Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, Word in Microsoft 365, and 2021. If you are using an earlier version (Word 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Word, click here: Turning Off Borders for Data Series.

Turning Off Borders for Data Series

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated September 14, 2024)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, Word in Microsoft 365, and 2021

When Microsoft Graph normally charts your data, it surrounds the graphical representation of that data with a border. This is typically a black line, but you can turn off this border, if you so desire. To do this, follow these steps:

Select a data series by clicking on the graphical representation of that series. For instance, if your data is displayed as a column chart, click on the column that represents the series whose border you wish to turn off.
If you are using Word 2007 choose Selected Data Series from the Format menu. Microsoft Graph displays the Format Data Series dialog box. The Patterns tab should be selected. If you are using Word 2010 or a later version choose Selected Data Series from the Format tab to display the Format Data Series dialog box. (See Figure 1.)

Figure 1. The Patterns tab of the Format Data Series dialog box.

In the Border area, click on None.
Click OK.

If you are an Excel user, these steps may seem rather familiar. That is because Microsoft Graph (the subject of this tip) is based on a subset of what you can do in Excel. Word provides access to Microsoft Graph as a way to support those users who may not have access to Excel or who want to include simple charts without resorting to Excel.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (9626) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, Word in Microsoft 365, and 2021. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Turning Off Borders for Data Series.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. Learn more about Allen...

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