-help-text-in-background-of-a-cell-in-a-table/296006/5 "2005-03-24T07:15:15Z")
I reopened it in “real” word and it’s now obvious that it’s not in the header or footer. It looks like WordArt with that shadow - but doesn’t act like it. Success!! It is a drawing object! Open the drawing toolbar and use the white arrow. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2005, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word-help-text-in-background-of-a-cell-in-a-table/296006/6 "2005-03-24T07:27:46Z")
Well, bless your little cotton socks. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Apricot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bcef8e/32.png) [@Apricot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apricot)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2005, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word-help-text-in-background-of-a-cell-in-a-table/296006/7 "2005-03-24T07:36:36Z")
You get it to work, then? ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2005, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word-help-text-in-background-of-a-cell-in-a-table/296006/8 "2005-03-24T07:54:05Z")
Yup 🙂 Thanks; it was really puzzling me.