Fix Word Table Bottom Border Disappearing Issue
Question details
The user is experiencing an issue where the bottom border of a Word table disappears when adding rows or changing the Total Row settings.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Modifying or adding rows to a styled table that is supposed to have bottom borders.
- Observed behavior
- The bottom border vanishes depending on whether the Total Row feature is enabled or disabled, or when new rows are added to the document.
Click anywhere inside your table to activate the Table Design tab and verify whether the 'Total Row' checkbox is currently enabled or disabled.
Modify Table Style Border Settings for Whole Table and Total Row
Adjust the table style settings to include bottom borders for both the Whole Table and the Total Row, preventing the borders from disappearing when rows are added.
Table styles in word processing software treat the 'Total Row' (usually the last row) differently from the rest of the table. If you apply a bottom border to the whole table but leave the Total Row blank, turning on the Total Row feature will hide the bottom border.
Click inside the table to reveal the Table Design tab on the ribbon. Right-click your currently active table style in the Styles gallery and select 'Modify Table Style'.
In the Modify Style dialog box, locate the 'Apply formatting to' dropdown menu and select 'Whole table'. Click the Borders dropdown icon and choose 'Bottom Border'.
Change the 'Apply formatting to' dropdown menu to 'Total Row'. Click the Borders dropdown icon again and select 'Bottom Border' to ensure the style applies here as well.
Click 'OK' to save your modified table style. The bottom border will now consistently display regardless of the Total Row toggle.
Use WPS Writer to Manage Table Borders
WPS Writer provides an intuitive Table Style dialog that makes it easy to set consistent borders across your entire document, seamlessly handling specific row configurations like the Total Row.
- 1. Open your document: Launch WPS Writer and open the document containing your table.
- 2. Access Table Tools: Click inside the table to bring up the 'Table Tools' tab on the top ribbon.
- 3. Modify the Table Style: Expand the Table Style menu, right-click the highlighted style, and select 'Modify Style'.
- 4. Set the Borders: Use the 'Apply formatting to' dropdown to set the Bottom Border for both 'Whole table' and 'Total Row'.
- 5. Verify the Formatting: Click 'OK' and toggle the 'Total Row' option under the Table Tools tab to verify the border stays visible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do cell borders disappear when I add a new row in Word?
This usually happens because the table style specifies borders only for certain rows (like the Total Row) rather than the 'Whole Table'. If a new row is added and the Total Row is pushed down or disabled, the border settings may not cover the new layout. Modifying the table style to include a bottom border for the Whole Table resolves this.
How do I stop the Total Row from overriding my table borders?
The Total Row has its own distinct formatting settings within the table style hierarchy. To prevent it from overriding your standard borders, you must explicitly set the border for 'Total Row' in the Modify Style dialog so it matches the rest of your table.
Can I apply a bottom border to just a specific cell instead of the whole table?
Yes. You can manually highlight a specific cell or row, navigate to the Table Design tab (or Home tab), click the Borders dropdown, and select 'Bottom Border'. This applies a direct, local format that bypasses the global table style settings.
