Formatting Issues

Fix Missing Table Borders When Image Rows Split Across Pages

Khadija Khan Sep 25, 2026 875 views

Question details

The user needs to make the bottom table border visible when a row containing images crosses over a page break.

Product: Word Processor
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Formatting a document where a table contains large images that span across multiple pages, causing the table to look unclosed.
Observed behavior: Word processors do not display a bottom border across the unused space below a split row, leaving the table looking broken at the page break.

Before you start

Check your table properties to see if 'Allow row to break across pages' is enabled, as disabling this might resolve the issue by pushing the entire row to the next page.

Solution 1Recommended

Insert an Empty Filler Row to Maintain Borders

Manually insert a blank row above the image to hold the bottom border exactly where the page breaks, filling the empty space on the first page.

Because word processors treat the split image row as a single continuous element, they do not automatically render a closing border at the bottom of the first page. By creating a dedicated spacer row, you force the software to draw a closed border before the image continues onto the next page.

Insert a new row

Place your cursor in the row containing the image. Right-click, select 'Insert', and choose 'Insert Rows Above'.

Apply necessary borders

Highlight the newly created blank row. Navigate to the Home or Table Design tab, click the Borders dropdown, and ensure 'Bottom Border' and 'Outside Borders' are applied.

Adjust row height

Hover your cursor over the bottom boundary of the new empty row until it turns into a resize arrow. Click and drag the boundary downward to increase the row's height.

Fill the page gap

Continue adjusting the height of the empty row so that it fills all the remaining space at the bottom of the current page. This pushes the image row cleanly to the next page while leaving a perfectly bordered table edge on the previous page.

Insert an Empty Filler Row to Maintain Borders

Pro Tip: If you modify the text above the table later, you may need to readjust the height of this empty row to ensure the page break aligns correctly.

Professional Word Processing

Format Tables Perfectly with WPS Writer

WPS Writer offers advanced and intuitive table formatting tools, allowing you to easily manage page breaks, adjust row heights, and customize borders without complex workarounds.

1. Open your document: Launch WPS Writer and open the document containing your split table.
2. Access Table Tools: Click anywhere inside your table to reveal the dedicated 'Table Tools' tab on the top ribbon.
3. Manage borders and rows: Use the 'Insert Row Above' button and the 'Table Borders' dropdown to easily add your filler row and apply the exact border styles you need.
4. Fine-tune table properties: Right-click the table and select 'Table Properties' to precisely control row heights and uncheck 'Allow row to break across pages' if you prefer to keep images intact.

Seamless compatibility with Microsoft Word (.docx) documents.Intuitive drag-and-drop table adjustment tools.Advanced pagination and row-breaking control.Free and lightweight office suite for all your daily tasks.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I stop a table row from breaking across pages?

Right-click the table and select 'Table Properties'. Go to the 'Row' tab and uncheck the option that says 'Allow row to break across pages'. This will force the entire row to jump to the next page if it doesn't fit on the current one.

Why do my table borders disappear on the next page?

If you have a table spanning multiple pages, the top borders on the subsequent pages might not show if you haven't set a header row. You can fix this by setting the top row to 'Repeat as header row at the top of each page' in the Table Properties.

Can I automatically fit an image inside a table row?

Yes. Right-click the image, select 'Size and Position', and ensure its dimensions do not exceed the page height. You can also right-click the table, go to 'AutoFit', and select 'Fixed Column Width' to prevent the image from stretching the table.

Document & File Issues