WD: Border Lost from Linked Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet

ID: Q153210

The information in this article applies to:

SYMPTOMS

If you insert a link into a Microsoft Word document from a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet as "Formatted Text(RTF)," and then you apply a border to the linked table, you may lose the border when the link is updated.

CAUSE

Updating the link causes the original spreadsheet format to overwrite the bordered object. The "\* MERGEFORMAT" switch does not preserve the borders.

NOTE: In Microsoft Word 98 Macintosh Edition, inserting a linked field does not put the "\* MERGEFORMAT" switch into the field.

WORKAROUND

Apply the border you want to the Microsoft Excel worksheet before you copy it to the clipboard. 

 -or-
If a link to a Microsoft Excel worksheet has already been inserted in the Word document, follow these steps:

1. Apply the border you want to the area that is referenced in the link 

   using Microsoft Excel, and then save the workbook.

   NOTE: For Microsoft Word 98 Macintosh Edition, skip to step 3.
2. In versions of Microsoft Word earlier than Word 98 Macintosh Edition, 
   remove the "\* MERGEFORMAT" switch from the LINK field.

   NOTE: To show the field to remove the switch, press ALT+F9 (Windows) or
   OPTION+F9 (Macintosh). Once the switch is removed, press ALT+F9
   (Windows) or OPTION+F9 (Macintosh) to toggle off the field codes.
3. To update the field, place the insertion point into the field and then 
   press F9.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the products listed at the beginning of this article.

Additional query words: disappear grid gridline line lose MACWord NTWord remove table 

Keywords          : kbinterop kbole kbualink97 word6 word7 
Version           : WINDOWS:6.0,6.0a,6.0c,7.0,7.0a;MACINTOSH:6.0,6.0.1,6.0.1a,98
Platform          : MACINTOSH WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbbug kbhowto

Last Reviewed: January 21, 1999