How to Create Diagonal Lines in a Cell in an Excel Spreadsheet

Microsoft Excel not only allows users to record and analyze numerical data but also provides a variety of options to enhance the readability and look of spreadsheets. Users often require certain cells to remain vacant or not-applicable, such as cells within graphs. Common ways of doing this are by filling the cell with a color or simply adding a diagonal line. Excel allows either possibility to be accomplished swiftly and simply.

Things You'll Need

• Computer
• Microsoft Excel software

Instructions

1. Open Microsoft Excel by double-clicking the Excel icon on your screen or selecting "Programs" from the "Start" menu and then selecting "Microsoft Excel."

2. Select the cell you would like to place the diagonal line in by clicking on it once. The cell will be highlighted with a bold border around it to indicate that it has been selected.

3. For Excel versions before 2007, move your cursor to the "Format" pull-down menu and select the first item: "Cells." A pop-up box will appear named "Format Cells." Select the tab that says "Border" within the box.

4. For Excel 2007 or more recent versions, within the "Home" tab at the top of the page, click on the down-facing arrow next to the image of a box within the "Font" section. This is called "Format Cells." This arrow will select a pull-down menu. Select the last entry: "More Borders." The "Format Cells" pop-up box will appear within the "Borders" tab.

5. Select either the left or right diagonal line amongst the line options surrounding the sample box. Your selection will show up as an example in this box.

6. Confirm your selection by pushing "OK." The box will close and you will to your spreadsheet with the diagonal line appearing in the cell.